Can I have caffeine while breastfeeding?

Having small amount of caffeine can be safe, but larger amounts could cause adverse effects on the child. Ingesting caffeine, like any other drug, is not recommended while breastfeeding. This will be transmitted through the breast milk to the child. This could have an adverse reaction for your child such as; increased heart rate, blood pressure, and restlessness to name a few.

Caffeine is passed to babies through breast milk, so you should limit the amount of caffeine you ingest to one or two eight-ounce servings daily. The caffeine in your breast milk will reach its highest level one hour after you drink it, so try to time your baby’s feedings before you drink a caffeinated beverage.

While you don’t have to quit caffeine cold turkey, it’s worth pointing out that while caffeine may perk you up, it also may cause fussiness and wakefulness in some babies. It is therefore best to limit your overall intake of caffeine, whether your preference is coffee, tea, caffeinated soda, or even chocolate. Although some experts say that up to 3 cups a day may be fine, it’s probably best to stick with the minimum you need.