The Effect of Sugar Intake on an Infant and Breastfeeding Mum

A day after my child's christening, I was gulping down one of my favorite carbonated soft drink, when one of my guest who is an experienced mother advised me to take it easy so my baby doesn't get to fart all day. Sugar intake and farting, that sounded really new to me, then my Mum on the other hand, asked me to stay away from surgery products until my child is a year old.

You mean, for nine months, I stayed away from carbonated drinks and now that my baby is here and I think I can take some drinks to calm myself, it has become a taboo as well.

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Recently, I noticed my baby and I started to fart and it was getting serious, then I remember the statement the woman made when she came visiting so I choose to read about it in order to understand what could really be going on.

Dr. Ashanti Woods, who is a doctor that specializes in General Pediatrics says consuming food and drinks that has high sugar quality whilst breastfeeding within the first or two months of life plays a highly significant role in the cognitive health of the child.

Lifelong risk like; obesity, fatty liver disease, diabetes, and heart disease are also associated risk that can affect infants and children when they are exposed to sugar on a high level. Breast milk contains naturally occurring sugars in form of lactose which is highly beneficial to the development and growth of the child.

Lactose happens to be the main source of carbohydrate energy, breast milk is also highly essential, but some of those beneficial nutrients could be altered based on maternal diet.
The first year of a child's life is a very important one, it is the time that the brain is built and there is a cementing for the foundation of a metabolic system.

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Michael Goran, who is a professor of pediatrics, says we do not really know how much sugar is considered safe for a breastfeeding Mum and of course, for her baby, but it is said that, added sugars that a breastfeeding mother takes should not be above 5-10% daily.

Breastfeeding mothers however can enjoy sweet drink without having to harm the child, as long as it not a constant habit, the babies cognitive development will not be affected. Although, mothers are not advised to consistently take soda, energy drinks, or even lots of fruit juices.

It is expected that, while breastfeeding you will have to eat more probably an additional 330-400 calories are required on a daily basis, in order to provide you with the nutrition and energy for milk production. To get these extra calories, it is important to look out for nutrient rich meals and drinks.

When you consume variety of foods during breastfeeding, the flavor of your breast milk will change, therefore exposing your breastfeeding child to different forms of taste that will groom him or her towards the acceptance of solid meals as time goes by.

Everyone knows alcohol intake is bad for a pregnant woman as well as a breastfeeding mother, no amount of alcohol is acceptable at all. Caffeine should also be avoided completely as it may agitate your sucking child or interfere with their sleep.

Exposing a child to a high amount of mercury through breast milk can affect a baby's developing nervous system. To limit the exposure your baby to mercury avoid seafood that is high in mercury, this include king mackerel, and tilefish.

So about the gas.

Excessive sugar in the body cannot be broken down and absorbed by the body, so it would sit in the bowls where it would then ferment. This sugar would move gradually through the large intestine, feeding yeast and bacteria, and by extension creating a buildup of gas.

Conclusion.

The first few months of a child's life are highly important for brain development, so a a concerned mother you want to look for a way to cut down on some things you would normally engage in for the benefit of your baby. It has been noticed that, additional sugar intake could affect the congenital development of a child, so it may be time to make yet another sacrificing decision as a mother.

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References.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7805382/

https://today.usc.edu/from-mother-to-baby-secondhand-sugars-can-pass-through-breast-milk/

https://www.verywellfamily.com/sugary-drinks-during-breastfeeding-5083312

https://oceanfamilygastro.com/what-too-much-sugar-can-do-to-your-digestive-system/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mcn.13168

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/breastfeeding-nutrition/art-20046912

https://mdmercy.com/about-mercy/news-and-media/news/2021/february/babys-brain-may-be-affected-by-sugar-in-breast-milk

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Hi, I am Tobi, a writer, speaker, relationship blogger, and lover of good music. I love making friends and learning from people. If you want to hear me speak on relationships and general life issues, you can find my YouTube channel where you can watch any episode for free, please do not forget to subscribe, friends. I sincerely appreciate every love I get from here, Kindly do well to keep them coming.