Get Instant Access To Our In-Depth Reviews, Expert Advice, Intensively Researched Deals, And Helpful Tips.
Lactose-Free Diet for Breastfeeding Moms or a dairy-free breastfeeding diet is the best choice of food for any breastfeeding mom.
This is because, as a breastfeeding mom, you can’t really tell if your baby has a milk allergy or not. And there is no way to know when your baby starts showing symptoms of lactose intolerance.
What is Lactose Intolerance?
According to the Oxford dictionary, this is a partial or total inability to digest lactose, which may result in abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea after consuming milk and other dairy products and is caused by deficiency of the enzyme lactase.
This lactose intolerance in babies usually gives them lots of sleepless nights and as a mother, you wouldn’t want to experience this with your baby. Hence, it is always advisable to check if your baby is able to digest your milk or not.
In most cases, when a baby is lactose intolerant — it is usually not from the breast milk but from lactose-based food that you consume such as vitamins, protein, and nutrients from other dairy products.
If you notice your baby having indigestion after breastfeeding, you should reconsider what you are eating while breastfeeding — breast milk comes from what you eat.
Always opt for the Lactose-Free Diet for Breastfeeding Moms since they are healthy as the diets prescribed by doctors.
Recommended Post: Hospital Bag Checklist for Mom and Baby
What Is a Dairy-Free Diet?
These are diets that are not milk-based. Meaning they are not having milk in them. Although dairy-related proteins are present in almost every food – the mother’s milk is usually free of dairy.
What is Lactose-free Diet?
These are foods that have no lactose. Lactose is known as sugar that is part of milk products. Some people are not able to break down this lactose properly because they may lack the lactase enzyme — enzymes that break down lactose in the body. While some people have lactase that may not function properly hence resulting in lactose intolerance.
As a breastfeeding mom, you need to follow a Lactose-Free Diet for Breastfeeding Moms to prevent lactose intolerance in your baby. You can meet your dietitian or caregiver to help you decide if you need to be on a lactose-free or low-lactose diet instead.
If a nursing mother consumes dairy foods/lactose foods, then the tendency of those dairy nutrients to pass to the baby through breast milk is high.
List of Lactose-Free Diet for Breastfeeding Moms
If you are a breastfeeding mom, below is the list of dairy-free breastfeeding diets you can eat at any time that are good choices because they contain no lactose.
NB: Ensure you read labels on foods to see if they have milk products in them before buying. Foods such as shortenings, non-dairy creamers, baked goods, margarine, and salad dressings contain lactose. I listed some of those foods in this post.
1. DAIRY – Lactose-Free Diet for Breastfeeding Moms
These are lactose-free dairy foods or drinks – they are dairy-free breastfeeding diets you can eat at any time.
- Nutrition canned drinks made with soy instead of milk.
- Lactose-free milk
- Non-dairy creamers (ensure you read labels)
- Soymilks
- Rice milk drinks
Contains Lactose
The following dairy foods contain lactose – do not eat these foods
- Cheese – although some aged cheese contains less lactose. However, soft and processed cheese may contain higher levels of lactose
- Ice cream
- Buttermilk
- Cream
- Milk like (Evaporated & condensed milk, Kefir cultured milk drink, Malted milk, Reduced lactose milk)
- Hot chocolate mixes
- Sweet acidophilus or lactobacillus milk
- Sherbet
- Sour cream
- Whey
- Yogurt with or without live cultures
2. FATS – Lactose-Free Diet for Breastfeeding Moms
These are lactose-free fats – they are dairy-free breastfeeding diets you can eat at any time.
- Oils
- Non-dairy creamers (Always check labels to be sure)
- Shortenings
- Margarine (Always check labels to be sure
- Salad dressings (Always check labels to be sure)
Contains Lactose
The following Fats contain lactose – you may not want to eat these foods during breastfeeding
- Butter
- Cream cheese
- Margarine with butter or milk
- Party dips
3. FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Lactose-Free Diet for Breastfeeding Moms
These are lactose-free fruits and vegetables – they are dairy-free breastfeeding diets you can eat at any time.
- All fresh fruits & vegetables
- Cooked fruits or baked fruits & vegetables without milk products
- Fruit & vegetable juices
Recommended Post: Medela Symphony vs Spectra S1 – Which Breast Pump is Better
Contains Lactose
The following fruits and vegetables contain lactose – try to avoid them when breastfeeding
- Creamed vegetables
- Fruit smoothies made with yogurt
- Fruits or vegetables processed with lactose
- Batter coated vegetables
4. MEATS & MEAT SUBSTITUTES – Lactose-Free Diet for Breastfeeding Moms
These are lactose-free meats and substitutes – they are dairy-free breastfeeding diets you can eat at any time.
- All fresh cooked, plain meats, fish, & poultry
- Cooked dried peas & beans
- Eggs (do not add milk
- Peanut butter, nuts, & seeds
- Soy cheeses
- Soybean and tofu products
Contains Lactose
The following meats and substitutes contain lactose – try to avoid them when breastfeeding
- Breaded or batter-dipped meat, fish, or poultry
- Main dishes with cheese such as pizza, burritos, tacos, or casseroles
- Meats in cream sauces
- Omelets or souffles with milk
- Processed meats with milk or lactose (hot dogs, cold cuts, deli meats)
5. SWEETS & DESSERTS – Lactose-Free Diet for Breastfeeding Moms
These are lactose-free sweets and desserts – they are dairy-free breastfeeding diets you can eat at any time.
- Dairy-free frozen desserts made with rice or soy
- Frozen pureed fruit bars
- Honey, sugar, molasses, & powdered sweeteners
- Jellies, jams, preserves
- Fruit ices & sorbets
- Gelatin desserts without milk or whipped cream
- Pies, cakes, other baked foods without milk
Contains Lactose
The following sweets and desserts contain lactose – try to avoid them when breastfeeding
- Cookies, cakes, pies, pastries, desserts with milk
- Cream or cheese-filled pastries
- Fudge, coated candies, & chocolates
- Pudding & custard
- Sherbet, ice milk, ice cream
- Toffee, butterscotch, or caramels
- Whipped cream
Recommended Post: Hospital Bag Checklist for Mom and Baby
6. SAUCES, SOUPS, and SEASONINGS – Lactose-Free Diet for Breastfeeding Moms
These are lactose-free sauces, soups, and seasoning – they are dairy-free breastfeeding diets you can eat at any time.
- Broth, bouillon, consommé
- Gravies made with water
- Plain herbs & spices
- Vegetable or meat soups without milk
Contains Lactose
The following sauces, soups, and seasoning contain lactose – try to avoid them when breastfeeding
- Chowders
- Cream soups
- Soup mixes with milk products
- Whipped cream
- White sauces & gravies
7. BREAD & STARCHES – Lactose-Free Diet for Breastfeeding Moms
These are lactose-free bread and starches – they are dairy-free breastfeeding diets you can eat at any time.
- Potatoes, rice, barley, and other whole grains without milk
- Bread made without milk, like the Italian & French bread
- Rice cakes without cheese topping
- Cereals that contain no milk
- Pasta, noodles
- Saltines and whole-grain crackers
Contains Lactose
The following bread and starches contain lactose – try to avoid them when breastfeeding
- Dry cereal with milk
- Frozen potato foods with milk or lactose
- Instant mashed potato mixes
- Prepared bread, muffins, biscuits, or rolls made with milk
- Pancakes or waffles made with milk products
Foods That Are High in Lactose
- Milk powder
- Milk protein
- Soft served ice-cream smoothie
- Cheese (including cottage and cream cheese)
- Butter
- Iced coffee
- Milkshakes, smoothies, creamy beverages
- Milk solids
- Nonfat dry milk
- Sour cream & whipped cream
- Yogurt
- Dips and spreads
- Hot cocoa
- Whey
- Whey solids or protein
- Milk
- Milk powder (can be found in any processed food)
- Creamy sauces
Recommended Post: Hospital Bag Checklist for Mom and Baby
When Is a Dairy-free Diet Needed During Nursing?
For a breastfeeding mom, when you notice a change in your baby’s behavior during nursing, it is time to reconsider your dieting. — some of these changes may include gas problems, pooing, etc. and a major course of these problems is cow’s milk.
You should also consider changing your diet if you notice your baby having sleepless nights and always crying. And if your baby has rashes, itchy eyes, constipation, hives, eczema, or diarrhea, your baby might be lactose intolerant.
This means your baby may be having issues digesting dairy products, hence you should consider switching to a dairy-free diet.
Is Lactose-free Milk Good for Newborns?
If your baby is experiencing lactose intolerance, he or she may still eat lactose-free dairy products including lactose-free milk, cheese, and yogurts— these are all good sources of calcium.
Can lactose cause permanent damage?
When you are experiencing lactose intolerance, this may lead to calcium deficiency – which is seen as the long-term health consequence of lactose intolerance. This calcium deficiency may lead to osteoporosis.
What are the signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance?
The common symptoms of lactose intolerance are gastrointestinal and include:
These are the primary symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea,
- Flatulence (passing gas).
These are the less common symptoms of lactose intolerance:
- Abdominal bloating,
- Abdominal distention
- Nausea.
