Breastfeeding causes a lot of inconvenience in terms of nutrition for a new mother, because during this period you cannot eat anything tasty. Many women are interested in whether it is possible to have waffles while breastfeeding in the first month. Today we will talk about this product and figure out how to use it correctly so as not to harm the baby.
Waffles can be eaten while breastfeeding just a few months after giving birth.
Benefits and possible harm
Eating waffles raises questions among nursing mothers. They contain many nutrients that will be beneficial during breastfeeding. Despite this, you need to eat them very carefully. The beneficial properties of the treat include the following:
- mood lifting;
- improving brain function;
- help with stress and depression;
- energy charge;
- normalization of metabolism;
- improved digestion and stool;
- help with severe fatigue, sleep problems, etc.
The consumption of all foods, especially sweets, is accompanied by some contraindications and possible adverse reactions. This is most relevant during the period of breastfeeding. Excessive amounts of waffles in the diet can lead to weight gain, as they are very high in calories. In addition, using cocoa, nuts, etc. as filling can cause an allergic reaction in an infant. It can manifest itself in the form of rashes, itching, spots, hives and other symptoms.
Almost all store-bought waffles contain flavorings, flavor enhancers and other chemicals that are dangerous not only for a nursing woman, but also for a baby. They can cause various adverse reactions, including poisoning in a child. A high content of carbohydrates, including sugar, negatively affects the child’s gastrointestinal tract, since he cannot cope with their digestion. This manifests itself in the form of colic, bowel movements or restlessness.
Can a nursing mother eat waffles?
Store-bought wafers with fillings will not benefit a nursing mother. If you're looking for something sweet to eat while breastfeeding, choose a natural product. Such waffles will only bring benefits if you know how to use them correctly.
In the first month after birth
The diet of a lactating woman in the first month after childbirth should not contain allergens and foods that are difficult to digest. That is why sweets are prohibited during this period, including waffles. The baby's gastrointestinal tract adapts to nutritional conditions. He cannot cope with a heavy load, which leads to many negative reactions.
How and when to introduce it into the diet?
It is not recommended to eat waffles until the baby is 4 months old. If we are talking about delicacies with filling, it is best to introduce them into the diet after six months. For the first time, eat a third of the waffle in the morning. Wash down the treat with water or unsweetened tea. Negative manifestations from the gastrointestinal tract or allergies usually appear within 2 days. If you do not notice any changes in your baby, you can gradually increase the amount. It is recommended to eat no more than 30–50 g of product per day. You should not eat sweets every day.
What waffles can you eat during breastfeeding?
Nursing mothers need to approach the choice of waffles responsibly. The wide selection in the store makes you wonder what treats are harmless for your baby. Pay attention to the creamy waffles. It is better to postpone a product with cocoa until later during breastfeeding, since chocolate should be eaten very carefully while breastfeeding.
Study the composition carefully. Products with fragrances and other chemical additives should not be consumed while breastfeeding. Look at the expiration date and appearance. This cannot always be done in packaging, but you can appreciate loose ones. Fresh, high-quality waffles should be crunchy and crumbly. If this does not happen, it means the product has become damp due to long-term storage or improper conditions. Only fresh waffles are allowed to be eaten. It’s still better to choose gingerbread cookies rather than waffles. Read more in the article “Can you eat gingerbread while breastfeeding?”
White creamy
White creamy wafers are considered the safest for a lactating woman, so they should be preferred. Adding dyes or cocoa increases the risk of developing allergies in your baby. The creamy filling is quite fatty, which can cause gastrointestinal problems in a child.
Choose creamy wafers with the simplest and most natural composition, pay attention to the expiration date.
Chocolate
Most experts say that chocolate wafers are prohibited during breastfeeding. However, it is not. They are really not recommended for consumption due to the allergenic nature of chocolate. But after six months, natural chocolate wafers most likely will not cause harm. It is best to introduce them into the diet when your baby has already become acquainted with chocolate through milk. If the baby is not allergic to this product, you can introduce chocolate wafers into the diet.
On fructose
Fructose is the most popular sweetener. Products containing it are considered more dietary. Fructose does not cause a sharp jump in blood sugar, so it is allowed for diabetes. Lactating women will only benefit from such a sugar substitute in waffles.
Peanuts
It is better not to eat peanut wafers while breastfeeding. Peanuts are considered a strong allergen that can cause various negative reactions, including anaphylactic shock. It is best not to eat the kernels themselves for up to 6 months, and peanut derivatives for even longer. If you still really want to eat them, check first to see if your baby is allergic to peanuts.
Wafer bread
Crispbread is a dietary product. They are allowed to be eaten during breastfeeding. They do not contain sugar or other sweeteners. Crispbreads can have different compositions, which is why the timing of consumption depends. Most are allowed to be introduced into the diet a month after birth.
Wafer rolls
Waffle rolls are a favorite dessert of many women. They can have completely different fillings. Safety of use depends on this. It is not recommended to eat tubes with chocolate or rich cream for up to six months. Treats with curd filling are allowed to be eaten 3 months after birth.
Walnut wafer rolls are not recommended for breastfeeding until the baby is six months old due to the allergenic filling.
How to choose waffles
General recommendations for choosing waffles:
- You need to pay attention to the expiration date of the product. The packaging must be intact.
- When you press the pack, a characteristic crunch should be heard. This indicates that the waffles were stored correctly.
- You should avoid products that contain synthetic dyes and fragrances. These are all artificial additives that can be harmful to an adult, not to mention a baby.
- It is best to give preference to products that have a dietary filling of fruit puree. It contains a minimum of dyes and other additives.
- It is very important that palm oil is not included in the ingredient list. It is a milk fat substitute that is pre-processed and very unhealthy.
- Of course, it is better to buy waffles without cream and filling. It is in the interlayers that a large number of harmful components are contained.
- It is acceptable for waffles to contain fruit. If instead there is condensed milk or whipped cream, then there is a high probability that they were made from surrogates and not natural products.
If possible, it is better to prepare waffles yourself at home - this gives 100% confidence in the naturalness and quality of the delicacy.
Is it possible to have homemade waffles during breastfeeding? Recipes
Homemade waffles are much tastier and healthier than store-bought ones. You can be confident in their quality and choose a filling that will not cause negative reactions in your baby. There are many recipes for such a delicacy. Let's talk about the most common ones.
Classic Viennese
To make real Viennese waffles you need an electric waffle iron, but if you don’t have one, you can bake them in the oven. These waffles are crispy on top and soft on the inside.
Compound:
Homemade Viennese waffles for a nursing mother.
- Milk - 200 ml.
- Flour - 300 g.
- Egg - 3 pieces.
- Butter - 170 g.
- Sugar - 150 g.
- Baking powder - 2 tsp.
Preparation:
- Soften the butter and grind with sugar.
- Add milk and eggs. Beat with a mixer.
- Add flour and baking powder, stir.
- Pour a little batter into the waffle iron and spread over the entire surface.
- Bake for up to 5 minutes.
- Serve with jam, preserves, condensed milk or other toppings that are present in your diet.
Fresh
This recipe is suitable for nursing mothers in the first months of a baby’s life.
Compound:
- Water - 1 glass.
- Flour - 1 cup.
- Egg - 1 pc.
- Salt - a pinch.
- Soda - on the tip of a teaspoon.
- Sugar - to taste.
Preparation:
- Mix all liquid ingredients and beat with a mixer.
- Add flour, salt, soda and continue whisking.
- You can add a little sugar if you want sweeter waffles.
- Bake on an electric waffle iron for 3-5 minutes.
Sweet trap
I don’t want to upset nursing mothers, but we have to talk about the other side of the coin so that you don’t fall into the sweet “waffle trap.” There are several serious reasons why experienced doctors rightly classify waffles as undesirable products during lactation:
- Waffles contain cocoa, which would not be so insidious if it were not a strong allergen for the baby.
- No matter how we are assured that the product is natural, this is not so. Treat manufacturers usually do not skimp on harmful emulsifiers, dyes and preservatives. Your breastfed baby will definitely not appreciate such filling.
- Today, the assortment of waffles pleases with a rich variety, among which options with nut filling are especially popular. Unfortunately, nuts are also on the list of common allergens.
- Unfortunately, there is always a risk of buying low-quality waffles, which are very dangerous for indigestion for both you and your baby.
- Breastfeeding mothers who want to keep their figure slim will definitely not like the calorie content of this delicacy: for example, chocolate wafers contain as much as 516 kcal on average. in 100 g
- Being rich in carbohydrates doesn't just have a positive effect. Their oversaturation can be a serious burden on the baby.
Statistics also share some sad data: 80% of waffle-loving mothers who carelessly ate them while breastfeeding noted not only characteristic rashes in the child, but also a tendency to allergies in the future.
Based on all of the above, the conclusion suggests itself that it is undesirable for a nursing mother to eat waffles. But if your body literally requires sweets, try to trick it a little: spread your favorite homemade jam on a bun. This delicacy will be much more beneficial for you and your sensitive baby. If this method doesn't work and you're still craving waffles, don't despair, because we know what to do.