Research shows that a mother's milk is affected only slightly by the food in her diet. But sometimes a baby may have a reaction to something you eat (like spicy foods, foods that can cause gas, or dairy products). Symptoms in your baby of an allergy to something in your diet include diarrhea, rash, fussiness, gas, dry skin, green stools with mucus, or the baby pulling up his/her knees and screaming. This doesn't mean the baby is allergic to your milk. If you stop eating whatever is bothering your baby, the problem usually goes away on its own.
Here's how to tell if something you are eating is upsetting your baby:
It takes about two to six hours for your body to digest and absorb the food you eat and pass it into your breast milk.
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If you eat dinner at 5:00 P.M., and your baby shows the symptoms listed above around 9:00 P.M., think about what you ate for dinner. To be sure if those foods are causing the problem, you will have to eat them again and see if your baby has the same reaction.
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If your baby seems very fussy, try keeping a record of what you eat and drink.
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Bring the record to your baby's doctor to talk about a possible link between certain foods and your baby's symptoms.
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If you think a particular food is causing a problem, stop eating it for a while and see if your baby reacts better. You can always try later to introduce that food again into your diet in small amounts. If your baby doesn't seem to react to it anymore, you could add more the next time.
Sometimes a baby can be born with a condition called primary lactase deficiency or with galactosemia, in which he or she can't tolerate breast milk. This happens when the body can't break down lactose, a sugar found in the milk of humans and animals. Symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting. Babies with severe galactosemia may have liver problems, malnutrition, or mental retardation. Babies with these conditions must be fed formula that comes from plants, such as soy milk or a special galactose-free formula.