Honey and Breastfeeding
You can’t feed your baby honey. Does that mean your beloved morning mug of chamomile tea and honey is off the table while nursing? Thankfully, you don’t have to give up honey, as research shows it’s safe for breastfeeding moms to consume in moderation. In this article we will talk about the major concern that is related to eating honey while breastfeeding, as well as the numerous health benefits that it actually provides.
Infants and Honey
A lot of mothers are concerned about consuming honey when breastfeeding because of the risk of infant botulism—a bacterial infection that occurs in the infant’s large intestine after honey is consumed. Honey contains botulism spores which are harmful to infants when they are swallowed. Therefore the World Health Organization warns parents and caregivers to not feed honey to infants who are less than 1 year old.
Symptoms and Early Signs of Infant Botulism
Infant botulism causes muscle weakness and breathing difficulties in babies. Parents are often alerted to the problem by their baby struggling to feed, due to difficulty sucking and swallowing. Other common symptoms include constipation and changes in facial expressions due to muscle weakening (California Department of Public Health, 2010).
It’s reported that between 70-100 babies contract infant botulism every year, but this does not happen through breastfeeding. The truth is that breastfeeding moms cannot transmit botulism to their babies via breast milk. This is because the adult immune system is fully developed and able to prevent the botulism spores from multiplying, and developing toxins. Honey is perfectly safe for breastfeeding moms when consumed in moderation and can also be very beneficial.
What Are the Health Benefits of Eating Honey?
Aside from being just a natural sweetener, honey provides a range of potential health benefits for breastfeeding moms including:
- Supporting cardiovascular health.
- Preventing digestive issues that may occur during postpartum.
- Easing anxiety and depression symptoms.
- Acting as a natural cough suppressant.
- Helping to heal wounds and treat burns.
What Else Should Breastfeeding Moms Consider Before Eating Honey?
While adding honey to your diet can have many health benefits, it is important to remember that it is still a sweetener and should be consumed in moderation. It may raise glucose levels in diabetics (Mayo Clinic 2010) despite being a healthier form of sugar. In an article for Baby Junction, Swati Patwal advises breastfeeding moms to skip the raw honey, and choose the pasteurized version instead, making sure to pay attention to expiration dates. Honey may also cause allergic reactions in some people with allergies to bees or pollen (Mayo Clinic, 2010).
Final Thought
Eating honey while breastfeeding doesn’t put your baby at risk, as long as the honey is not being fed directly to the baby. But for breastfeeding moms who consume honey it can be a healthy addition to a well-balanced diet. If adding a small teaspoon of honey to your morning oatmeal is a favorite simple pleasure, you can enjoy it guilt free. So enjoy your honey-sweetened tea or toast—your baby is safe, and you’re making a healthy choice.
If this article answered your question then please don’t forget to share with other moms who are navigating the same concerns. You may also be interested in a previous article on Milk Thistle: Is it safe for breastfeeding?
Sources
Belefond, C (2023). Can I Eat Honey While Breastfeeding? Baby Center.
California Department of Public Health, (2010). Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Infant Botulism. Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program.
https://www.infantbotulism.org/general/faq.php
Patwal, S, (2024) Is It Safe To Eat Honey While Breastfeeding? Mom Junction.
https://www.momjunction.com/articles/is-it-safe-for-a-breastfeeding-mom-to-eat-honey_0093190
