Gas problem in babies is common due to the immaturity of the digestive system. Especially in the newborn period, crying crises and restlessness caused by gas pains are very difficult for parents. In breastfed babies, regulating the mother’s diet can help alleviate the gas problem in the baby.
Cruciferous, Onion-Garlic
Sulfur-containing volatiles and metabolites found in vegetables such as cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage, cress, bok choy, broccoli and Brussels sprouts), onions and garlic can pass into breast milk and cause gas problems in babies. The cooked form of these foods has less gas-forming effect than their raw form.
Legumes
Legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, and beans are among the foods that are likely to cause gas in babies. Soaking these foods in water for at least 12 hours before cooking and adding cumin to the water while boiling can reduce their gas-forming effects.
Citrus, Pineapple and Tomato
Acidic foods such as citrus fruits (orange, mandarin, grapefruit, lemon), pineapple and tomato do not affect the mother’s milk intensely, as they do not change the pH of the mother’s plasma, but they may rarely cause gas problems in babies.
Dairy Products
Foods containing cow’s milk protein, such as milk, yoghurt, kefir, ayran, cheese, are among the foods most commonly reported to cause gas problems in babies. If the baby develops various findings such as atopic dermatitis, urticaria, vomiting, diarrhea, and reflux accompanying the gas problem after the mother consumes these foods, a physician should be consulted.
Identify Which Foods Cause Gas in Your Baby.
Foods that cause gas pains may vary for each baby. It would be the right choice for the mother to detect the foods that cause gas in her baby and limit only these foods instead of a restricted diet in which many foods are limited.
Resources:
- Jeong, G., Park, S. W., Lee, Y. K., Ko, S. Y., & Shin, S. M. (2017). Maternal food restrictions during breastfeeding. Korean journal of pediatrics, 60(3), 70–76. https://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2017.60.3.70
- Kidd, M., Hnatiuk, M., Barber, J., Woolgar, M. J., & Mackay, M. P. (2019). “Something is wrong with your milk”: Qualitative study of maternal dietary restriction and beliefs about infant colic. Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 65(3), 204–211.
- Iacovou, M., Mulcahy, E. C., Truby, H., Barrett, J. S., Gibson, P. R., & Muir, J. G. (2018). Reducing the maternal dietary intake of indigestible and slowly absorbed short-chain carbohydrates is associated with improved infantile colic: a proof-of-concept study. Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association, 31(2), 256–265. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12488
- Nutrition Working Group, O’Connor, D. L., Blake, J., Bell, R., Bowen, A., Callum, J., Fenton, S., Gray-Donald, K., Rossiter, M., Adamo, K., Brett, K., Khatri, N., Robinson, N., Tumback, L., & Cheung, A. (2016). Canadian Consensus on Female Nutrition: Adolescence, Reproduction, Menopause, and Beyond. Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada : JOGC = Journal d’obstetrique et gynecologie du Canada : JOGC, 38(6), 508–554.e18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogc.2016.01.001
- Iacovou, M., Gibson, P. R., & Muir, J. G. (2021). Dietary Changes Among Breastfeeding Mothers. Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association, 37(3), 566–576. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890334420959283
