Aspartame and breasfeeding is it dangerous?

ybnormal200

I found a few sites that claim aspartame is toxic. Does anyone know much about this sugar substitute? Everytime I drink a diet soda, and nurse my son, he ends up all night with an upset stomach. (The soda is always caffeine free). Any help would be appreciated.

ybnormal200

I found a few sites that claim aspartame is toxic. Does anyone know much about this sugar substitute? Everytime I drink a diet soda, and nurse my son, he ends up all night with an upset stomach. (The soda is always caffeine free). Any help would be appreciated.

songbyrdsweet

Many people are sensitive or allergic to artificial sweeteners. If I have something with aspartame, it will usually mess with my GI tract. It could be happening to your son as well, because everything you eat can end up in your breastmilk.

Eve23

I personally wouldn't recommend it. But my family has experienced serious reactions and health issues from aspartame.

If your son is having issues it is something to certainly a look at.

Good luck

betterme

Why risk it? It sounds like it definitely doesn't agree with him and I'm sure you would want to error on the side of caution. I personally cannot use artificial sweeteners without getting a headache so I don't use them.

dinosgirl

I would try cutting it out for a week or so and see if your little one does any better. If so, it is probably the culprit and best if you avoided it until you are done nursing him.

I had to give up all citrus with my first and dairy products with my second. It was difficult for me but worth it.

icandoit

It is a chemical. You really need to think about what you are taking in when you are breastfeeding. What you take your baby takes.
It's better to not risk it. Watch your caffine intake and also watch when you are trying new foods. May not always agree with the little one.

Foods to avoid while breastfeeding
There is technically no foods that breastfeeding woman must avoid. However some foods can cause mild reaction such as spicy foods, cabbage, chocolate and foods high in C concentrate. It will depend on your own body and the sensitivity of your baby.

Foods such as cabbage, garlic, chilli & curry may cause your baby to experience discomfort with wind. Although there is no research to support this, centuries of mothers will agree that keep these foods to a minimum if you want a good nights sleep. Some strongly flavoured foods may change the taste of your milk, although babies enjoy a variety of breast milk flavours, if you baby suddenly becomes fussy at the breast after you eat particular foods (for example garlic) you be best to avoid that food while breastfeeding. However you babies tolerance may improve as he/she gets older so you may be able to re-introduce that food.

Other foods & drinks to watch out for are; pineapple/juice (being the worst offender) and other vitamin C rich fruits such as oranges, tomatoes, grapefruit and lemon, that can cause your baby to get a nappy rash. If you think something you are eating is affecting your baby, you may need to do a bit of detective work to figure out the cause of the sensitivity. If you are not sure, try cutting the food out of your diet for up to a week to see if things improve. If avoiding the food causes a nutritional imbalance, seek professional advise before removing from your diet.

Moderate your caffeine intake, a small amount is fine, but too much can interfere with your baby's sleep, or make him/her fussy. Keep in mind that caffeine is found in some sodas, teas, and over-the-counter medicines, as well as in coffee. Having an occasional social drink will not hurt your baby, but may make him/her sleepier than usual. To a sleep deprived mother this may sound like a solution, however it is more likely to unsettle your baby and lead to poor feeding which may result in your baby waking more during the night.