Receiving Helpdesk

can you eat oysters when youre breastfeeding

by Laura Mayer Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

Breastfeeding moms can safely enjoy shellfish

Shellfish

Shellfish is a colloquial and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used as food, including various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from saltwater environments, some are found in freshwater. In a…

like oysters. But there are several potential health risks associated with raw oysters while breastfeeding. Oysters can contain harmful bacteria, including Vibrio vulnificus

Vibrio vulnificus

Vibrio vulnificus is a species of Gram-negative, motile, curved rod-shaped, pathogenic bacteria of the genus Vibrio. Present in marine environments such as estuaries, brackish ponds, or coastal areas, V. vulnificus is related to V. cholerae, the causative agent of cholera.

and E. coli, that can cause serious illness in both the mother and baby.

In most cases, shellfish is safe to eat while you're breastfeeding. One concern with shellfish and breastfeeding, however, is that shellfish can be an allergen.

Full Answer

Is it safe to eat oysters during pregnancy?

The short answer is: Yes, it can be OK (and even healthy) to eat oysters during pregnancy. But this doesn’t mean it’s OK to eat all types and preparations of oysters.

Can I eat seafood while breastfeeding?

Seafood sources that are lower in mercury include salmon, tilapia, catfish, sardines, canned light tuna, shrimp, scallops, crab, squid, lobster, and clams, among others (see the complete list at the FDA). You can safely enjoy these seafood products two to three times a week while you are breastfeeding.

Can you eat spicy foods while breastfeeding?

You may have heard a rumor that strongly flavored things—such as garlic or spicy dishes—are among the foods to avoid while breastfeeding, but there aren’t any hard and fast rules about the tastes you can enjoy. After all, how you flavor your food depends largely on your cultural cuisine.

Are there foods to avoid while breastfeeding?

For nine months, you carefully avoided deli meat, hot dogs and unpasteurized cheese (and all the other non-pregnancy-friendly foods) to keep baby safe and healthy. Of course, now that baby is finally here, those protective instincts are probably only heightened—so it’s normal to wonder if there are foods to avoid while nursing.

Why does my shellfish smell bad?

If the shellfish smells bad, it is a sign that the fish is no longer in edible condition. Discard such fish immediately to avoid the onset of food poisoning.

Is shellfish good for breastfeeding?

Shellfish is extremely low in saturated fat and supplies adequate amount of iron, to keep your body energized while breastfeeding. Iron also protects your body from harmful and disease-producing infection. The Vitamin B¬6 in shellfish promotes healthy brain development ( 2 ).

Can you eat shellfish while breastfeeding?

In most of the cases, a moderate amount of shellfish causes no potential harm to you and your breastfed baby. However, you can be allergic to seafood and suffer from health discomforts including skin rashes or eczema. But, if you have no family history of seafood allergies, you can continue nursing and eating shellfish in your diet. The main thing to remember is to store and cook the shellfish properly ( 1 ).

Can you feed a baby shellfish?

If you have a family history of food allergy, consult your doctor before including shellfish in your diet during breastfeeding. If you are allergic to seafood and especially shellfish, you may notice your feeding baby to develop some allergic symptoms including:

Can you eat shellfish if you are allergic to seafood?

If you are allergic to seafood or shellfish, it can predominantly induce allergic reactions in your feeding baby. To avoid such health discomforts, change your dietary habits and remove seafood from your diet plan.

Is seafood good for pregnant women?

The nutritional value of seafood is high for pregnant or lactating mothers. Seafood contains vital nutrients like omega-3 fats, which are greatly beneficial for both you and your baby. Omega-3 fats from shellfish serve as healthy fats and can improve the development of the nervous seen of the breastfeed baby. Some of the beneficial shellfish to be included in your diet includes:

How long to cook oysters in oven?

After boiling, you can fry or broil the oysters for about 3 minutes, or bake for 10 minutes.

What fish oil is good for mercury?

Don’t worry — there are other ways to get the same benefits. Ask your doctor about taking fish oil supplements or flaxseed oil, or increase your intake of other low mercury seafoods. Other options rich in omega-3s include salmon, sardines, herring, and freshwater trout.

How to wash hands after eating raw seafood?

It’s also important to wash your hands thoroughly after touching raw seafood. Use warm soap and water, and avoid touching your face until after you’ve cleansed your hands.

Can you cook oysters at home?

When cooking oysters at home, take steps to avoid cross-contamination. Cooked oysters (and other types of food) should never come in contact with raw seafood. Cross-contamination can lead to food poisoning, too. It’s also important to wash your hands thoroughly after touching raw seafood.

Can you eat raw oysters?

Since raw oysters carry the risk of contamination and food poisoning, only eat oysters that have been fully cooked — either by frying, broiling, baking, or boiling. When ordering oysters from a restaurant, confirm that they’re fully cooked before eating. Fully cooked oysters will have a firm texture.

Do oysters smell like salt water?

Their shells should be fully closed, and they should smell like salt water. Don’t cook oysters with already-open shells. To protect yourself, cook oysters immediately after buying. Refrigeration and cooking a few days later increases the risk of food poisoning.

Is food poisoning dangerous during pregnancy?

Food poisoning is potential ly dangerous during pregnancy. So it’s not only important to avoid bacteria-containing foods, you should also recognize symptoms of a foodborne illness.

Why is it important to have a balanced diet while breastfeeding?

A well-balanced diet is important to help both you and baby feel your best. ”. While there may not be a strict list of breastfeeding foods to avoid completely, there are a few things you may want to cut back on while nursing to keep your milk production levels up and ensure baby is happy and healthy. Read on to learn which foods to limit ...

Is it safe to eat hot dogs while breastfeeding?

Here’s the 411 on what is and isn’t safe to consum e while breastfeeding. For nine months, you carefully avoided deli meat, hot dogs and unpasteurized cheese (and all the other non-pregnancy-friendly foods) to keep baby safe and healthy. Of course, now that baby is finally here, those protective instincts are probably only heightened—so it’s normal ...

Can a breastfeeding mom eat spicy food?

After all, how you flavor your food depends largely on your cultural cuisine. Somewhere in the world, a breastfeeding mom is eating a garlicky or spicy dish, and her baby is just fine. In fact, exposing baby to different tastes might even make your child more open to flavors later on.

Can breastfeeding mothers eat?

Most breastfeeding mothers can continue to eat the foods they normally do, ” says Lindsey Shipley, RN, a childbirth educator, IBCLC-certified lactation consultant and founder of Lactation Link, an online resource for breastfeeding education. “Moderation is important here, just like at any other time of your life.

Can you breastfeed with chocolate?

When it comes to consuming chocolate and breastfeeding, you don’t have to worry. “Chocolate has a very low amount of caffeine, so you should feel comfortable enjoying a bar of chocolate,” says Tamara Hawkins, FNP, RN, IBCLC, a New York City-based lactation consultant and president of the New York Lactation Consultant Association.

Does garlic turn off baby?

Garlic. Garlic does flavor a mother’s breast milk, and some say the taste of it can turn baby off. But when it comes to garlic and breastfeeding, how baby reacts can depend on how accustomed they are to the taste.

Can you eat while breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding moms don’t need to stress too much about what not to eat while breastfeeding—but it’s important to be aware of the foods that, when consumed in large quantities, can affect baby’s health and impact your milk supply. Here’s a breakdown of the foods to partially avoid while nursing, and why.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9