The Benefits of Drinking Coffee While Breastfeeding
Coffee is a popular beverage around the world, but many pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are hesitant to drink it. Coffee has many desirable properties, especially when breastfeeding—from providing a boost of energy to containing beneficial vitamins and minerals. It’s important to be informed so that you can make the right decision for you and your baby.
According to Dr. Charlene Rankin, an obstetrician and gynecologist, coffee contains antioxidants and can provide a boost of energy when you’re breastfeeding. In addition, some of the coffee’s caffeine content can pass into your breast milk. Caffeine can increase milk production and make breastfeeding easier. It is however, important to drink coffee in moderation. Too much caffeine has downsides, such as disrupting your baby’s sleep patterns and increasing the risk of dehydration in the mother.
Dr. Rankin recommends drinking no more than two cups per day, as drinking too much coffee can increase your blood pressure, causing headaches or other health complications. If you find that the caffeine affects your baby’s sleep patterns, it is wise to switch to decaf coffee or forgo the coffee altogether. Alternatives to coffee, such as herbal tea, are available as well.
Nutritionists unanimously concur that breastfeeding is the best way to feed your baby. It’s not only nutritional, but has other benefits, such as boosting the baby’s immune system and helping to create a bond between you and your infant. Research has shown that drinking caffeine while breastfeeding doesn’t pose any significant risks to the baby’s health.
Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding mothers should limit the ingestion of caffeine and monitor their intake. To abide by their guidelines, you should have no more than 300 milligrams of caffeine in a day, approximately four cups of coffee. Even with these limits, you should still enjoy your coffee, as some benefits may arise from drinking it during breastfeeding.
Health-Boosting Components in Coffee
For those looking to maximize their intake of beneficial ingredients, it’s worth noting that coffee is relatively high in good-for-you compounds such as manganese and vitamin B3. Coffee is also a significant source of potassium, which helps reduce blood pressure and hypertension. Studies have suggested that coffee can help reduce inflammation, which can help improve overall health, and may even reduce the risk of developing diabetes or cardiovascular diseases.
Other research suggests that coffee can help improve cognitive function, learning, and alertness, making it beneficial to busy moms who may be struggling to juggle multiple tasks and commitments. Of course, the perks extend even further than these nutrient-rich components— hot and cold coffee beverages, such as iced coffee, and cold brews, can also be an enjoyable pick-me-up and a welcome break from the pressures of daily life.
Finding the Balance Between Breastfeeding and Coffee
Drinking too much coffee can cause insomnia, jitteriness, headaches, anxiety, and even psychiatric disturbances. When it comes to optimal health, moderations is key. Over consumption of coffee can lead to a number of health risks that you should take seriously, particularly when breastfeeding your baby. To ensure you consume the right amount, it’s wise to keep an eye on your daily coffee intake.
Alternatively, if you’re concerned about the effects of coffee on your baby, you can always opt for decaf. Decaffeinated coffee is still packed full of health-promoting nutrients, and has been rumored to contain even more antioxidants than regular coffee. However, decaffeinated coffee still contains up to 10 milligrams of caffeine per cup so it’s important to watch your intake.
No matter which coffee you choose, it’s important to make sure that it amasses in your diet in a healthy way. With coffee, it’s all about finding the sweet spot between having enough coffee to keep you alert and awake, and not consuming too much, resulting in an excess of its stimulatory effects.
Can Drinking Coffee Affect Milk Supply?
Breastfeeding mothers usually have a few things on their minds, but keeping supply up shouldn’t be one of them. Though coffee is known for its stimulatory properties, it’s unlikely that drinking it would reduce milk supply. Recent research on caffeine and breastfeeding indicates that consuming caffeine while breastfeeding has no long-term detrimental effects on the baby or the mother’s milk supply.
This being said, individual differences will exist. Some people may find that coffee affects their energy levels, which can in turn affect their milk supply. If you notice a decrease in your milk supply after drinking coffee, you may need to adjust your intake. It’s important to note, however, that this decrease may be due to an individual sensitivity to coffee, and not due to a lack of supply.
When it comes to caffeine, everybody may be different. It’s best to observe your baby’s response. If you experience any changes in your baby’s sleep or eating patterns, it’s probably worth sticking to decaf.
Using Coffee as a Tool to Cope with Stress
Today’s world is incredibly demanding, and motherhood even more so. To cope with the unrelenting pressure, it’s important to take some time out and use tools to reduce stress. Drinking coffee in moderation can be a great way to find that much-needed respite, especially in the early days of motherhood. Though it is important to remember that it should only be used as an occasional coping tool, not a regular crutch.
When consumed in moderation, coffee can be a great mental health aid. Coffee can help give you a temporary boost of energy and enthusiasm, which can help reduce stress, anxiety and depression. This temporary burst can help make it easier to tackle tasks and be the best mom you can be.
Overall, drinking coffee when you’re breastfeeding can be beneficial, as long as it is consumed in moderation. It’s important to monitor your daily intake and also keep an eye on your baby’s behaviour after drinking it. With a few simple steps, you can enjoy a cup of coffee as often as you like, knowing that it won’t negatively impact you or your baby.
Considering Alternatives to Coffee
If, after learning the benefits of drinking coffee while breastfeeding, you still choose to avoid it altogether, there are plenty of alternatives. All of these contain beneficial ingredients that could make a positive difference to how you feel.
Green tea is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants such as catechins, which are known to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. Additionally, green tea contains compounds that help to boost energy and alertness without the jitters caused by caffeine. Much like coffee, green tea contains beneficial vitamins and minerals, such as manganese and vitamin K.
Matchinga, a derivative of green tea, is quickly gaining recognition for its many health benefits. Matcha is made from finely ground green tea leaves and is packed with caffeinated energizing properties. Better yet, it has many purported health benefits, such as potentially fighting cancer, improving cholesterol, and balancing blood sugar.
Or, you could simply reach for a glass of water. Water has many benefits, including promoting brain health and helping to regulate body temperature. It can also help to flush toxins from the body, which is a great way to boost your health while breastfeeding.
Additional Considerations
When drinking coffee while breastfeeding, it’s important to pay attention to the other elements of your diet that might counteract the beneficial effects of the beverage. For example, if you’re drinking sugary or milky coffee drinks, you may consume more sugar than you would otherwise need, resulting in additional calories that can be hard to burn off.
It’s also important to monitor your caffeine intake from other beverages. Coffee isn’t the only caffeine source—remember to check caffeine levels in tea and soda, too. In addition, it’s best to avoid energy drinks and energy shots altogether, as these can contain a very high level of caffeine.
Finally, staying hydrated is essential. Making sure you drink plenty of water—at least eight glasses per day—can help to balance out your nutrition and may help to reduce any other caffeine side-effects.
Conclusion
As long as you stick to the daily recommended guidelines of 300 milligrams of caffeine and monitor your baby’s behavior, there’s no reason to completely avoid coffee when breastfeeding. Of course, there are alternatives if you’d rather steer clear of caffeine, so you don’t have to miss out. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether coffee is a useful addition to your diet.
