Your concern about whether or not to temporarily stop eating certain foods is a very common one for the nursing mother. Luckily, most babies are not bothered by their mom's varied (or spicy) diet.

Garlic, in sufficient quantity, will alter the smell and taste of breastmilk. This peaks in intensity two hours following consumption. Though your expressed milk may have a pungent aroma, researchers have found that babies actually prefer garlic flavored mothers' milk! In one study, nursing moms were given either a placebo or a garlic capsule on the day of testing. It was found that the infants nursed longer, sucked more, and took in a larger quantity, when their mom's milk had the aroma and flavor of garlic (Mennella & Beauchamp, 1991). It has been hypothesized that the fetus has already been exposed to a variety of flavors and tastes while in utero (and the sense of taste is functional), so this taste may be quite familiar.

In the United States we sometimes forget about nursing moms in other cultures. Indian moms who are nursing continue to enjoy their curries. Moms from Mexico will still eat their spicy dishes that are full of flavor. But we feel that while nursing we must adhere to a bland diet, and this is just not the case for most nursing moms.

If you do suspect that your baby is bothered by a food you eat, remove it from your diet for a week or so. Then eat a small quantity and observe your little one's reaction. If he seems fine, try the same food in a more generous serving several days later. Sometimes a baby can tolerate small amounts of a certain food, but may appear sensitive to large quantities. Or he may be fine if you eat the offending food only one time a week, but will show signs of sensitivity if consumed frequently.

You do not need to be concerned about the differing aromas or tastes of your expressed milk. It is thought that these varied flavors that your nursing baby receives through your milk help him to be more accepting of different tastes when solid foods are introduced. Julie Mennella, Ph.D., an expert in the early development of human flavor preferences, states,"mothers' milk provides a rich sensory experience for the infant, and may act as a flavor bridge from the tastes in utero to table foods".

Hoping this will help to reassure you about your diet.