Caffeine is a major stimulant, and for both breastfeeding mum and baby can affect stress response, sleep and mood. Similar to alcohol, if youâre drinking coffee, a fraction of the caffeine will pass through to your breastmilk and therefore, onto your baby. To quantify this, itâs been said that around 1% of the caffeine passes through to the milk and usually becomes present about 1 hour after youâve consumed the coffee. While it doesnât sound like a lot, 0% would be better.
Having 1 to 2 morning coffees during the day is considered okay. In fact, Food Standards Australia New Zealand recommends that âdaily caffeine consumption of up to 200mg is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.â
If itâs something youâre concerned about, and notice your coffee intake increasing overtime (which, with everything else thatâs going on, is totally understandable and relatable) and you simultaneously notice your baby is becoming more irritable, visibly uncomfortable or theyâre having trouble sleeping, then you could reconsider your daily coffee intake. Perhaps look to other sources of energy such as protein rich snacks. Final note, donât forget to prioritise hydration, aiming to drink at least 2 litres of water per day.
