Drinking Coffee or Caffeine While Breastfeeding: Is It Safe?

Coffee has several health benefits. The caffeine present acts as an energiser, inciting raised levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body. Therefore, it should be taken cautiously by all, especially pregnant and breastfeeding women. When it comes to coffee or caffeine for breastfeeding mothers, questions about safety and possible side effects often arise.

Some babies can be more caffeine-sensitive than others. These babies cannot get rid of the caffeine that has come into their bloodstream through the mother’s milk, making them restive and unable to sleep. Babies who are less resistant to it can also suffer from acid reflux or colic. Babies born to mothers who are restrained from caffeine during pregnancy are more sensitive to it, but they gain tolerance with age. Read on to learn more about the relationship between caffeine and nursing for making informed choices. 

Can You Drink Coffee During Breastfeeding?

Can drinking caffeine affect breastfeeding? Well, that’s a question all nursing mothers have. Experts say consumption of caffeine or coffee while nursing in limits (around 1 – 3 cups of coffee/tea a day or similar amount for other caffeinated products like energy drinks) is safe. However, nursing mothers with a baby less than four months old should abstain from it since babies that young may not be able to deal with even a small amount of caffeine in their bloodstream. Observing your baby could also help. If your baby is awake most of the time, especially after you breastfeed him, or restless and irritable, then it’s a sign that the mother needs to curb her caffeine intake (1).

Can the Caffeine You Eat or Drink Get in Your Breast Milk?

Around 1% of caffeine from what is consumed gets into the mother’s breast milk, which, when the baby takes in, gets into his blood stream (3). After a cup of coffee, caffeine is absorbed into the mother’s blood stream fast and appears in her breast milk within a span of 15 minutes from the time of consumption.

Can Caffeine Harm Your Baby?

Low level of caffeine in the breast milk does not validate that the amount present is safe for your baby. Moreover, caffeine metabolism in a newborn is very slow, at an average of 3-4 days and can be even slower in premature babies (4) (5). However, it gradually increases as the baby matures.

Can Caffeine Decrease Milk Supply?

Caffeine if taken in less or moderate quantity is okay but if taken in large amounts, can dehydrate your body thereby decreasing the supply of milk. Intake of breast milk with caffeine in it can make a baby cranky and fussy. This in turn may result in the baby not wanting milk which in turn may decrease the mother’s supply of breast milk.

How Much of Caffeine Is Fine?

The effects of caffeine may differ from one mother-baby pair to another based on several factors. Most babies are fine if the mother drinks 1-3 caffeine drinks a day but some babies start showing signs of irritability and sleeplessness when the mother drinks 4-6 caffeinated drinks a day. As the baby grows old, he can metabolise caffeine more efficiently. Therefore, it can be said that several factors have to be studied before determining the amount of caffeine that is fine for a mother-infant pair (2).

Amount of Caffeine in Your Favourite Food & Beverages

Below is a table listing common foods and beverages with their approximate caffeine content.

Reasons to Avoid Caffeine While Breastfeeding

Caffeine is said to be present in a lot of food and medicines along with tea and coffee (3). People prefer beverages like tea and coffee because of the caffeine present in them since it keeps people alert and awake. However, its best to keep away from all food and beverage containing caffeine while you are breastfeeding for the following reasons.

• A small amount of caffeine from the food or beverage that the mother takes, gets into the breast milk which the baby feeds on. As a result of this, the baby sleeps less and also becomes irritable (4).
• A fussy and cranky baby may not nurse well. Therefore, the supply of the mother’s breast milk will decrease since the demand is less.
• Caffeine can cause allergies in babies. Therefore a breastfeeding child taking in caffeine through his mother’s milk may get rashes or may have problems with stools.
• Too much of a caffeine intake can cause dehydration which further results in less supply of breast milk.

Healthy Alternatives to Caffeinated Drinks

Since coffee and breastfeeding cannot go hand in hand, here is a list of substitutes which work like coffee but are caffeine free.

• Tender Coconut Water: It can quench your thirst and invigorate you at the same time.
• Licorice Tea: This brew is actually caffeine free. It increases energy by acting as a tonic to the adrenal glands.
• Wheatgrass Juice: This is a natural energiser rich in essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients.
• Carob powder: It is caffeine free and similar to cocoa powder which when taken with a mix of milk and honey vitalises you.
• Lemon Water: It instantly jolts you up with it’s freshness. It’s an instant revitaliser.
• Green Smoothies: A blend of fresh veggies and fruits is a quick way to feel fresh and energised.
• Peppermint Tea: This minty drink not only freshens up your breath but also calms you down with it’s cooling sensation.
• Ginseng Tea: It increases blood flow and like coffee, has a stimulating effect.
• Chamomile Tea: Although being caffeine free, it helps people to unwind, relax and also improves sleep disorders.
• Green Tea: It contains a very less amount of caffeine and is packed with rich anti-oxidants that are  beneficial for health.

FAQs

1. How long does caffeine stay in breast milk?

Caffeine can stay in breast milk for about 1.5 to 4 hours after consumption. Factors like the mother’s metabolism and the baby’s age can influence this duration.

2. Are decaffeinated coffee or tea better alternatives?

Decaffeinated beverages contain much less caffeine, making them a suitable option for mothers concerned about caffeine’s effects. However, even decaf contains trace amounts of caffeine.

Caffeine can be found in most of the beverages. It is said to be a great energy booster. People crave a cup of freshly brewed tea or coffee in the morning. However, beverages or food containing caffeine should not be taken in excess while breastfeeding an infant since it can lead to a lot of health issues in the baby. Otherwise too, caffeine taken in excess has it’s side effects. Therefore, coffee for nursing mothers is fine in small amounts, as long as they keep an eye on how it affects their baby. If you think you are consuming too much of it, cut back on it and see your lifestyle change for the better.

References/Resources:

1. Caffeine; National Library of Medicine; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501467/

2. Breastfeeding and diet; NHS; https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/breastfeeding-and-lifestyle/diet/

3. Caffeine While Breastfeeding: What Amount Is Safe?; INTEGRIS Health; https://integrishealth.org/resources/on-your-health/2024/august/caffeine-while-breastfeeding-what-amount-is-safe

4. Caffeine and Breastfeeding; La Leche League USA; https://lllusa.org/caffeine-and-breastfeeding/

5. Caffeine in pregnancy; March of Dimes; https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/pregnancy/caffeine-pregnancy

Also Read:

Peppermint Tea in Breastfeeding
Consuming Green Tea while Breastfeeding
Drinking Alcohol during Breastfeeding
Consuming Lemon Water while Lactating

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