Foods to avoid

Eating fish is good for your health and the development of your baby. Oily fish is particularly beneficial for the development of your baby’s brain and vision, so  try to include two portions of oily fish like salmon, fresh tuna or sardines in your diet.  However, don’t eat more than two portions as these fish contain tiny amounts of pollutants some of which can pass into your breast milk.  You should avoid eating more than one portion of shark, swordfish or marlin a week because of the levels of mercury. Its fine to eat as much white fish as you like. Tinned tuna isn’t classed as an oily fish because canning reduces the fat (containing the dioxins/PCB’s) so its fine to have four regular tins of tuna a week as well as two portions of oily fish.

Peanuts are one  of the most common causes of food allergy and peanut allergy can cause severe reactions. In the last decade, serious allergies to nuts have doubled and currently affect 1 to 2 % of people in the UK.  However despite the government advice to avoid peanuts while pregnant if there is a history of allergy in the family, the number of children with nut allergies keeps growing. Meanwhile, nut allergies are low in countries where peanuts form part of a weaned baby’s diet.

New studies are asking whether avoiding peanuts while pregnant or when breastfeeding may actually increase the risk of your baby developing a peanut allergy. The Food Standards Agency no longer back the recommendation to avoid peanuts completely and a change in Government advice is expected

Some people believe that eating certain foods like cauliflower or onions can cause colic and some mums swear that hot and spicy foods upset their baby.  In my experience I have found that the majority of   babies are not sensitive to what you are eating so unless you notice that your baby regularly has a reaction to certain foods in your diet, I wouldn’t worry unduly. Follow a well balanced diet with a little bit of what you fancy…