Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Breastfeeding, But Didn't Know Who To Ask

Ask Anne...

CAFFEINE - Yes? No?

Question:

What do you think about caffeine (cup of coffee or a coke) getting into milk? If it does affect the baby, how long after my drinking it would that be? (My baby nurses frequently and is 9 weeks old.)

Answer:

I think that you can have a cup of coffee of a coke without thinking twice about it. Studies have shown that very little of the caffeine ingested by nursing mothers appeared in their milk, and the tiny bit that did appear didn't have any apparent effect on the baby's heart rate or sleep patterns.

Caffeine is approved by the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) for use by nursing mothers. The average cup of coffee contains 100-150 mg of caffeine, so if you drink 5 cups of coffee or less each day, your baby will get less than 3 mg per kg a day. The caffeine peaks in your milk about an hour after you drink the beverage, but the levels are so low that they rarely cause any
problems. Premature babies and newborns eliminate caffeine and other substances from their milk more slowly than older babies, so mothers of tiny babies may want to limit their intake accordingly. Since your baby is nine weeks old and healthy, then I would advise you to enjoy your soda and coffee and cross caffeine off your list of things to worry about.

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The assistance that you receive either on Medela's website via our website is not meant as a substitute for professional guidance from your local health care professional. Please seek help from your local health care professional or IBCLC (1 800 TELL YOU or email to ILCA@erols.com for a local referral to an IBCLC in your area) if you are experiencing problems with breastfeeding or if you have continuing concerns.

Information given can not be construed as medical advice. Please check with your health care provider when making decisions concerning lactation that may impact the health and well-being of you and/or your breastfeeding child. If you are concerned about your breastfeeding situation, or about your health or the health of your child, please call your health care provider immediately. Additionally, please be aware that our lactation consultant tailors her response to a specific situation, taking into account the information shared . Our response may not be appropriate for other mothers, since each mother and baby couple is unique.