Yes, caffeine passes into breast milk and can affect babies, especially newborns, making them fussy, irritable, or disrupting sleep as they metabolize it slowly. Most experts suggest limiting intake to under 200-300 mg daily (about 2-3 cups of coffee), but mothers should monitor their baby for sensitivity, as younger infants and preemies are more vulnerable, requiring even less caffeine.
Caffeine passes from the mother to infant in small amounts through breast milk. This usually does not adversely affect the infant when the mother consumes low to moderate amounts. A low to moderate amount is about 300 milligrams or less per day, which is about 2 to 3 cups of coffee.
Does Caffeine Reduce Breast Milk Supply? This is a very common myth, however, there is no evidence to suggest that caffeine directly reduces breast milk supply, as long as consumption is kept within the recommend range.
Good news – most breastfeeding mums can enjoy a moderate amount without it affecting their baby. Caffeine is commonly found in coffee, tea, chocolate, cola, and energy drinks. Only a tiny amount of caffeine passes into breastmilk – about 1% of what you drink.
Drug Levels
Maternal Levels. Caffeine appears in breastmilk with a peak usually occurring about 1 hour after a dose.
Caffeine. The recommended limit for breastfeeding mothers is 6 cups of tea or 2 cups of instant coffee a day. For filtered coffee, you should only have 1 cup a day. Drinking more than this will not be harmful but may lead to a fussy baby who has difficulty settling.
Fussiness, jitteriness and sleeping problems have been found in babies whose mothers consumed high levels of caffeine, more than 5 cups of coffee each day. There is no agreed upon safe level of caffeine because every baby's tolerance is different.
Another factor that could cause gas to babies and newborns is related to the mother's diet—certain foods that a breastfeeding mother eats, like dairy, caffeine, or cruciferous vegetables, can potentially cause gas in some babies.
What foods and drinks should I limit or avoid while breastfeeding?
That said, some new babies are sensitive to caffeine, especially if their mothers avoided it completely during pregnancy. If you notice your baby is fussy or has trouble sleeping after you've had caffeine, consult with your IBCLC.
The "breast milk 2-hour rule" means that any leftover breast milk from a feeding, once a baby has started drinking from the bottle or cup, should be used within two hours or thrown away due to potential bacterial growth from the baby's mouth. To minimize waste, offer smaller amounts at first; if the baby doesn't finish, you can refrigerate the rest for the next feeding within that two-hour window or discard it if the time limit has passed.
To help dry up your milk supply:
Breast milk production works on a supply-and-demand basis. Anything that hinders the process, including the constriction caused by tight bras, can reduce the milk supply. Tight bras can put undue pressure on the milk ducts, causing them to clog and interrupt the natural milk flow.
So… the rule of three refers to time - ie 3 hours, 3 days or 3 months. 3 hours: If you pump and plan to use your breastmilk straight away, you can leave it out at room temperature for 3 hours.
However, for a small group of women, breast pain, discomfort and sensitivity can be alleviated by reducing caffeine intake, and fibrocystic breasts can become less lumpy-bumpy. The only way to know if your symptoms are caffeine-related is a trial of going without or reducing caffeine consumption.
The "4-4-4 rule" for breast milk is a simple storage guideline: fresh milk is good for 4 hours at room temperature (up to 77°F/25°C), for 4 days in the refrigerator (39°F/4°C or colder), and up to 4-6 months (or longer) in a standard freezer (0°F/-18°C). It's a handy mnemonic, though some organizations like the CDC recommend up to 6 months in the freezer and the AAP up to 9 months, with deeper freezers offering even longer storage.
Food allergies in breastfed babies
The eight common allergens are peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, dairy, eggs, fish and shellfish. One of the most common food sensitivities among breastfed babies is dairy.
The "5-5-5 Rule" for breastfeeding is a simple guideline for storing expressed milk: 5 hours at room temperature, 5 days in the refrigerator, and 5 months in a freezer, though variations like 4-4-4 or 6-6-6 exist, with stricter rules (4-4-4) often recommended for warmer conditions, emphasizing getting milk into the fridge quickly. There's also a postpartum 5-5-5 rule for rest, suggesting 5 days in bed, 5 days near the bed, and 5 days near home to aid healing.
Some telltales that your baby is sensitive to caffeine include fussiness, appearing wide-eyed, and not being able to stay asleep for long.
Women who breastfed exclusively for at least 3 months had a 1.3-pound (0.59 kg) (95% CI: 0.2,2.5 pounds, p<0.05) greater weight loss at 6 months postpartum, relative to those who did not breastfed or breastfed non-exclusively.
Fluid intake recommendations
It's true, if you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Signs of dehydration: fatigue, headaches, low mood, constipation, dry lips, muscle cramps.
A National Institutes of Health study estimates that caffeine passes into breast milk at between 0.06 and 1.5 percent of the maternal dose. Because a small amount does pass into your breast milk, experts suggest limiting your intake. Davidheiser adds that you don't need to “pump and dump” after drinking coffee.
But it's a good idea to reduce how much caffeine you drink, especially when your baby is less than 6 months old. If you're breastfeeding, it's recommended that you have no more than 200mg a day. This may include 1 mug, 1 can or 1 bar of: instant coffee (100mg)
Drug Levels and Effects
[1,2] All of these compounds are detectable in breastmilk in small amounts. Low intake of chocolate by a nursing mother is not problematic, but extreme amounts can affect the infant.
When you are breastfeeding, you should avoid or try to limit smoking, most drugs, and alcohol. That will ensure the best health for you and your baby. If you have questions or concerns about smoking, drugs, or alcohol and breastfeeding, speak with your doctor or WIC breastfeeding staff.