Sensitivity to caffeine:
Breastfeeding mothers can consume caffeine in moderation and caffeine has different effects on babies. If the mother has avoided caffeine completely during pregnancy then babies seem to react more to it when feeding. The baby who’s under 6 months is more sensitive to caffeine than an older baby, so it’s better if the mother starts with the caffeine intake when the baby is older. It won’t be an issue then. Newborn babies have difficult time metabolizing caffeine than older babies. And if the pocket option is premature or ill than he can have more problem with the caffeine consumption of the mother.
Caffeine Consumptions:
Immoderate consumption of caffeine which 750 ml per day can make the baby overstimulated by caffeine which will result in a wide-eyed, alert and hyperactive baby who will have trouble falling asleep. If you notice these signs in your baby then that means that the amount of caffeine in your diet is more than necessary and you should stop that right away. It will take some time but eventually your baby will get back to normal.
Sources of Caffeine:
Number one source of caffeine is definitely coffee. Different coffees have a different amount of caffeine depending on the type of bean, roasting, brewing and the size of the cup it is being served.
But there are other sources of caffeine, like soft drinks, tea, chocolate and almost all energy drinks. The mother will have to take care of all the sources of caffeinated products in her diet if her baby is sensitive to caffeine. Also, caffeine is said to affect your weight. Does coffee make you gain weight? Well, some like to think it does. So if you want to keep those mommy pounds away, its best to be careful of your caffeine intake during pregnancy.
How much Caffeine ends up in the milk:
Studies have discussed the transfer of caffeine from the mother’s blood to her milk. Caffeine is readily absorbed into the blood when taken and then passively diffuses across the layers of the mammary gland. Caffeine then is found in the milk 15 minutes after consumption has taken place. Although the concentration of caffeine in the milk is not very high, it is about 80 to 90% mixed with the mother’s plasma. But studies have shown that the amount of milk consumed by the baby and the body weight, the baby receives not more than 10% of maternal dosage of caffeine or maybe less than that.
But just because the level of caffeine in the milk is low to what the mother consumed, doesn’t mean that it’s significantly safe for the baby. Another thing that should be taken into account is that how fast the baby metabolizes caffeine. And babies that young have relatively a low metabolism. But whatever the studies say, what should be more important to you is your own baby. Some babies have a really slow metabolism and maybe some can be extremely sensitive to the caffeine intake of the mother. You can knowthat by observing the behavior of the baby. If you notice that the baby is irritableand is having trouble sleeping then you should cut back the caffeine but you canalways tryagain later when the baby is a month of two older. But do keep in mind that the reason for the baby to be irritable can’t always be the caffeine intake. There are other reasons as well.