Is it possible to eat cabbage while breastfeeding: the pros and cons
After giving birth, a woman must take care not only of herself, but also of the child. Many questions for a nursing mother are related to the formulation of a diet that should include healthy and high-quality foods. Cabbage is one of the most affordable and familiar vegetables with a rich composition. Consider whether its use by a nursing mother will harm the baby.
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Can you eat cabbage while breastfeeding?
Domestic pediatricians answer this question negatively because of the high risk of increased colic in the infant and the occurrence of allergic reactions. Their foreign colleagues believe that the mother's diet indirectly affects the well-being of the child, and colic is a natural stage in the maturation of the digestive system, and the degree of their manifestation is not related to what the nursing mother eats.
There is no definite answer whether there is cabbage during lactation. The type of vegetable and the method of preparation play an important role.
When to introduce into the diet
Cauliflower is considered the safest for mother and child. It is introduced into the diet within 2-3 weeks after childbirth.
The risk of an allergic reaction is very small, but still there. Therefore, they start with a small amount - 3-5 tbsp. l. vegetable soup. The baby is monitored for 1-3 days.
Important! When a rash, diarrhea or other unpleasant symptoms appear, the product is excluded from the diet.
Useful properties of a vegetable
Consider what types of cabbage are good for mother and child.
Colored
The use of this type of vegetable while breastfeeding is recommended by pediatricians. Cauliflower is rich in vitamin C (48.2 mg per 100 g), rarely causes allergic reactions and digestive upset, but it is undesirable to abuse it.
Useful properties of a vegetable:
- strengthens the immune system and the nervous system;
- positively affects the hematopoietic function;
- cleans blood vessels.
Broccoli
This variety of cabbage also allowed with breastfeeding. Broccoli is hypoallergenic, contains vitamins A and B, and is easily absorbed by the child's body.
An average head of cabbage (608 g) contains:
- folic acid - 382 mg;
- ascorbic acid - 542 mg;
- vitamin K - 618 mg
Useful properties of broccoli:
- detoxifies;
- improves blood composition;
- strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
- calms the nervous system, improves mood.
Beijing
Chinese cabbage, a subspecies of turnip, contains vitamins A, C, PP, group B, carotene.
The vegetable restores the body after pregnancy, strengthens the defenses, and due to its low calorie content (16 kcal per 100 g) it helps to reduce weight, which is important after childbirth.
What cabbage is not recommended to eat
Is white cabbage possible with HB and when exactly? It is gradually introduced into the diet only 4–6 weeks after delivery. The fact is that a vegetable is capable of causing increased gas formation in an infant, which will lead to colic and other problems of the gastrointestinal tract.
Important! The kelp product, also called seaweed, is prohibited during breastfeeding due to its high allergenicity. Algae are included in the diet of a nursing mother no earlier than 5 weeks after childbirth.
How best to eat
The way vegetables are cooked is very important.
Fresh
Can a nursing mother eat fresh cabbage? All varieties of culture are rich in fiber, which is not absorbed by the body and in its raw form often causes bloating and increased gas production. For a baby, these symptoms are painful.His digestive system has not yet formed, therefore, is susceptible to the negative effects of fresh food.
Boiled
This is the best cooking option. It is best to include the product in the diet in the soup, adding a small amount of cabbage leaves to the broth. However, in this case, risks for the mother and baby are not excluded:
- allergic reactions due to individual intolerance to the product;
- bloating;
- flatulence.
In the absence of negative reactions after the mother eats soup with cabbage, boiled and stewed ones are added to the menu. First, broccoli and color are introduced, then Peking and white cabbage.
Pickled
Sauerkraut contraindicated in a nursing mother. It is added to the diet no earlier than 8 weeks after childbirth.
In addition to allergic reactions, this dish causes such negative consequences:
- spices in the composition increase colic, lead to dehydration, in some cases - to poisoning;
- dehydration of the mother's body reduces the production of breast milk;
- the increased acidity of the product has a bad effect on the unformed digestive system of the child.
It is interesting:
Is it possible to eat onions while breastfeeding.
Conclusion
The main danger of eating cabbage during lactation is associated with allergic reactions due to individual intolerance to the product, bloating and flatulence. However, these symptoms do not always occur.
It all depends on the type of vegetable and how it is prepared. If you follow the recommendations for introducing the product into the diet, it will not harm either the mother or the baby.