The top 3 pros and cons to drinking coffee while breastfeeding

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

When a mother is pregnant, it is understandable that there are certain types of food that needed to be avoided in order to ensure the health and safety of the baby. Oftentimes, right after delivery, mothers tend to go back to their old diet and forget that they still need to consider certain things, especially if they are breastfeeding. One of these is drinking coffee while breastfeeding. To some extent, coffee consumption can greatly affect the baby especially if you are a heavy coffee drinker.

However, there is an exception because, in truth, only 1 percent of the amount of caffeine you take can go into your bloodstream and to your milk. Having less or moderate consumption may not affect the baby. The key here is to consume caffeine moderately. After all, there are also benefits in drinking coffee as well even when you are breastfeeding.

Here are three pros and cons of drinking coffee while breastfeeding.

PROS

Coffee can boost your energy levels

It is important for mothers to have a high energy level to keep up with the demands needed in taking care of a baby. Drinking coffee triggers the release of happy hormones which is responsible for boosting one's mood. It can also help moms to stay alert any day.

It reduces the risk of depression

There are studies that show that women who drink coffee are less likely to suffer from depression. Postpartum depression is a type of mood disorder associated with childbirth. The happy hormones being triggered by consuming caffeine can help in dealing with depression.

It contributes longevity and heart health

Coffee is often linked to longevity and heart health as some studies show that women who consume coffee regularly have a lower risk of heart disease and other illnesses, thus promoting a longer lifespan.

CONS

Babies tend to have more reaction to caffeine

An excessive amount of coffee consumption can cause caffeine stimulation to a child. In such case, babies tend to be jittery and have poor sleeping habits. Some babies may also be a little too restless. Depending on the sensitivity of the baby to caffeine, these cases only happen if the mother has excessive consumption of coffee every day.

It will keep you up at night

This depends entirely on any mother’s sensitivities on caffeine but drinking coffee, especially after 3 PM can greatly affect one's body clock. It takes a couple of hours, mostly 6 hours, to totally wash out our caffeine from our system. Mothers need to have proper rest at night in order to recharge.

It causes stomach acidity

It is a known fact that coffee is an acidic beverage and is not recommended to mother's who have sensitive stomachs. The idea is whatever you eat or drink as a mother while breastfeeding, will ultimately affect your babies as well. Avoiding too much consumption of coffee or avoiding it altogether is necessary if you have a sensitive stomach. Every mother should be healthy so that their babies will be healthy as well.