When you are pregnant, your obstetrician will give you advice on which foods and beverages are safe to consume and which should be avoided. After your baby is born and you begin breastfeeding, the advice can sometimes seem less clear-cut or even conflicting. In the case of caffeine, it's important to know how much you can safely consume so as to not harm your baby.
Safety of Caffeine
You can have caffeine when you are breastfeeding, but you must monitor your daily intake. According to MedLine Plus, a breastfeeding mother can have up to 1 cup of coffee per day. Babies, like adults, may differ in their level of sensitivity to caffeine, but babies metabolize caffeine much more slowly. As a result, drinking more than 1 cup of coffee per day, or more than 300 mg of caffeine, may cause your baby to be anxious, jittery or have problems sleeping.
How to Determine if Your Baby is Sensitive
To determine your baby's level of sensitivity to caffeine, watch his reactions for a few hours after you drink a cup of coffee. If he becomes jittery or fussy, he is probably very sensitive to caffeine. If you are not comfortable with cutting out caffeine completely, try drinking a soda instead or mix caffeinated coffee with decaf coffee. Then monitor your baby's reactions again and reduce your caffeine intake even more, if necessary. When your baby no longer reacts adversely to caffeine, you have probably reached the level of caffeine your baby can easily metabolize.
Caffeine in Foods, Beverages and Medications
Keep in mind that coffee and soda are not the only beverages that contain caffeine. Some teas and energy drinks also contain caffeine. Foods containing chocolate or cocoa also have small amounts of caffeine. Some varieties of dark chocolate contain as much caffeine as soda. And some pain relievers and cold and sinus medications labeled as "non-drowsy" may contain caffeine. Read labels carefully to ensure you are consuming a safe amount of caffeine for your infant.
If You Have Additional Questions
If you have more questions about breastfeeding and caffeine intake, consult your obstetrician or pediatrician. Hospitals also often offer free or low-cost lactation advice. If your hospital does not have that option, there may be a local breastfeeding support group or chapter that provides free advice and support.
