Coffee is a popular refreshing beverage that many women enjoy to stay alert when tired. However, during the breastfeeding period, the components of the food a mother consumes can affect her breast milk, which is then absorbed by the baby. So, can breastfeeding mothers drink coffee in small amounts? Let's find out.
Can you drink coffee while breastfeeding?
Can breastfeeding mothers drink coffee in small amounts? Caffeine appears in breast milk quickly after the mother consumes it. When mothers consume large amounts of caffeine (equivalent to ≥10 cups of coffee), there have been reports of infant irritability, nervousness, and sleep disturbances. Some studies show that 5 cups of coffee per day for infants 3 weeks and older have no stimulant effect. Some experts believe that a mother's caffeine intake of <300 mg/day is safe. However, premature and newborn babies metabolize caffeine very slowly, so more caution is needed. Other sources of caffeine are similar to coffee. Many foods and beverages in daily life contain caffeine, and the amount of caffeine in food is quite high. Many things involve caffeine, and the daily intake should not exceed 250MG, otherwise symptoms such as excessive headaches, anxiety, insomnia, and even addiction may occur, so it's important to calculate accurately. Generally, caffeinated foods include tea, coffee, chocolate, soda, etc. Tea contains 2~5% caffeine, which has a stimulating effect.
Consuming more than 450 ml of coffee per day may reduce the iron concentration in breast milk. Therefore, it is recommended that breastfeeding mothers最好 avoid coffee and caffeinated beverages to prevent affecting the quality of breast milk.
There are 2 potential risks of drinking coffee while breastfeeding:
1. Affects the baby's calcium absorption
The amount of caffeine in a cup of brewed coffee can reduce the absorption of 4 mg of calcium. Therefore, drinking coffee while breastfeeding has a significant impact on the baby's calcium absorption. Feeding a baby breast milk containing caffeine can lead to low bone density in the baby.
2. Caffeine harms the baby's brain development
Drinking coffee while breastfeeding can lead to breast milk containing a lot of caffeine. Caffeine stimulates the human nervous system and causes excitement. If a baby drinks too much breast milk containing caffeine, it can lead to excitability and nighttime restlessness. In severe cases, it can even harm the brain and heart.