Help a New Family

As a community, we should be supportive of breastfeeding mothers. Especially in the early days after a birth, providing food to the new family is a wonderful gift. However, always check with the family for food preferences.

Some common foods that many breastfeeding mothers avoid are cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc) and chocolate. These foods are often avoided because they may contribute to colic. I recently had someone tell me that this is an old wives tale; women have known this wisdom for centuries, and it is true. There are several journal articles that support these ties. You can read more about foods associated with colic in:

• "Primary Care from Infancy to Adolescence" Pediatric Clinics of North America - Volume 54, Issue 6 (December 2007)
• Lust K.D., Brown J.E., Thomas W.: "Maternal intake of cruciferous vegetables and other foods and colic symptoms in exclusively breast-fed infants." J Am Diet Assoc 96. 46-48.1996
• Cambria S., et al: "Hyperexcitability syndrome in a newborn infant of chocoholic mother." Am J Perinatol 23. 421-422.2006

Please support new families. Preparing a simple meal, or doing a load of laundry, can be an amazing gift to a new family. Simple gifts have great value, and so does the knowledge of our foremothers.

If you have questions about breastfeeding please contact your local La Leche League. For those of you in La Grande, our chapter is currently inactive. However, I am currently in the process of becoming a LLL leader. Hopefully, our chapter will be active in the near future.

I am available to consult with breastfeeding mothers about any questions they may have. Please feel free to call Golden Leaf Clinic at 541-663-6962.