Coffee is a big part of many people’s morning routine. Whether it’s a cup of coffee with water or a cup of coffee with milk, it’s a popular choice.
If you’re breastfeeding though, drinking coffee can be a challenge. Since you don’t want to stop breastfeeding, you might worry about how much coffee to drink.
It’s generally advised not to drink coffee during breastfeeding, but if you do, what you should drink? Coffee is very good for your health and has been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease for some women.
However, a cup of coffee has enough caffeine to make a baby jittery, which could cause the mother to stop breastfeeding.
Be careful if you’re sensitive to caffeine though, because the caffeine may affect your milk supply.
Can you drink coffee while breastfeeding?
If you have a baby who is as fussy as mine, you may have tried a few tricks to get them to sleep. One of those tricks – if you can stomach it – is drinking copious amounts of coffee.
However, while you may think that you can do this, there are some things you should know about drinking coffee while breastfeeding.
In short, yes you can still drink coffee. If you are worried about having caffeine during pregnancy, then you should not be drinking coffee during pregnancy.
However, if you are breastfeeding, then we would recommend drinking a cup or two of coffee per day, as well as drinking decaf coffee, as caffeine is concentrated in breast milk and can cause side effects for baby.
This can have a big impact on your ability to breastfeed. It can also affect how well your child sleeps and how well she sleeps.
Breastfeeding may seem like a simple, natural way to feed your baby. But, in reality, it is a delicate balancing act for both you and your child.
You want to keep your child safe, but you also want to support your milk supply. Eating and drinking can upset this delicate balance.
Caffeine effects in breast milk and babies
Caffeine is one of the most widely used drugs in the world and it’s easy to see why. It has a wide range of effects on the body and mind and is consumed by more than 80 million people every day.
However, there are few studies that have tried to explore the effects of caffeine on breast milk. Is caffeine in breast milk harmful?
As a parent, you might be tempted to try to restrict your newborns consumption of caffeine. But a new study has found that breast milk contains high levels of caffeine, making it a potential problem for newborns from the start.
Effects #1:
Caffeine is a well-known stimulant that affects our bodies in many ways, and one of them is via its effect on the chemical melatonin, which acts as a chemical signal to help regulate sleep patterns.
Melatonin is present in the brain, and is also present in breast milk, when the mother is pregnant and experiencing hormonal changes.
Effects #2:
Breast milk provides vital nutrients for the baby during its early life, but the effects of caffeine consumed during pregnancy on the baby’s health can be long-lasting.
When women drink caffeine during pregnancy, it can have adverse effects in their babies, ranging from low birth weight to childhood obesity.
Effects #3:
Research has shown that caffeine can have a negative effect on both the mother and the baby. The baby can suffer from insomnia, irritability, restlessness, and possibly even a decreased immune system and growth.
The effects of caffeine on postpartum moms
Postpartum moms have a lot of things on their mind. They are worried about breastfeeding, whether or not they can work out, and how to keep their baby safe.
Approximately 40% of women experience symptoms of sleep deprivation during the postpartum period. These symptoms include fatigue, need for sleep, irritability, and mood swings.
It can be difficult to find the right hours of sleep for postpartum moms due to baby care and household responsibilities. Caffeine can cause a number of issues for new moms, from sleep deprivation to difficulties sleeping to mood swings.
But just because coffee or tea is caffeinated doesn’t mean it is providing the majority of the caffeine exposure in the mother’s body.
Alternatives to coffee
There is a whole host of ways that we can add just a little caffeine to our lives, without having to give up the caffeine altogether. Examples of ways that you might be able to have coffee while breastfeeding include:
Teas: Tea has a few more calories than coffee, but is often much more relaxing. Tea can be enjoyed hot or cold. It can add a lot of flavor to your coffee without adding any calories, and is also a good choice if you like a stronger cup of coffee.
Hot cocoa: One of the most common options, though, is hot cocoa, which is a mix of cocoa powder, milk, flavoring, and sugar. What’s great about hot cocoa, is that you can have it with milk or sugar and it will still taste good.
Fruits extracts: Aside from coffee, there are lots of drinks that are made from fruits. Not only the bitter fruits but also the sweet fruits. This does not mean that you have to give up on any drink made from those fruits.
Fruit extracts are bursting with health benefits. They’re a great choice for moms of all ages and they’re delicious!
