Does maternal diet matter in breastfed infants with bowel problems?
Does maternal diet matter in breastfed infants with bowel problems?
The baby’s stool can change depending on the mother’s diet, says Dr Rupert Hinds, a paediatric gastroenterologist at Monash Children’s Hospital.
However, the first thing is to ensure that mothers are eating well for themselves, he says.
“Broadly speaking, we want mothers (because they’ve had a nine-month pregnancy) if they are still breastfeeding to have a well-balanced diet,” says Dr Hinds.
“Sometimes we forget the mother’s wellbeing in this scenario. Mothers certainly forget their wellbeing when they’ve got this maelstrom of a screaming baby.”
Some babies can become allergic to cow’s milk and soy while they are breastfeeding.
“So, certainly in babies where there is a suggestion of allergy, the consideration of exclusion of cow’s milk and soy, whilst ensuring that mums still get enough calcium, can be considered,” says Dr Hinds.
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