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Most new mothers try to breastfeed their baby at first, unable to ignore the oft-repeated mantra ‘breast is best’. However, despite the vast benefits of breastfeeding that are being highlighted during World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), including protecting the baby from infection and disease, and health benefits for the mother, a huge proportion of mothers quickly give up. Figures from the last UK-wide Infant Feeding Survey (albeit from 2010) found that while more than three-quarters of women start breastfeeding when their baby’s born, this drops to 55% doing any breastfeeding at six weeks, while at six months, just 34% do any breastfeeding, and only 1% breastfeed exclusively. There are many reasons for this, but Public Health England research found more than half of mothers were concerned they might need a special diet to breastfeed, and a similar proportion were worried that breastfeeding meant they couldn’t tell if their baby was getting too much or too little milk. But should new mums really be concerned about eating or not eating specific foods if they’re breastfeeding, and can their diet affect how much milk their baby’s getting? The simple answer is no, as long as they’re eating a healthy balanced diet, says the baby charity Tommy’s. Because while the NHS warns pregnant mothers to avoid specific foods like soft blue cheeses, undercooked meat, liver, pâté and game meats, there are no foods breastfeeding mums must not eat, says Tommy’s. “There are a lot of myths out there around breastfeeding which can leave new parents unsure of what to do and where to turn,” says Tommy’s midwife Sophie King. “If you choose to breastfeed or combination feed, there’s no special foods you need to have, but a varied diet can help our bodies make the best quality milk for our babies. This typically includes lots of vegetables, fruits, grains and proteins. It’s also important that you stay well-hydrated with plenty of water. “ In addition, she says it’s recommended that mothers who are exclusively breastfeeding take a daily vitamin D supplement. An occasional alcoholic drink is unlikely to cause any harm if you’re breastfeeding, says King, but she warns: “Try not to have more than one or two units of alcohol once or twice a week. There’s some evidence that regularly drinking more than two units of alcohol a day while breastfeeding may affect your baby’s development.” In addition, caffeine can reach babies through breast milk, and King explains: “Caffeine is a stimulant, so if you have a lot, it may make your baby restless and keep them awake.” Caffeine occurs naturally in lots of foods and drink, including coffee, tea and chocolate, and it’s also added to some soft drinks and energy drinks, as well as some cold and flu remedies. “There’s not enough information to say how much caffeine is too much, and babies respond to caffeine differently,” says King. “But it’s a good idea to reduce how much caffeine you drink, especially when your baby is less than six months old.” But does what a mother eats affect her milk supply? Again, the answer is no, explains Justine Fieth of the breastfeeding support charity La Leche League GB (LLLGB). “There are no particular foods you need to eat to increase breastmilk – milk production is determined by the amount of milk removed from the breast,” she says. Breastmilk is made in the mother’s breasts, directly from her blood, rather than from the food she eats. Fieth says LLLGB recognises the importance of a varied and healthy diet, and stresses that it’s important for mothers to speak to a qualified breastfeeding supporter if they feel they have low milk supply. “Unless there’s a physical or physiological reason for low milk production, a mother who breastfeeds on cue will be able to produce enough milk for her baby, regardless of what she eats,” she explains. “In certain circumstances, medications can be used to increase supply, but diet plays a minor part – though obviously, eating a varied, healthy diet is always a good thing.” For breastfeeding support, contact the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Sten dos: What you need to know about the quirky wedding trend Why have the birds disappeared from my garden? Psoriasis Awareness Month: Everything you need to know

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Toxic flame retardants have been found in human breast milk, research has revealed. A new peer-reviewed study published in the Environmental Pollution journal has identified 25 types of toxic flame retardants in human breast milk in the US, posing a “disturbing” threat to breastfeeding infants. After analysing breast milk samples of 50 mothers from the Seattle area, researchers at Toxic Free Future, Emory University, the University of Washington, and Seattle Children’s Research Institute found brominated flame retardants (BFRs) – a class of man-made compounds commonly used in products like upholstered furniture, televisions, and insulation. Researchers have warned that these chemicals, as well as the presence of flame retardants in human breast milk, can have an “adverse effect on human health” and “early-life exposures are of greatest concern”. One type of flame retardant found in the breast milk samples were polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), despite these compounds being phased out by manufacturers nearly 10 years ago. Efforts to ban PBDEs came around in 2003 after the toxic chemicals were found in the breast milk of 20 mothers in the US. Chemical producers quickly stopped the sale of PBDEs for use in upholstered furniture, and they were eventually banned by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Companies then turned to another, largely unregulated BFR called bromophenols, which are used in electronics and have been shown to affect hormone levels in infants. While the research found that levels of banned PBDEs had declined in breast milk samples – 70 per cent lower than they were 20 years ago – bromophenols were present in 88 per cent of the breast milk samples tested, ultimately replacing one banned chemical with another, unsafe chemical in the same class. “Our results show that when we prohibit the use of persistent toxic chemicals like PBDEs, we make breast milk safer for babies,” said Erika Schreder, study co-author and science director at Toxic Free Future, a group that has advocated for new regulation of industry and consumer products. “But it’s disturbing to find that the replacement chemicals are now building up in breast milk.” Brominated flame retardants are often put into casings for TVs and other electronics. Studies have shown that these chemicals can escape out of products into indoor dust and air, outdoor air, surface water and of course, breast milk. BFRs have also been linked to negative health impacts such as learning problems, hormone disruption, and reduced fertility. “It’s concerning to find flame retardants in breast milk that can disrupt hormones and affect children’s brain development,” said Dr Amina Salamova, study co-author and assistant professor at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, adding that bromophenols have already been found to “affect key thyroid hormones during fetal development”. Local, state, and federal policy makers have since taken steps towards regulating harmful flame retardants. In December 2021, New York governor Kathy Hochul signed into law a bill that restricted the use of flame retardants in furniture, mattresses, and electronic displays. The law also prohibited the use of organohalogen flame retardants (OFRs) in electronic enclosures, such as televisions. The European Food and Safety Authority has also banned or restricted the use of certain BFRs and BFR-treated products throughout the EU to protect health and the environment. “I hope we can learn our lesson this time and put policies in place that address the entire class and make sure chemicals used in products are known to be safe,” said Schreder. Read More Baby formula crisis: As the cost of living bites, meet the parents struggling to feed their infants Keke Palmer claims she faced ‘breast milk discrimination’ at airport: ‘Why is that not a crime?’ Couple doing IVF lets their dog decide baby’s sex Women in certain professions ‘may be at higher risk of ovarian cancer’ – study Mother calls out ‘double standard’ after husband is praised for doing ‘bare minimum’ Couple praised after sharing intimate bathroom TikTok: ‘The reality of birth’