Nutrition and Supplements in pyloric stenosis

Nutrition and Supplements

The following nutritional tips may help the mother's nutritional status:

• Try to eliminate potential food allergens, including dairy, wheat (gluten), corn, preservatives, and food additives. Your health care provider may want to test for food sensitivities.
• Eat antioxidant foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes), and vegetables (such as squash and bell peppers).
• Eat foods high in B-vitamins and calcium, such as almonds, beans, whole grains (if no allergy is present), dark leafy greens (such as spinach and kale), and sea vegetables.
• Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and especially sugar.
• Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy is present) or beans for protein.
• Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
• Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in commercially baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.
• Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Drink 6 - 8 glasses of filtered water daily.
• Exercise at least 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week.

You may address nutritional deficiencies with the following supplements:

• A prenatal vitamin daily, containing the antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, the B-vitamins, and trace minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, folic acid, zinc, and selenium. Studies report that folic acid and B-vitamins help prevent birth defects.
• Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, 1 - 2 capsules or 1 tablespoon of oil 1 - 2 times daily, to help decrease inflammation and improve immunity. Cold-water fish, such as salmon or halibut, are good sources. Talk to your obstetrician before taking fish oil supplements to make sure it is safe for you and choose a brand that has been proven to be free of heavy metals. Some experts suggest taking vegetarian DHA supplements rather than fish oil.
• Probiotic supplement (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus), 5 - 10 billion CFUs (colony forming units) a day, for maintenance of gastrointestinal and immune health. Refrigerate your probiotic supplements for best results. Your child may also take probiotic supplements. Consult your health care provider before giving your child any dietary supplements.
• Alpha-lipoic acid, 25 - 50 mg twice daily, for antioxidant support.
• Melatonin, 2 - 5 mg before bed, when needed for sleep, and to improve immunity.

Avoiding foods that may cause allergies could also benefit newborns prior to developing pyloric stenosis by decreasing the possibility of stomach upset or colic. Foods that commonly cause allergies include dairy products, peanuts, soy, eggs, fish, and wheat. If you are breast-feeding, avoid caffeine, spicy foods, beans, and certain vegetables such as broccoli. Non-breastfed infants may do better on a soy formula or a hydrosylate formula because these formulas are easier to digest.