Caffeine during pregnancy and breastfeeding: what to know
Introduction
Many of our customers ask whether they can consume caffeine during pregnancy and how it affects breast milk and breastfeeding. In this article, we take a closer look at the subject and bring together an overview based on as many study findings as possible.
Throughout the article, you’ll find links to studies and other posts on our blog. They can help you explore the subject in depth and, ultimately, make a decision for yourself together with your doctor.
We expressly make no claim that the statements in this article are correct. We summarise and reproduce material found in scientific literature on the subject. We encourage every mother to explore the topic further and to use this article and its links as a starting point, not as the sole basis for a decision.
Contents
- Caffeine during pregnancy?
- Caffeine and breastfeeding?
- Differences: coffee, mate, tea, guarana and guayusa
- Conclusion
1. Caffeine during pregnancy?
One of the biggest changes many pregnant women face is adjusting their diet, particularly when it comes to everyday substances such as caffeine.
You may have heard that consuming caffeine during pregnancy can lead to a smaller size and lower birth weight in newborns. We did find data on this. However, the findings are far less serious than the topic might sound without analysing the data. It is also worth noting that many studies did not account for other factors, such as alcohol or tobacco use.
The differences in the size and weight of newborns whose mothers consumed caffeine during pregnancy were extremely small: up to 84 g less in weight, 0.44 cm less in height and a 0.32 cm smaller head circumference.
In general, the scientific consensus seems to be that consuming up to 300 mg of caffeine per day during pregnancy has no negative effects on foetal development. There are also no clear studies linking caffeine to miscarriage.
1.1. How does caffeine affect babies in the womb?
Here, too, the evidence is not clear-cut. It is still assumed that caffeine below a daily level of 200–300 mg does not cause problems during pregnancy.
However, it is absolutely clear that high amounts of caffeine are harmful to unborn and newborn babies. Some of the caffeine consumed crosses the placenta into the foetus and can cause harm. In a study by the University of Rochester Medical Center, 9,000 children aged nine and ten were examined.
The study found that children whose mothers consumed caffeine during pregnancy showed behavioural problems, difficulties concentrating and hyperactivity. However, the researchers stressed that the study relied on mothers’ recollection of whether and how much caffeine they had consumed. They also said they found no link with the different trimesters.
1.2. What to pay attention to?
Science clearly says that more than 300 mg of caffeine per day during pregnancy is not recommended. There are no clear indications that a small amount of caffeine is harmful to babies’ development.
Caffeine intake during pregnancy should therefore be limited to a maximum of 300 mg per day. You should also speak with your doctor and midwife, trust your own judgement and consider that going without caffeine for a few months would probably have no downside.
2. Caffeine and breastfeeding?
Caffeine during breastfeeding has effects similar to those of caffeine during pregnancy. Because the baby’s brain is now more developed, harm is less likely. Even so, it is also recommended that caffeine intake be reduced substantially during breastfeeding, to no more than 200–300 mg per day.
2.1. Caffeine in breast milk
As in pregnancy, caffeine passes into breast milk during breastfeeding. This process takes approximately one to two hours.
Babies may be more active and restless if they take in too much caffeine through breast milk. Babies also take longer to break down caffeine. However, these negative effects were recorded only among babies whose mothers drank ten or more cups of coffee a day. The same study concluded that 300–500 mg of caffeine per day caused no problems for the baby, but said the mother should consider reducing her intake significantly as a precaution, especially with a newborn.
2.3. What should you bear in mind?
Caffeine intake should also be greatly restricted during breastfeeding. However, just as during pregnancy, complete abstinence is not recommended. There would probably be no downside to abstaining, though.
If you are interested in the general advantages and disadvantages of caffeine, you can find them in the linked articles on its benefits and drawbacks.
3. Differences between coffee, mate, tea, guarana and guayusa
It is understandable to ask whether it makes a difference which caffeinated drink you have during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
You can find a comparison of the caffeine content of many drinks in our blog post comparing caffeine content, and more detail in our free e-book.
Besides having different caffeine levels, each plant also contains a somewhat different mix of other active compounds. The caffeine in coffee, for example, is mostly present in free form; more precisely, it is bound to bitter compounds. Caffeine in guarana, mate and tea is also bound to other substances, such as theobromine, theophylline and antioxidants. Guayusa also contains L-theanine and significantly more antioxidants than the other stimulants.
To help you stay alert, a cup of guayusa can therefore be more effective than a cup of coffee. The caffeine is absorbed more slowly by the body and, together with the other active compounds, produces a longer-lasting effect.
4. Conclusion
As mentioned at the beginning, we cannot offer medical advice. However, based on the scientific data, moderate caffeine consumption appears to have no negative effects on pregnancy or the baby.
The same applies to caffeine and breastfeeding. There is no evidence that moderate caffeine consumption could harm the baby during breastfeeding. However, all the studies we found explicitly state that no more than 300 mg of caffeine should be consumed per day.
You can find more information in our main article on the effects of caffeine. We also have more in-depth posts on its benefits and drawbacks, as well as the differences between natural and pure caffeine powder.
We hope this overview gives you a useful starting point.
