Breastfeeding and Caffeine

photo credit: Ed Yourdon

If you are a java lover like myself, you have been waiting a long time to indulge in some good coffee.

Doctors say that you can have up to 300 mg of caffeine a day safely when pregnant, but what happens after pregnancy with breastfeeding and caffeine?

Does the caffeine enter your breast milk and if it does, are there any negative consequences to baby? Many moms wonder the same thing.

The good news is that you can drink some coffee or other caffeinated beverages while breastfeeding, as long as you don’t indulge too much. However, you do need to watch for the effects of the caffeine in your baby.

Some newborns do not tolerate caffeine well especially if you abstained from it during your pregnancy. If your newborn is crying a lot, seems agitated, and doesn’t sleep well, these could be the symptoms of the caffeine in your breast milk. The best thing to do is lower your consumption and wait until your baby is a bit older to try to resume your regular caffeine consumption.

If you are still wondering how much is a safe level of caffeine to consume during breastfeeding, go here to read more on breastfeeding and caffeine. Reports have noted that 500 mg or five 5 oz cups of coffee a day is probably the outside limit for breastfeeding moms. Keep in mind that if you order a Venti coffee from Starbucks, that’s 20 ounces right there.

As with most things, moderation is key. Now excuse me while I go and grab a coffee!

p.s. If your baby is sensitive to caffeine, you might want to switch to organic decaf (to avoid the pesticides) or something like Teeccino, which is made from roasted carob, chicory and grain and tastes like coffee.

photo credit: Joe Shlabotnik

Tags: breastfeeding and diet