Is caffeine safe while breastfeeding?

Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in over 60 plants. People consume caffeinated foods and drinks to get an energy boost. The most common way to consume caffeine is with a cup of coffee or tea in the morning.

People love caffeine because it makes them more alert. New moms can use it to adjust to a new work schedule or feel more alert if they haven't been getting enough sleep due to their newborn baby. Some people also like the taste of caffeinated foods like chocolate and coffee. But is it safe to drink caffeine while breastfeeding?

Is it safe to drink caffeine while breastfeeding?

Short answer: yes, it is generally safe to drink caffeine while breastfeeding a baby. However, experts recommend limiting your caffeine intake to 300 milligrams of caffeine per day while breastfeeding.

Caffeine affects some children. Breast milk may contain small traces of the substance. The amount varies from mother to mother. Some children are also more sensitive to it than others.

Signs that caffeine intake is affecting your child include:

Increased irritability and irritability
No more trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
Hyperactivity
Restlessness

Young children are more sensitive to caffeine than older children. Caffeine also stays in the body of a newborn longer than in an older child. In a 6-month-old baby, the half-life of caffeine is about 2.5 hours, and in a newborn it is several days.

Caffeine intake can affect the nutritional value of breast milk. Mothers who drink three cups of coffee a day have about a third less iron in their breast milk than mothers who do not drink coffee. Avoiding caffeine can improve the iron content of breast milk.

What to do if you are worried about your breast milk. If you suspect caffeine intake is causing your little one to stay awake longer, experts have a few recommendations:

Feed your child before taking caffeine. Then wait at least three hours before breastfeeding again. This should give your system enough time to process the caffeine and avoid it passing into your breast milk.
Reduce your caffeine intake to one cup of coffee a day.
Cut out caffeine completely until you're done breastfeeding or until your baby is old enough to absorb it faster.

Sources and effects of caffeine

Breastfeeding mothers can consume up to 300 milligrams of caffeine per day. For reference, a 240 ml cup of coffee contains about 96 milligrams of caffeine. A cup of black tea contains 47 milligrams, while a cup of green tea has only 28 milligrams.

Many herbal teas do not contain caffeine. Be sure to read the label about caffeine intake while breastfeeding. Even decaffeinated coffee contains about 2 milligrams of caffeine.

Coffee and tea are the main ways people consume caffeine, but it is also found in other foods, including:

Several carbonated drinks
Energy drinks
Chocolate
Sports drinks
Painkillers, especially for migraines
Supplements for weight loss
Guarana
Kola nut

Avoid painful side effects. If you think you need to reduce or stop your caffeine intake, do so gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Quitting caffeine can last anywhere from two to nine days and can affect your ability to carry out daily activities. Symptoms include: