Previously, scientists believed that a baby's colic is directly related to the nutrition of a nursing mother. But is it really so? How do the foods that mom eats affect the processes of gas formation in a newborn?
Nothing darkens the life of a newborn baby and his parents as often disturbing the baby colic. Bloating greatly torments the baby, preventing him from sleeping normally, eating and learning about the world. Together with him, parents also suffer, trying to find out the cause of increased gas production. Previously, scientists believed that a baby's colic is directly related to the nutrition of a nursing mother. But is it really so? How do the foods that mom eats affect the processes of gas formation in a newborn?
Recent studies have shown that there is no relationship between the diet of a nursing mother and colic in the baby. However, scholars are divided on this issue. Rather, it is due to the individual intolerance of mom and baby. After all, in this case, we are only talking about food preferences.
Nutritional recommendations for a nursing mother
British nutritionists in the process of research found that the vast majority of people eat an insufficient amount of fiber, useful for the body. For this reason, the country's National Health Service strongly recommends that all breastfeeding mothers include as many fiber-fortified foods as possible in their diet, while being sure to drink enough fluids. Mothers should gradually increase the number of foods with fiber so as not to cause increased gas formation. Every woman should have a balanced and rational diet, making her diet as complete as possible.
All newborns have increased gas production and colic. It's just that some babies are more worried about colic than others. But to date, there is no direct evidence that there is a direct relationship between the mother's nutrition and the baby's colic. This problem most often torments newborn babies, because their digestive system is not yet mature enough. The older the baby becomes, the less he is concerned about colic. When the child grows up, this question ceases to be relevant.
Cause of colic
Gases are formed when bacteria in the stomach begin to actively digest carbohydrates from food. Gas in the mother's body accumulates in the intestines, therefore it does not enter breast milk. In the process of breastfeeding, the baby develops its own gases, as its intestinal bacteria actively break down the sugar and starch that it received from breast milk.
Lactation specialists and nutritionists are sure that the problem of colic in a child is associated not only with nutrition, but also with many other factors: for example, when, during feeding, the baby does not take the breast correctly or is greedy, thereby swallowing a lot of air. A baby crying violently or having trouble defecating (frequent constipation) can also trigger colic.
Therefore, modern nursing mothers should not exhaust themselves with strict diets, and it is not at all necessary to give up some foods - they just need to make their diet balanced. You can introduce one new product a day (a small piece in the morning), and then monitor the baby's reaction throughout the day. If everything is in order, it means that this product can be eaten in larger quantities. A varied mother's diet is also beneficial for the baby - mother's milk becomes more nutritious, and besides, breast milk conveys the tastes of products. So, through the mother's breast, the baby is gradually accustomed to a variety of taste sensations.
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