It is a common belief new mothers should abstain from consuming coffee while breastfeeding. Unfortunately, there is little understanding of the effects of consuming caffeine on breast milk. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coffee is one of the beverages, foods, and medicines that can pass through breast milk to the baby. But just how much coffee can you drink while breastfeeding?
Shelley Lau, a Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) said that it is okay to drink coffee while nursing if it is consumed in moderation, where moderation is defined as one to two cups per day. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, there is substantiated data stating that consuming up to 300 milligrams of caffeine per day is not associated with any adverse effects on breastfed infants. Lau also said that some babies may be more sensitive to caffeine, and in such cases, it is best to cut back on caffeine intake, in case parents start to observe any adverse reactions in their baby after consuming it.
As beneficial and reassuring as the statements above may be, there is also some disagreement among experts. Sistero Sims, a Counselor and breastfeeding Policy Advocate & Former Member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine said that supporting breastfeeding women to limit their caffeine intake is the best approach. According to Sims, it is recommended to reduce caffeine consumption to no more than 150 milligrams (about one cup of black coffee) daily. This is to reduce the risk of the infant having a poor sleep pattern, poor weight gain and even affecting their mental development.
Nursing mothers can also get their caffeine from other sources as provided from the National Center For Complementary and Integrative Health. Surprisingly, GREEN TEA has less caffeine than coffee which could be a great alternative for nursing mothers. However, it is not recommended to completely replace coffee with Green Tea as it can contain its own amount of caffeine and it is hard to measure for everyone. Moderation is the key for any food or beverage consumed while breastfeeding.
Terminal points to consider when drinking coffee or any other beverage or food while breastfeeding include the time of day, strength of the beverage and the overall volume consumed. It is important to remember that the beverages or foods consumed will make its way to the breast milk which can be a good or bad thing depending on the mother’s choices of what she puts into her body.
Research Findings
Research on the subject of caffeine and breast milk will give you mixed views. Some research finds that there is no correlation between caffeine and breast milk composition, while other studies report a decrease in breast milk production and increased infant fussiness.
One study found a decrease in the total amount of caffeine transferred to the baby when the mother ate several small portions of caffeine-containing food at different points of the day rather than one large portion. This indicates that the single-moment caffeine-intake of the mother strongly determines the amount of caffeine the baby gets exposed to. The study concludes that mothers can minimise the amount of caffeine transferred to their baby by eating smaller portions of caffeine-containing foods at different times of the day.
Another study found that infants may be even more sensitive to caffeine than previously believed. The study noted that even low consumption of caffeine by the mother can alter the infant’s behavior. Babies whom were exposed to significant levels of caffeine through breast milk were found to be more agitated and not to sleep as well as babies without caffeine exposure. This study reinforces the importance of moderation when it comes to consuming caffeine when nursing.
Assessing Intake
For breast-feeding moms, it is important to take note of how much caffeine is consumed every day because caffeine can directly affect the baby through breast milk. It is recommended for breastfeeding moms to maintain a caffeine intake of no more than 150 to 300 mg in a 24-hour period. To help minimize caffeine intake, it is important to note that coffee has a much higher caffeine content than other popular beverages such as tea (30–90mg), soda (39–44mg) and energy drinks (about 80mg).
When assessing your caffeine intake while breastfeeding, it is important to take into account all sources of caffeine, even those that are not beverages. Foods such as chocolate, ice cream, and desserts can also contain a high amount of caffeine, sometimes more than coffee itself. Many over-the-counter medications, such as cold and flu remedies and painkillers, also contain caffeine and should be monitored for intake.
It is important for breast-feeding mothers to be aware of the content of drinks and food they are consuming and not just the fact that it contains caffeine. A drink or food might have a low amount of caffeine, but in other cases, it might be higher than expected which can directly affect the baby through breastfeeding.
Benefits and Considerations of Caffeine Intake
It is important for breast-feeding moms to consider the effects of their diet. Caffeine can provide some positive effects for the nursing mother by increasing alertness and energy levels. Despite this, the adverse effects of caffeine can still outweigh the benefits and it is important to note that caffeine intake should be limited when breastfeeding.
For nursing mothers, moderate amounts of caffeine can be a great source to temporarily increase energy levels and alertness. While caffeine can provide an energy boost, too much caffeine can have an adverse effect on the nursing mother as well as her baby.
Some individuals might experience more difficulty with caffeine than others, so some mothers might find it easier to completely avoid caffeinated drinks and foods. For some women, even one cup of coffee may lead to slight adverse effects, such as restlessness and agitation in the baby.
Each individual is unique and has different needs, so it is important for mothers to assess their own situation and make an informed decision about how much caffeine is safe to consume when breastfeeding.
Signs to Observe
A mother may wish to consider observing how her baby behaves in response to her caffeine intake. Babies can be sensitive to the effects of caffeine, so it is important to watch the baby for signs of distress. Signs of distress may include irritability, fussiness, difficulty sleeping, or digestive problems. These could be signs that the breastfeeding mother is consuming too much caffeine.
If the infant shows any of these signs, it would be advisable to reduce or avoid caffeine intake. The mother may also wish to experiment with reducing intake and assess whether the baby’s behaviour improves.
It is also important to remember that caffeine is not the only concern when it comes to breastfeeding. Nutrition is a major factor in the overall health of the breastfeeding mother and baby, and it is important to maintain an overall balanced diet.
Recommendations
Drinking coffee or any other caffeinated products while nursing should be done in moderation. In addition to limiting intake, the mother should pay attention to timing and amount consumed. It is also important to remember that different people might have different levels of sensitivity to caffeine, and each baby will have their own sensitivity level. Observing the baby closely will help the mother identify any adverse reactions to her consumption of caffeine.
It is also important to consider other sources of nutrition that can support the mother in providing quality breast milk. A balanced and nutritious diet can ultimately help the mother and baby stay healthy.
Finally, for those looking for an alternative to coffee, tea can be an interesting alternative. Green tea is often seen as the healthier version of the caffeinated beverage, and it has been known for its many health benefits. However, make sure to not replace coffee with green tea entirely, as both can still contain some caffeine content.
