Coffee and Breastmilk
Worried about staying late at night to spend with your baby? The good news is you can happily drink a cup of coffee at night. But only limit your caffeine intake to no more than 2 to 3 cups a day. According to Dr. Miko Palo, MD, FAAP, "Caffeine in breastmilk can make babies, especially younger ones, a little fussier, more wide-eyed and alert. Apart from coffee, other source of caffeine include tea, softdrinks, sports or energy drinks, chocolate and certain medications (some pain relievers, stimulants, and weight control aids). Caffeine levels usually reach their peaks in a mother's breast pretty quickly ( about one hour after ingestion) and can stay in baby's system for several hours ( in older babies, about six months old) or even several days (in newborns and preemies). Fortunately, caffeine rarely causes serious problems in babies and is considered safe for lactating moms if taken in moderation (less than 750 ml per day)." Caffeine passes into your bloodstream ...