We hear ya, just as you are reaching for that lovely cool can of… the thought hits you, is this soda drink causing the gas in my breastfed baby? Am I allowed to drink soda when breastfeeding?
Let’s get this clear from the get-go, there is no evidence that drinking soda while breastfeeding will cause gas in your baby. It does not cause your breast milk to be carbonated. However, if you are experiencing problems with gas in your baby, it might be worth considering eliminating soda from your diet. There are many other things you can drink while breastfeeding that will not cause any problems for your baby.
Can You Drink Soda While Breastfeeding?
Yes, but it’s not the best drink you can take, it has little to no nutritional benefit and the high sugar content may cause problems with your baby.
There are better choices for you to drink while breastfeeding.
We highly recommend drinking coconut water when breastfeeding, it’s nutritious, hydrating and may help boost your milk supply.
What Can I Drink While Breastfeeding?
There are many things you can drink while breastfeeding, water is always a good choice, as is juice and milk. You can also drink tea, coffee, and of course soda (but best to avoid it!). All of these drinks are safe for breastfeeding mothers and will not cause any problems for their babies. You can even drink alcohol in moderation!
Just be mindful of how much you drink, especially if you are drinking tea or coffee. Too much caffeine can be harmful to both you and your baby and may cause other issues.
Can breast milk cause babies to get gassy?
Yes, breastfed babies can get gassy from what’s contained within your breast milk but they can also get gas from gulping too quickly taking in too much air. Check their latch is good and they have good positioning, your lactation consultant should be able to help you with this.
Their digestive system is very immune and when you eat dairy products, new foods or high sugar foods, then your breast milk will change to reflect that.
Even some vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli can cause gas in breastfed babies. If your baby is gassy, it might be worth noting what you eat and drink and trying to avoid those things.
What can I do to help my baby with gas?
If your baby appears to be struggling with excessive gas, you might want to try burping him or her more frequently and breaking up feedings into several smaller sessions rather than one long feeding.
Also, make sure your baby is getting enough food.
Some breastfed babies are content with shorter feedings while others need a little more time at the breast.
Mom’s diet might be a good place to start if your baby is crying with colic. Whilst breastmilk gives the perfect infant nutrition, which most babies are fine with, gassy babies may need their mother to eat less gassy foods. Of course, each child is different and it will change as they get older and their digestive system matures.
What foods should I avoid while breastfeeding to prevent gas?
There is no one answer to this question as every baby is different. However, common culprits of gas in breastfed babies include dairy products, new foods, and high sugar foods. If you are having trouble with a baby gassy, try eliminating certain foods from your diet and see if that helps.
It can be really helpful to keep track of the mother’s diet, what you are consuming and when. If you notice that your baby gets gassy after a particular food, perhaps spicy foods, Brussels sprouts, hot sauce or energy drinks then eliminate these from your diet to see if that helps the gas pains.
Whilst it is good to give your baby a wide-ranging diet, remember they do have an immature digestive system so in the early months you might find it better if you are just eating simpler foods and eliminating ‘gassy foods’ if you find you have a gassy baby who is struggling with those foods.
Take Away for Breastfeeding Mothers & Soda Drinks
You can drink soda when you are breastfeeding but it’s not the most nutritious drink and won’t give you or your baby any health benefits. It may cause your baby to be gassy due to the high sugar content, so if you are finding that we suggest you cut it out to see if this is the cause.
We know that after pregnancy and all those feeding restrictions you were probably looking forward to having a wider diet. However, infants can be affected by what’s in their moms feed – especially in the first few months. So it might be better to wait for a few months when sleep and feeding routines are more settled to be a bit more adventurous with your diet!
This article was written by Sandra Baker – full time writer and the mother of four amazing kids (including twins!)
She’s also a breastfeeding counselor and has spent years helping new parents learn how to care for their children. When she’s not writing or caring for her children, Sandra likes to spend time reading and taking walks with her husband.
