Can You Eat Shellfish While Breastfeeding?

If you like seafood, you’ll be thrilled to know how shellfish benefits you and your baby.

Reviewed by Julie Matheney, MS, CCC-SLP, CLEC, IBCLC Julie Matheney Julie MatheneyMS, CCC-SLP, CLEC, IBCLC MomJunction on FacebookFollow MomJunction on YouTubeFollow MomJunction on Instagram Specialty: Speech Pathology and Lactation Experience: 12 years
Written by , BE Jessica Albert BE Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Baby Growth and DevelopmentExperience: 2 years
Edited by , M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA Swati Patwal M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Food, Nutrition and HealthExperience: 10 years
Fact-checked by , M.Tech Shinta Liz Sunny M.Tech Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Health & WellnessExperience: 4 years
Last Updated on
✔ Research-backed

MomJunction believes in providing reliable, research-backed information to you. As per our strong editorial policy requirements, we base our health articles on references (citations) taken from authority sites, international journals, and research studies. However, if you find any incongruencies, feel free to write to us.

Eating Shellfish While Breastfeeding Safety

Image: ShutterStock

You may be a seafood lover but must be avoiding it during pregnancy as you are unsure about its safety. While the benefits and risks of consuming seafood in pregnancy are much discussed, you could be thinking if it is safe to eat shellfish while breastfeeding? Shellfish include oysters, mussels, scallops, crabs, prawns, and lobsters, to name a few. If you relish them and want to know their impact on the baby, keep reading our post to know the safety, risks, and health benefits of eating shellfish during pregnancy.

In This Article

Key Pointers

  • If shellfish are consumed in moderation and you have no allergic reactions, it is generally safe to eat while breastfeeding.
  • If you have a family history of shellfish allergy, you should consult your doctor before consuming it.
  • Consuming shellfish provides energy, boosts immunity, and improves a baby’s visual and cognitive development.
  • You must ensure it is well cooked, as undercooked shellfish can cause several severe illnesses.
  • Symptoms of shellfish allergy include rashes, itchy skin, breathing difficulties, and diarrhea.

Can You Eat Shellfish While Breastfeeding?

A moderate amount of shellfish causes no potential harm to you and your breastfed baby.

Image: Shutterstock

In most of the cases, a moderate amount of shellfish causes no potential harm to you and your breastfed baby. However, you can be allergic to seafood and suffer from health discomforts including skin rashes or eczema. But, if you have no family history of seafood allergies, you can continue nursing and eating shellfish in your diet.

The main thing to remember is to store and cook the shellfish properly (1). Also, buy shellfish from a credible seller to ensure it contains no harmful toxins, which could raise food safety risks for you and your lactating baby.

Potential Risks Of Shellfish While Breastfeeding

"Consuming shellfish may cause skin rashes. "

Image: Shutterstock

If you have a family history of food allergy, consult your doctor before including shellfish in your diet during breastfeeding. If you are allergic to seafood and especially shellfish, you may notice your feeding baby to develop some allergic symptoms including:

  • Skin rashes
  • Trouble breathing
  • Skin itchiness
  • Diarrhea

The severity of allergic reactions may vary for different individuals. Even small amounts of shellfish can trigger severe reactions in some cases. Therefore, consult your pediatrician immediately and stop consuming shellfish in such circumstances. Also, the consumption of improperly cooked or stored shellfish during lactation could lead to food poisoning while breastfeeding, affecting milk production. You must note that not all antibiotics may be safe during lactation. Therefore, preventing infection is vital for both the mother’s and baby’s health.

Health Benefits Of Eating Shellfish While Breastfeeding

Seafood contains omega-3 fats, which is beneficial for both you and your baby.

Image: Shutterstock

Seafood has high nutritional value, which can help meet maternal nutrition requirements during lactation. Seafood contains healthy fats, which can benefit you and your baby. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids like EPA and DHA from shellfish can contribute to the proper nervous system development of the nursing infant.

It also contains fair quantities of digestible proteins, amino acids, iron, fatty acids, vitamin B12, and minerals like iodine, sodium, potassium, zinc, copper, and inorganic phosphate, which offers a plethora of health benefits.

Some of the beneficial shellfish lactating mothers can include in their breastfeeding diet includes:

  • Salmon
  • Mussels
  • Trout
  • Sardines
  • Herring

Shellfish can be a part of your healthy diet, and consuming 8-12 ounces of properly cooked shellfish can improve maternal and infant health.

Consuming shellfish while breastfeeding can be beneficial because it is a good source of iron and vitamin B6, which helps with healthy brain development. Additionally, it contains zinc, which boosts your immune system by fighting bacteria and infections. It is also a low-saturated fat food that can help you maintain a healthy postpartum weight (2).

protip_icon Quick fact
Salmon is high in vitamin B12, omega-3 fatty acids, and DHA, essential for the baby’s nervous system development and breast milk production (3).

Points To Remember

Cook all shellfish at elevated temperatures.

Image: Shutterstock

  • Every human has their own unique risk to allergens. If a mother has an allergic reaction to shellfish it does not necessarily mean the infant will as well. It may increase the risk that the infant will also have food allergies to shellfish, but it will not induce a reaction in the infant,
  • Eat 8 – 12 ounces of shellfish every week, to acquire an adequate amount of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. The beneficial element can improve your baby’s visual and cognitive development.
  • If the shellfish smells bad, it is a sign that the fish is no longer in edible condition. Discard such fish immediately to avoid the onset of food poisoning.
  • Cook all shellfish at elevated temperatures, as undercooked or raw shellfish can cause severe health diseases. Cook lobster and shrimp until the meat inside the hard shell becomes opaque. Cook mussels and oysters until their outer shells are fully open.
protip_icon Did you know?
Since mercury builds up in fish muscle tissue, you can prefer eating small fish, including sardines, crab, and scallops, which contain less mercury. It is better to limit mercury exposure from fish (4).

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What seafood can I not eat while breastfeeding?

According to the CDC, nursing mothers should minimize exposure to contaminants, such as mercury, which can affect the growing infant’s central nervous system permanently. Examples of seafood high in mercury include bigeye tuna, king mackerel, marlin, shark, swordfish, and tilefish (4). You should also avoid eating raw and uncooked seafood and certain shellfish known for allergens.

2. Can food allergies pass through my breast milk?

Only two or three of every hundred breastfed babies show an allergic reaction. The most common cause for it is the cow’s milk in the mother’s diet (5). The infant shows severe colic, abdominal pain, or a skin rash. If any side of the family has food allergies, it is wise for the mother to avoid those foods when breastfeeding (6).

3. Can shellfish pass through my breast milk?

Shellfish have a high allergenic potential. But if there’s no family history of seafood allergies, it is fine to continue eating while you are nursing. Just ensure to store and cook the shellfish properly. Improperly cooked shellfish may cause food poisoning, which can affect milk production (7).

Various types of seafood, including crabs, oysters, and shellfish, are known for their delectable taste, increased omega-3-fatty acid, and iron content. However, due to the much-discussed side effects of seafood, you may be wondering if you could consume shellfish while breastfeeding. You may include this seafood in moderation in your nursing diet, provided you follow some crucial precautionary steps and choose only fresh and well-cooked shellfish to eat. Nonetheless, if you experience any allergic reactions in your baby following its consumption, you should seek immediate medical care. Remember, your diet during breastfeeding can affect both you and your baby. Therefore, practice safe food handling and consult your doctor before making any dietary changes.

Infographic: Common Symptoms Of Shellfish Allergy In Breastfed Infants

Some worries can surround breastfeeding. Some specific foods may make a baby fussy or result in an allergic reaction, including shellfish. Look at the infographic to learn about the symptoms of allergic reactions to shellfish in breastfed babies. Inform your child’s pediatrician promptly after identifying the signs.

signs of shellfish allergy in breastfed babies (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Incorporating shellfish into your diet can have numerous benefits. Shellfish is rich in nutrients and dietary proteins that are beneficial in moderation.

Illustration: Can You Eat Shellfish While Breastfeeding?

Shellfish While Breastfeeding_illustration

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Safe selection and handling of fish and shellfish.
    https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/safe-selection-and-handling-fish-and-shellfish
  2. Ondine van de Rest et al.; (2012); B vitamins and n-3 fatty acids for brain development and function: review of human studies.
    https://www.jstor.org/stable/48514610
  3. Top 10 food for breastfeeding moms
    https://news.sanfordhealth.org/womens/top-10-breastfeeding-superfoods/
  4. Mercury and Breastfeeding.
    https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/hcp/exposures/mercury.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/environmental-exposures/mercury.html
  5. Infant Allergies and Food Sensitivities.
    https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Infant-Allergies-and-Food-Sensitivities.aspx
  6. Food allergies and breastfeeding.
    https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/allergies/
  7. Safe Selection and Handling of Fish and Shellfish.
    https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/safe-selection-and-handling-fish-and-shellfish

Community Experiences

Join the conversation and become a part of our nurturing community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with fellow parents.

Julie Matheney
Julie MatheneyMS, CCC-SLP/CLEC/IBCLC
Julie Matheney did her Master's degree in speech-language pathology and has worked on feeding and swallowing disorders for over a decade. As part of a hospital-based rehabilitation team, she works on helping children to feed and swallow.

Read full bio of Julie Matheney
Jessica Albert
Jessica AlbertBE
Jessica Albert is a passionate writer who seeks to connect with her readers through wit and charm. Her work aims to invoke curiosity and keep the readers engaged through and through. She has two years of experience working with magazines and e-commerce establishments as a content marketer and editor.

Read full bio of Jessica Albert
Swati Patwal
Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA
Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal
Shinta Liz Sunny
Shinta Liz SunnyM.Tech
Shinta is a biotechnologist who is highly intrigued by science and technology. She holds a master's degree in Biotechnology from Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences and a PG Diploma in cellular and molecular diagnostics from Manipal University.

Read full bio of Shinta Liz Sunny
Latest Articles