Coffee and lactation
At almost every breastfeeding consultation, I get the question: “Can I drink coffee while breastfeeding?”. Many are convinced that coffee and breastfeeding are incompatible. In this article, we will figure out whether a nursing mother can drink coffee and how much to limit herself to.
In coffee, we are primarily interested in caffeine.
There are recommendations for safe doses for a nursing mother of 200-400 mg of caffeine per day. At the same time, it is recommended not to consume more than 200 mg of caffeine at a time.
For a breastfeeding mum, the recommendations are close to the general adult recommendations of 400 mg of caffeine per day. It's just that coffee and caffeine require moderation in consumption for everyone.
This is approximately 2-4 cups of coffee. It is important to remember that the caffeine content of coffee depends on the type of coffee, the method of preparation, and the degree of grinding. Therefore, the number of cups of coffee will depend on the type of coffee and what other caffeine-containing foods you consume.
There is a study that showed no stimulating effect on babies (aged 3 weeks and older) if the nursing mother consumed 5 cups of coffee per day.
However, another study concluded that more than 450 ml of coffee per day can reduce the iron content of breast milk, and this in turn can lead to moderate iron deficiency anemia in some babies.
Therefore, adhering to the principle of dietary moderation is also beneficial in relation to caffeine. An average of 300 mg of caffeine per day, or up to 2-3 cups of coffee per day, is optimal and supported by many experts and recommendations.
Can caffeine affect a baby?
Most often, symptoms can appear with very large doses of caffeine, as well as in premature babies, children under 6 months and children with certain diseases due to slow metabolism and caffeine elimination.
If you observe in your baby:
- fussiness;
- irritability;
- poor sleep,
and associate this with coffee consumption, try to reduce caffeine consumption, and also do not consume caffeinated products a couple of hours before feeding before the baby's bedtime. This is because caffeine levels in breast milk peak 1-2 hours after consuming a caffeinated product.
Remember that the baby's fussiness may be caused by something else. So watch and draw conclusions!
And coffee is not the only source of caffeine.
Other sources of caffeine (besides coffee):
- tea,
- cola,
- energy drinks,
- mate,
- guarana,
- cocoa,
- chocolate,
- some medications.
Tea usually has about 2 times less caffeine than coffee, and chocolate even less.
And here we come to the question: "Can you eat chocolate when you're breastfeeding?".
I think you can guess. I'll definitely write about it in another article.
What breastfeeding restrictions have you heard? Share in the comments!
If you want to ask questions about breastfeeding and receive scientifically based answers, then apply for a consultation. I will be glad to answer all your questions! A consultation during pregnancy is also possible, in which we will discuss the first days with the baby and you will receive recommendations on how to more successfully lay the foundations for breastfeeding in the first days after giving birth. Write!
Sources:
Berlin, 1984. Disposition of dietary caffeine in milk, saliva, and plasma of lactating women.
CDC, 2022. Maternal diet.
Findlay, 1981. Analgesic drugs in breast milk and plasma.
Hale, 2021. Medications & Mothers’ Milk.
James & Lawrence, 2011. Can consuming caffeine while breastfeeding harm your baby?
Muñoz, 1988. Coffee consumption as a factor in iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women and their infants in Costa Rica.
Reyes & Cornelis, 2018. Caffeine in the diet: country-level consumption and guidelines.
Ryu, 1985. Effect of maternal caffeine consumption on heart rate and sleep time of breast-fed infants.
Stavchansky, 1988. Pharmacokinetics of caffeine in breast milk and plasma after single oral administration of caffeine to lactating mothers.
The European Food Safety Authority, 2015. EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). Scientific opinion on the safety of caffeine.
Author of the article: Aleksandra Ņekrasova
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