Chocolate contains theobromine. Because theobromine is a stimulant, it could, in theory, cause the breastfed infant to be wakeful and fussy.
It also contains anandamide and two related compounds that stimulate cannabinoid receptors, tryptophan, and polyphenols. [1,2] All of these compounds are detectable in breastmilk in small amounts. Low intake of chocolate by a nursing mother is not problematic, but extreme amounts can affect the infant.
Chocolate can cause excessive gas in babies when the mother consumes it in excess, Sadik says. That's primarily due to the high caffeine content. The amount of "excess" may vary from one mother to the next, but Sadik advises against indulging in sweets daily.
Consuming Too Much Caffeine
Caffeinated soda, coffee, tea, and chocolate are OK in moderation. However, large amounts of caffeine can dehydrate your body and lower your production of breast milk. Too much caffeine also can affect your breastfeeding baby.
There's probably no need to pump and dump just because you've consumed some coffee or chocolate. Research tells us nursing mothers can safely consume at least 300 milligrams of caffeine per day — which is roughly equivalent to 2 to 3 cups of coffee — without fear of your infant seeming jittery or losing sleep.
Chocolate contains theobromine. Because theobromine is a stimulant, it could, in theory, cause the breastfed infant to be wakeful and fussy.
While it's recommended to completely avoid fish high in mercury and some herbal supplements, foods like alcohol, caffeine, and highly processed products can still be consumed but in limited amounts. If your baby has symptoms like eczema or bloody stools, it may be due to something in your diet.
Peak theobromine concentrations of 3.7 to 8.2 mg/l were found in all fluids at 2 to 3 hour after ingestion of chocolate. The disposition half-life of theobromine averaged 7.1 +/- 2.1 hours, body clearance was 65 +/- 20 ml/hour/kilogram, and the apparent volume of distribution was 0.62 +/- 0.13 l/lk.
Although dark chocolate has higher levels of theobromine, most health professionals consider it to be the healthiest option because it contains lower levels of both sugar and fat. Most people can enjoy chocolate as they normally would while breastfeeding without any negative impact on their babies.
Some studies have found that particular foods eaten by the motherincluding cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, chocolate, onions and cow's milkcan cause an attack of colic in her breastfed infant.
The limit on chocolate while nursing is due to theobromine, the caffeine-like stimulant. Nursing mothers can safely consume up to 300 mg of caffeine or similar stimulants, such as theobromine, per day.
Although chocolate is delicious, it is not recommended for babies under two years of age as it contains refined sugars and caffeine, which could have negative effects on your baby (1).
Chocolate is perfectly safe for most pregnant women – in moderation. In fact, there's some evidence that eating chocolate during pregnancy could lower your risk of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension.
Mothers who consume large amounts of sugar could be passing the added sugar to their infants through breast milk, which could hamper the child's cognitive development.
Mothers who consume large amounts of sugar could be passing the added sugar to their infants through breast milk, which could hamper the child's cognitive development. Mercy Medical Center pediatrician Dr.
You should avoid caffeine, fish with high mercury levels, artificial sweeteners and alcohol when breastfeeding. As in pregnancy, what you eat while breastfeeding is passed on to your baby.
Breastfed Babies
Cow's milk, chocolate, gassy foods, spicy foods, and caffeine are the foods most likely to trigger a problem. You may have to evaluate your diet to try to figure out if something that you're eating could be causing your baby's diarrhea.
In this case, the infant may show signs of severe colic, abdominal discomfort, or a skin rash such as eczema or hives, or may react with vomiting, severe diarrhea (often with blood in the stool), or difficulty breathing that lasts up to several hours after breastfeeding.
Yes, you can take hazelnuts while breastfeeding. Nutella contains hazelnuts which are among the best nuts in the world. They contain vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber and antioxidants. These nuts are filling and packed with nutrients which makes them suitable for women who want to lose weight while breastfeeding.
Chocolate can increase your baby's risk for cavities.
The AAP recommends that kids ages 2 years and older have a maximum of 25 grams (6 teaspoons) of added sugar per day. Kids younger than that should ideally have as little added sugar as possible.
Babies and young children shouldn't eat hot dogs, nuts, seeds, round candies, popcorn, hard, raw fruits and vegetables, grapes, or peanut butter. These foods aren't safe and may cause your child to choke. Many healthcare providers suggest these foods be saved until after your child is age 3 or 4.
Next, you may be craving sugar and unhealthy foods because the stress of having a baby, caring for other children, working, running a business, breastfeeding, pumping, sleep deprivation…all of this depletes your vitamin C and B levels. Lack of vitamins can also cause sugar cravings.
For breastfed babies, gas might be caused by eating too fast, swallowing too much air or digesting certain foods. Babies have immature GI systems and can frequently experience gas because of this. Pains from gas can make your baby fussy, but intestinal gas is not harmful.