Alcohol

Caffeine and Chocolate

Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine which has a similar effect to that of caffeine on the body. Although caffeine does not exist naturally in chocolates, the caffeine-like effects of it can be attributed to theobromine. Some chocolates do have added caffeine.

Small quantities of theobromine do not have any major impact on breastfed babies unless the mother consumes chocolate in large quantities. If a mother consumes more than 750 mg of caffeine or theobromine a day, her babies may exhibit erratic and fussy behavior and suffer from sleeping issues.

To determine if your baby has been erratic because of theobromine or caffeine, eliminate the food sources that are caffeine related for a week or two; if he is indeed getting fussy due to theobromine in your breastmilk, you may have to do away with chocolates for a while.

Sage

Sage is believed to reduce lactation and has been used to help with weaning or an overabundant milk supply. But there is no substantive evidence that can assess the effect of sage on milk supply. Sage also holds the same property as peppermint. It can alter the breast milk supply when taken in high amounts. One has to be careful about taking this herb, which is typically used in stuffings and toppings

High-Mercury Fish

Mercury in breastmilk occurs due to mercury containing diet, for instance high-mercury fish, that the mother might consume. Mothers who consume large amounts of fish show higher levels of mercury in the breastmilk.

Citrus Fruits

Although juicy, tangy and incredibly tasty … citrus fruits are not the best for breastfeeding mothers. Citrus fruits are some of the most popular fruits, and they form a major part of fruit basket. However, as a lactating mom, you need to avoid citrus fruits and their juices at all costs. This is because taking citrus fruit can lead to stooling in mother and baby. Citrus fruits include  lime, kiwi fruits, strawberries, pineapples, oranges, and grapes amongst others.

An internet report revealed that most times, citrus fruits lend a pungent flavor to breast milk. Some babies might object to the taste of it, and get fussy while consuming it. Other babies may vomit. Sometimes, some babies  may develop diaper rashes as a result of the citrus content in breast milk. Citrus fruits contain many acidic compounds and can lead to irritation of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) in children.

Peppermint

Peppermint is believed to be a galactogogue, i.e. a substance that enhances milk production in mothers. However there is no scientifically valid clinical trials that support this claim.

The US Food and Drug Administration has labeled peppermint as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) as food. However large doses of peppermint  can lead to conditions like heartburn, nausea, and vomiting apart from allergic reactions, and for instance, a headache.

Excess consumption of peppermint is known to inhibit breast milk production. So, while the occasional cup of peppermint tea won’t affect that bad, but if you notice your supply is dropping, or your baby is hungrier than usual after you have ingested peppermint, it is better to reduce the amount of peppermint you consume.

Some women use peppermint gel to prevent cracking of nipples and areola. Peppermint oil if used on the nipples, must be used after nursing or wiped off before next nursing.

Spices like chili peppers

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