15 things breastfeeding mothers can’t do or can do
Who knew that after having a baby and becoming a breastfeeding mothers, there would still be a lot of troubles and taboos.
Do these “well-intentioned advice” from experienced people and those rumors on the Internet really make sense?
Today, let’s take a closer look and give some reassurance to those fearful mothers.
1. Can’t perm or dye your hair breastfeeding mothers?
Substances such as diphenylamine and ethanolamine in hair products may indeed be harmful to children, but these substances are absorbed through the scalp and enter the breast milk, so the possibility of affecting children is extremely low.
There is no data showing any adverse effects of dyeing hair during breastfeeding. If you give yourself a nice haircut while taking care of your baby, will your mood also be nice?
However, it is still necessary to choose regular and qualified products, not to try new hair dyes, and to take good allergy protection.
2. Can wear makeup breastfeeding mothers?
I can even dye and perm my hair, so what’s the point of putting on makeup?
Of course, I still want to remind all mothers that after putting on makeup, try not to rub your face against your child’s face, and don’t let your child lick your face.
3. Can exercise breastfeeding mothers?
There is a rumor that a breastfeeding mother’s milk will “turn into yogurt” after exercise, but studies have shown that aerobic exercise does not increase the lactic acid in breast milk.
Although anaerobic exercise can increase the lactic acid concentration in breast milk, it only lasts for a short time and has no effect on the quality of breast milk. If your baby doesn’t like the taste of milk, you can rest for 1 to 2 hours after exercise before feeding.
4. Can get vaccinate breastfeeding mothers?
Yes, especially the flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to UpToDate , except for smallpox and yellow fever vaccines, inactivated and live attenuated vaccines administered to breastfeeding women do not affect the safety of breastfeeding for women and their infants.
Flu vaccines are of course available and highly recommended.
According to the “Technical Guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccination (First Edition)” issued by the National Health Commission, you can get the COVID-19 vaccine during breastfeeding, and you can continue breastfeeding after vaccination.
Therefore, mothers who are breastfeeding can get the new coronavirus vaccine if necessary, without worrying about it.
For breastfeeding mothers who have frequent contact with their children, vaccination is equivalent to reducing the risk of infection for their children. It protects both themselves and their children, killing two birds with one stone!
5. Can I have an X-ray during breastfeeding?
Many mothers are often asked to do X-ray examinations during postpartum checkups or visits to the dentist, and at this time they worry about whether the radiation from X-rays will affect breastfeeding.
The radiation from X-ray examinations only lasts for a moment and will not remain in the mother’s body or affect the child, so there is no need to worry.
In addition, there is no need to worry about MRI, B-ultrasound, and CT.
6. Can I eat chili peppers during breastfeeding?
Eat whatever you want.
Foods with pungent flavors, such as peppers, onions, and ginger, may change the smell of breast milk, but will not harm the baby. Trying different flavors may also make it easier for the baby to accept different foods when adding complementary foods.
Whether it is chili peppers, spicy strips (the source and processing meet hygiene standards), hot pot or malatang, as long as the child is not particularly sensitive, they can eat it.
What can mothers in Hunan, Chongqing and Chengdu do if they are not allowed to eat spicy food?
7. Can I drink coffee during breastfeeding?
Just the right amount.
You can consume caffeine in moderation during breastfeeding, but not more than 300 mg. A standard cup of coffee (about 235 mL) contains about 100 to 150 mg of caffeine. Breastfeeding mothers should not drink more than 2 cups a day.
In addition to coffee, foods such as tea, chocolate, and cola also contain caffeine, but it is fine to eat them in moderation.
If you have no idea about 300 mg, we have listed the caffeine content in common beverages. Just look at it.
Newborns and premature babies are more sensitive to caffeine, so try to hold back during the confinement period. At other times, it’s okay to buy a cup of milk tea or coffee to satisfy your craving, as long as the child has no obvious adverse reactions after drinking it.
8. Can I drink alcohol during breastfeeding?
It is safest not to drink a drop.
Alcohol can pass through the blood-milk barrier without hindrance and enter breast milk, where it remains for several hours and reduces milk flow.
This may affect the child’s nervous system, leading to excitement, sleep disorders, etc. In severe cases, it may also harm the development of other organ systems such as the brain and spinal cord.
If you have to drink or really want to drink, it is relatively safe to drink no more than one bottle of beer (350 mL) and one small glass of red wine (40 g). It is recommended to breastfeed before drinking, and the interval between drinking and breastfeeding should be at least 2 hours.
Please note that rice wine, fermented glutinous rice (laozao), and chocolate with alcohol in it also contain alcohol, so you should be extra careful when consuming them during breastfeeding.
9. Can smoke breastfeeding mothers?
No matter what the reason, you should not smoke.
Although maternal smoking is not an absolute contraindication to breastfeeding, it is strongly discouraged as it increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and respiratory allergies in the infant.
Secondhand smoke and thirdhand smoke are also issues that mothers and babies need to pay attention to.
Thirdhand smoke refers to the tobacco smoke residue that remains on surfaces such as clothes, walls, carpets, furniture, and even hair and skin after smokers “puff out smoke”. It is a form of passive smoking.
10. Can I eat raw or cold food?
Breast milk is at a constant temperature and will not change due to the temperature of food. Just like drinking hot water will not make breast milk hot, and eating ice cream will not make breast milk cold. As long as the source and processing meet the hygiene standards, mothers can eat it with confidence.
You can eat raw meat such as salmon, just make sure the source is clean.
11. Can I still breastfeed if I have mastitis ?
Mild mastitis and breast pain require changing breastfeeding angles, using a breast pump and hand expression to fully empty the breasts. You can apply a short hot compress before breastfeeding and a cold compress after breastfeeding, and the pain will gradually subside.
Mild mastitis should not stop breastfeeding, otherwise it will make the mastitis worse. And the breast milk itself is not infected, so breastfeeding during mastitis will not harm the child.
Severe mastitis may require pain medication (ibuprofen) and antibiotics.
In fact, most antibiotics are compatible with breastfeeding, so you can tell your doctor that you are breastfeeding and the doctor will prescribe medication that can be taken during breastfeeding.
12. Can I breastfeed during my menstruation?
Hormonal changes in the body during menstruation may cause the mother’s milk to become concentrated, the amount of milk decreased, and the taste of the milk to change. This does not affect the nutritional value of breast milk, and is certainly not toxic (anger is not toxic either).
During menstruation, all you need to do is pay attention to nutrition (increase the intake of iron-containing foods and high-quality protein), rest, and fluid intake.
13. Can I continue breastfeeding when I am pregnant with my second child?
Yes, commonly known as ” relay milk “.
Pregnancy during breastfeeding does not affect breastfeeding, but due to the influence of hormones and other factors, mothers who breastfeed during pregnancy often find that the amount of milk decreases when entering the second trimester, usually in the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy.
At this time, the mother should observe the baby’s weight gain, determine whether he is getting enough milk, and provide the baby with nutritious food.
14. Can I still breastfeed if I have a cold?
A cold itself will not affect the quality and quantity of breast milk, and the antibodies in the mother’s body will be passed to the baby through breast milk, so there is no need to stop breastfeeding.
Colds cannot be transmitted through breast milk, but mothers are advised to wear a mask when breastfeeding and wash their hands before contacting the baby.
However, avoid using some combination cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, as there is a risk of reducing milk supply.
15. Can I breastfeed after taking antipyretics when I have a fever?
Ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol) are both safe antipyretic drugs during breastfeeding. These two single-ingredient drugs can not only reduce fever, but can also be used for various pains during breastfeeding, such as headaches, muscle pain, toothache, etc.
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