Can I eat crab during lactation?

Aug 29, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhang Lu

Introduction

Under normal circumstances, breastfeeding women can consume crab in moderation, but should pay attention to the freshness of the crab, cooking methods, and their own physical condition to avoid improper consumption that may affect themselves and their baby. When consuming crab, it is important to choose fresh products and ensure they are thoroughly steamed or cooked; raw crab and marinated crab should be avoided. In daily life, breastfeeding women should maintain a balanced diet and consume more foods rich in protein and vitamins.

Generally speaking, lactating women can consume crabs in moderation, but should pay attention to the freshness of the crabs, cooking methods, and their own physical condition, to avoid improper consumption affecting themselves and their baby. Detailed analysis is as follows:

Crabs are rich in high-quality protein, calcium, iron, and other nutrients. Eating them in moderation can help lactating women replenish nutrition, promote physical recovery, and the protein can pass through breast milk to provide essential nutrients for the baby's growth and development. From the perspective of food properties, fresh and thoroughly cooked crabs themselves pose no obvious harm, and reasonable consumption usually does not cause adverse reactions.

However, crabs are cold in nature, and excessive consumption may cause gastrointestinal discomfort such as abdominal pain and diarrhea in lactating women. It may also affect the baby through breast milk, potentially leading to symptoms such as diarrhea and crying in the baby. Therefore, lactating women should control the amount of crab consumption, and should not eat more than one crab at a time.

When consuming crabs, fresh varieties should be selected and must be thoroughly steamed or boiled; raw crabs and drunken crabs should be avoided. In daily life, lactating women should maintain a balanced diet, consume more foods rich in protein and vitamins, ensuring both breast milk quality and their own health.

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How many days does it take to stop lactation?

The time required for weaning generally varies from person to person, usually ranging from 7 to 14 days. The exact duration depends on several factors, including the length of the breastfeeding period, the amount of milk production, and the method used for weaning. During the weaning process, it is important to avoid stimulating the breasts and to reduce the intake of soups and high-protein foods to prevent continued milk production. If significant breast engorgement occurs, cold compresses may be applied to help alleviate discomfort. Additionally, it is advisable to wear loose and comfortable clothing.

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Can I lose weight while breastfeeding?

In general, whether weight loss is advisable during lactation should be determined based on the mother's physical recovery, breastfeeding needs, and the specific weight-loss method being considered. If any discomfort or uncertainty occurs, it is recommended to consult a physician promptly. When considering weight loss during lactation, one should avoid extreme methods such as dieting or taking weight-loss medications to prevent harm to health and interference with breastfeeding. Close attention should be paid to one's physical condition throughout the weight-loss process.

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Can I drink Ophiopogon japonicus (McDoor) during lactation?

In general, lactating women can consume Ophiopogon japonicus (McDoor) in moderation, but its suitability depends on the mother's individual constitution. Not all lactating women are suited to its consumption, and blind intake may cause discomfort or affect the baby. In daily life, mothers who are breastfeeding may first try a small amount before consuming it regularly, observing whether they experience any adverse effects such as diarrhea or abdominal pain, and also monitoring the baby's reaction after nursing.

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What should not be eaten after consuming crabs?

Under normal circumstances, after eating crabs, one should not consume foods such as persimmons, strong tea, watermelon, loach, mutton, etc., or take medications including vitamin C tablets, tannic acid protein tablets, sulfadiazine tablets, levofloxacin tablets, licorice tablets, etc. After eating crabs, it is advisable to maintain a light diet and avoid consuming foods with conflicting properties or components that may easily react with each other within a short period of time.