LACTATING MUSHROOMS: ARE THEY DANGEROUS OR CAN I EAT THEM? - PARENTHOOD

Are breastfeeding mushrooms dangerous? Let's take stock.

For pregnant women, the joys at the table are significantly reduced, but precautions are necessary to avoid unpleasant health problems for the fetus. There are foods that should be avoided altogether and others whose consumption must be moderate: refresh your memory on which foods it would be good not to eat while pregnant, thanks to this short video. Are you already breastfeeding? Many rules no longer apply: find out which ones, keep reading!

The properties of mushrooms

Mushrooms are a delicious food, but with a particular taste that not everyone likes. They are certainly versatile and you can use them in the kitchen in different preparations: on their own, as a delicious side dish or even as an ingredient in ghiotti pasta dishes (such as risotto).

However, when you are in particular moments in life such as pregnancy or breastfeeding, it is natural to ask yourself if certain foods should be avoided in order not to annoy the baby. And among these, mushrooms are at the top of the list. It is possible to eat mushrooms while breastfeeding, let's find out what properties they have and if they can bring benefits from a nutritional point of view to the mother and baby, if taken at this stage.

New mothers do well to pause and reflect before throwing themselves on a plate of tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms, because mushrooms are a very special food. They are neither vegetables nor animals and in fact they belong to a species that is only them, that of fungi, where we also find molds and yeasts.
They grow almost everywhere, even if they love to populate the woods, and there are different varieties, some of which are not edible.

Those types that are not dangerous for man are however healthy delicacies: they contain little fat and have few calories. As nutrients we find carbohydrates and proteins, but also some fibers and vitamins (A, D, B), as well as phosphorus, selenium , iron and calcium.
From a nutritional point of view, therefore, nothing to say. But in breastfeeding how is it best to deal with mushrooms? Can they be eaten safely?

Lactating mushrooms: yes or no?

Let's start by saying that compared to pregnancy, the breastfeeding phase is characterized by more freedom from the food aspect.
Mushrooms are not among the dangerous foods to keep an eye on in the 9 months of waiting, as long as the consumption remains moderate and in small portions, and above all that the intake takes place only after a good cooking. A raw mushroom is absolutely to be avoided in gestation, to avoid intoxication or poisoning and to avoid contracting the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, which can lead to serious consequences on the fetus.

Even when breastfeeding there is no problem eating mushrooms. According to experts, however, there may be a refusal on the part of the baby, because the mushrooms alter the taste of breast milk. A little like gorgonzola, which can be found in many delicious recipes, but which not everyone likes and while breastfeeding can annoy the baby, simply because he does not like its taste through milk. (Want to know more about this topic ? Read our article on gorgonzola and breastfeeding).
Other foods that perform a similar action on mother's milk are garlic, onions, asparagus, cabbage and artichokes, just to name the main ones.

The decision to consume them while you are struggling with the first months of breastfeeding is exclusively yours: there are those who recommend avoiding / limiting them, but also specifies that babies adapt quickly to new flavors. If you love mushrooms, you can try a "gradual introduction into your diet and see how your baby reacts." If you don't see mood swings or tummy upsets, you can safely continue, keeping in mind a few tips for safe consumption.

How to eat mushrooms safely

As we said earlier, mushrooms are a very special food that grows almost everywhere, therefore their origin is not always sure and this is one of the main dangers of eating mushrooms at the table.
The doubts related to mushrooms are not so much about consumption, but about the way in which they are taken!

There are some important precautions you can take when you decide to eat some, whether breastfeeding or in everyday life. First point: buy them from certified and guaranteed bodies. Avoid buying from people who collect them only for passion, because the origin must always be verified by a professional, such as a mycologist.
Similarly, do not eat mushrooms that have been picked up along the roads or in fields; you never know if pesticides have been used.
If you notice that they do not appear to be fresh, better leave it alone: for your own good and that of the baby it is always advisable to ingest them when they are in excellent condition and only if they have only been well cooked. Conservation in oil should be evaluated, because the development of botulinum toxin is always possible.
Finally, consume them within 6 months of opening and remember to blanch them a little before freezing.

To all these rules a last one must be added, which refers to the right quantity to be taken. Normally mushrooms should not exceed in a weekly diet, and in particular when breastfeeding, when the diet must be more balanced and nutritious than ever. the consumption of mushrooms is allowed only in moderate quantities.

The diet of a nursing mom

The last point treated allows us to open the way to a broader but still relevant topic with respect to the intake of mushrooms in breastfeeding: what other foods can or should a mother who is breastfeeding a baby eat? How should his diet be composed?

The answer that industry experts agree is that there is no specific diet for breastfeeding mothers.The diet can be the usual one, provided that it is varied and that the cornerstones of good food are present, namely vegetables, proteins and fruit. In addition, it must not be characterized by excesses; better choose the balance between foods, the best choice for you and your baby.

A new mother has different nutritional and caloric needs compared to pregnancy and compared to a normal situation (about 500kcal more per day in the first months of breastfeeding). If you are in this period you will have already noticed it starting from the first or second week of breastfeeding: breastfeeding requires a great deal of energy and consequently hunger is also greater. You can maintain strength by increasing portions at meals or opting for more nutritious snacks, always doing it in a balanced way.
Don't forget to drink lots of water, even 2 or 3 liters a day; this way you will help produce the milk your baby needs to grow healthy and strong.

There is no diet that can be taken without a correct lifestyle; however tired you feel, always allow yourself to take nice walks with your little one. Movement combined with proper nutrition favors the passage of the right micronutrients to the infant and above all allows you not put on other extra pounds.

Things to avoid while breastfeeding

We have just seen that mushrooms can be safely eaten when you are breastfeeding, but there may be other foods that you should be careful of, because they can trigger allergies in the baby.

Talk to your pediatrician because the currents of thought are different. Some argue that it is best not to ingest foods of a spicy nature such as pepper, curry or chili and also other foods that are potentially allergenic (see shellfish, crustaceans, strawberries or dried fruit). According to others, however, it is possible to take it in increasing quantities to see the child's reactions.

Certainly there are some things that during pregnancy and breastfeeding should be avoided: alcohol of all kinds, including beer, and substances containing caffeine (someone gives one or two cups of coffee a day, but adapted to your child's reactions because if you notice that he is too agitated, better leave it alone!). If you can't help but make sure you drink them away from feedings, at least 3 to 4 hours before.
These foods not recommended are such because they pass the substances contained within them into breast milk, but apart from those listed above which can trigger allergies, all other foods do not cause discomfort to the baby, if not alterations in the milk.
Don't believe those who will tell you that if you eat certain foods while breastfeeding it is easier to cause colic in your little one: there is no scientific basis for this.