Food poisoning can happen to anyone who has consumed stale or toxic food. But it can raise some concerns if women experience food poisoning while breastfeeding. Mostly resulting from consuming contaminated food, it can cause you to vomit out of nausea and lead to dehydration, besides other common symptoms. Although the stomach infection is not known to cause any harm to the baby, you may need to consult your healthcare provider under certain circumstances. It can be cured with simple home remedies and medical treatments. Read on to know more about food poisoning in lactating women, including its causes, symptoms, and treatments.
What Is Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning refers to the stomach upset and fatigue that occurs due to consuming contaminated food containing toxins and harmful microbes.
Causes Of Food Poisoning While Breastfeeding
Food poisoning in breastfeeding mothers can occur due to the consumption of contaminated food that contains toxins and harmful viruses and bacteria. Bacteria, such as E Coli, salmonella, and listeria, can lead to the symptoms of food poisoning. Viruses such as rotavirus can cause food poisoning. Parasites such as Giardia can also cause stomach upsets. Breastfeeding mothers can also suffer from food poisoning due to the consumption of undercooked or raw food. So you need to be careful while consuming seafood, meat, and dairy products during lactation (1).
Symptoms Of Food Poisoning While Breastfeeding
What symptoms of food poisoning do nursing mothers experience? Here is a list of prominent symptoms of food poisoning in lactating mothers.
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Abdominal cramps
Fever
Blood in stools
Dehydration
Dry mouth
Fatigue, lightheadedness
Blurry vision General muscular weakness and tingling in arms (1)
Treating Food Poisoning While Breastfeeding
Treatment for food poisoning in nursing mothers primarily involves curing dehydration and helping them feel better. Here, we list some effective treatments for food poisoning in nursing mothers.
1. Increase Your Fluid Intake:
Increasing your fluid intake will help treat dehydration to a great extent. Fluids hydrate your body as well as help increase the milk production in nursing mothers. You feel physically comfortable to continue nursing your dear little one. Make sure you drink non-caffeinated beverages to treat diarrhea and dehydration. Oral rehydration solution (ORS) can help balance the salt, water, and sugar levels in your body and replace the lost fluids during diarrhea. If you suffer from diarrhea for more than three days, avoid having solid foods and dairy products.
2. Antibiotics:
Consult a licensed doctor for appropriate antibiotics to curtail the symptoms and effects of food poisoning while breastfeeding. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics to kill harmful bacteria and other microbes in your stomach and speed up your recovery.
3. Hospitalization And Intravenous Medications:
If you suffer from chronic food poisoning, a visit to the hospital may be the only plausible option. Intravenous fluids and medicines can help you recover quickly. Prompt treatment can also help you keep your baby safe from any infection (2).
Is It Safe To Breastfeed While Suffering From Food Poisoning?
Yes, you can continue to breastfeed your dear little one even if you suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Since the bacteria and microbes are present only in your stomach and not in the breast milk, it is safe to breastfeed your baby. If the toxins pass into your bloodstream, you need to stop breastfeeding and seek immediate medical attention (3).
Preventing Food Poisoning While Breastfeeding
Here are some ways to prevent breastfeeding food poisoning.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Make sure you eat well-cooked and safely packaged foods.
Maintain a clean home and surroundings to avoid the growth of bacteria in the kitchen (4).
