Can I Eat Broccoli While Breastfeeding?
The short answer is yes. Like other vegetables, broccoli is a wonderful source of vitamins for breastfeeding moms and their infants. However, while there are many health benefits to eating this vegetable, it may not be right for everyone as some might experience negative side effects.
If you’re looking to eat broccoli while breastfeeding, read on and learn what you need to know!
Is Broccoli good for breastfeeding mothers?
The short answer is yes. Like other vegetables, broccoli is a wonderful source of vitamins for breastfeeding moms and their infants.
Broccoli is a good very good source of vitamins C. In fact, one cup of broccoli has almost as much vitamin C as one orange Vitamin C is important for helping the body to absorb iron, which is important for the health of both mom and baby.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that has been shown to help if breastfeeding moms are suffering from morning sickness.
Broccoli is also a good source of folate which is important for a healthy baby’s development.
Since broccoli is also a good source of fiber which, as we all know, it helps to keep our stomachs healthy and helps prevent constipation and diarrhea. Fiber is also important for keeping our digestion regular, which means that fiber can help prevent C-sections, too.
There are several other reasons why broccoli is important, which includes calcium, thiamine, riboflavin, and potassium.
Does broccoli cause gas when breastfeeding?
Broccoli has been reported to cause gas in breastfeeding mothers, but the gassiness usually goes away when the mom continues breastfeeding. In fact, for some moms who have had gas issues with other vegetables, switching to broccoli has helped to improve their gas issues. It is important to talk about the gassiness with your doctor and have him/her reassure you that it is harmless.
However, whatever your baby is fed (breastmilk or bottle-feeding), he will have gas as it is simply a byproduct of digestion and your baby’s digestive system is still working to work out the best way to digest his food.
The gas from the broccoli or any other food does not pass on to your baby while he is breastfeeding. Nor will the broccoli cause your milk to become gassy or smelly.
When can I introduce Broccoli to my diet while breastfeeding?
Since breast milk is made from components in our blood, the fiber digested or indigested from broccoli would therefore not have any way to reach the baby; hence, it shouldn’t have the same effect on the baby as it has on a mom who eats the food directly. You can eat broccoli after the first week. However, if your baby is born prematurely or has digestive problems, you should wait until after their first month of life.
Should I give my baby Broccoli while breastfeeding?
Broccoli may be good for breastfeeding moms and their babies, but it is not safe to give your baby too much broccoli. It can be harmful to your breastfed infant if you feed them broccoli in large amounts as it can cause gas and diarrhea.
Can Broccoli cause allergy?
Broccoli is not very likely to cause an allergy. However, if you are allergic to a food, you can have an allergic reaction if your body reacts with that food.
Can Broccoli become toxic for mother and baby?
Babies can have a negative reaction to broccoli if their stomachs are still developing at the time they eat the vegetables. If your baby has a mild stomach upset, he or she may be fine; however, if your baby experiences more than mild symptoms from broccoli, it is best to talk to the pediatrician about what other foods you can and should feed your baby.
Under what condition should a lactating mother not have Broccoli?
One of the most common causes of broccoli toxicity is too much sulforaphane. Sulforaphane is a phytochemical that is found in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli. Sulforaphane can upset your body’s normal sulfur metabolism. However, if you don’t have any such problem, you can eat broccoli while breastfeeding.
Broccoli is amazing food to add to your diet while you’re breastfeeding. But you don’t want to go overboard, because it’s all well and good to have broccoli in your diet, but if you eat too much it can be hard on your little one. So, have it in moderation; probably once a week is good.
To make breastfeeding more enjoyable, read about some other breastfeeding tips.
