{"id":10024,"date":"2025-12-23T22:03:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T14:03:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wise-mag.com\/?p=10024"},"modified":"2025-12-23T22:04:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T14:04:50","slug":"how-does-food-pass-through-breastmilk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wise-mag.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/23\/how-does-food-pass-through-breastmilk\/","title":{"rendered":"How does Food pass through Breastmilk?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My friend was recently telling me about her breastfeeding escapades. One day, when her daughter was 4 months old, she had a very bad craving for durian. So, she bought a box and ate about 10 pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few hours later, post breastfeeding her daughter, her daughter\u2019s mouth smelt like durian.  She was surprised and got her husband to smell her daughter\u2019s mouth and it did smell like durian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also realised her milk supply increased post-consuming the durian. This shows that durian is a milk increasing galactagogue for her. Galactagogues are substances believed to help increase milk production in breastfeeding mothers and this varies from women to women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing my friend realised is that post the durian consumption, her daughter\u2019s milk intake increased drastically. She would wake up every 2 hours at night to drink the milk. If she does not get her milk supply, she cries out loud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And my friend realised, she has a durian monster at home!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a.  How does the taste and scent of food transfer to the breast milk?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Fenugreek can increase breast milk supply, but it also makes breast milk smell like a herbal concoction<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

When a mother eats certain foods especially strongly flavoured ones, the aromatic compounds enter the bloodstream and subsequently the breast milk. This will subtly change the milk\u2019s smell and taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the common foods that influence breast milk are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Garlic<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Onions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Spices (e.g., curry, cumin)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Mint<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Vanilla<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Alcohol<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Some fruits and vegetables (e.g., carrots, citrus)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    b. Does the change in breast milk taste and scent affects the intake?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"
    The breast milk has different colors due to diet intake<\/strong>. A yellow hue in the milk could<\/strong><\/em> arise due to turmeric intake and a pinkish hue could arise due to beetroot intake.<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    Yes \u2013 some of the changes observed are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Many babies increase their suckling time and drink more milk if the mother has more garlic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Exposure to many different flavours through milk may cause babies to be more open to different foods when they start weaning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      c. Is it harmful for breast milk to have these changes in taste and scent?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
      \"\"
      Some of the most common food allergies in kids. Breastfeeding mothers to observe child’s reaction when consuming these foods in large quantities. <\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

      No. Flavour changes in breast milk are normal and safe<\/strong>. The only exceptions are if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • The baby has a food allergy, though allergies are rarely passed through breast milk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • The parent notices the baby is unusually fussy or cranky after a specific food.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Some babies who are sensitive may develop colic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        d. What passes into breastmilk?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

        \n
        \"\"
        Herbs and other spices passes through the milk and it can influence the scent and taste of breast milk.<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
          \n
        • Actual odours<\/em> in the air (like cooking smells or perfumes) do not<\/strong> pass into breastmilk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Only digestible compounds<\/strong> from foods eaten such as garlic, onion, spices, vanilla, mint, and herbs can enter the milk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Fat soluble nutrients like vitamin A, D, E, K can enter the milk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Certain foods like dairy, spicy foods, cruciferous veggies and beans can cause children to become fussier.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          e. Does medication and supplements pass through breast milk?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

          \n
          \"\"
          A stash of medication and supplements<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

          Yes, they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • Prescription medicines like Panadol, antibiotics and BP medication can pass through the breast milk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Herbal supplements and high dose vitamins do pass through breast milk as well.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Breastfeeding is to be stopped immediately if a mother takes chemotherapy drugs, immune suppressing drugs, hormonal drugs and recreational drugs like cocaine.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            f. How about coffee \u2013 does it pass through breast milk?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

            \n
            \"\"
            The most consumed caffeine in the world is coffee<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

            Yes, it does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            • Sources of caffeine are coffee, tea, energy drinks, soda and chocolate<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Small amounts do not cause much effect to the baby but too much caffeine<\/strong> may cause the baby to be irritable and have trouble sleeping.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • General guideline: limit to about 1\u20132 cups of coffee a day<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              g. How about alcohol \u2013 does it pass through breast milk?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

              \n
              \"\"
              All the common alcohol brands and types in the market<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

              Yes, it does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              • This can affect\u2019s baby\u2019s sleep and development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Guideline: Wait at least 2\u20133 hours per drink<\/strong> before breastfeeding. Pumping does not<\/strong> remove alcohol faster\u2014time does.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                All in all, during breastfeeding it is important to monitor baby\u2019s behaviour when certain new foods are taken. It is also observed that certain foods especially herbal supplements can trigger rashes or small bumps on a child\u2019s skin. This is a normal occurrence and it is nothing to worry about.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                My friend was recently telling me about her breastfeeding escapades. One day, when her daughter was 4 months old, she had a very bad craving for durian. So, she bought a box and ate about 10 pieces. A few hours later, post breastfeeding her daughter, her daughter\u2019s mouth smelt like durian.  She was surprised and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":385,"featured_media":10055,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,12,6,2],"tags":[691,884,248,244,1075],"class_list":["post-10024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family","category-food-drinks","category-wise-health","category-wise-moves","tag-baby","tag-breastmilk","tag-food","tag-scent","tag-taste"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wise-mag.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wise-mag.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wise-mag.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wise-mag.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/385"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wise-mag.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10024"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/wise-mag.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10068,"href":"https:\/\/wise-mag.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10024\/revisions\/10068"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wise-mag.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wise-mag.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wise-mag.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wise-mag.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}