Caffeine and breastfeeding?

Before I got pg with DD3, I was a one or two cup of coffee a day gal. Then when I got pg I cut back to one cup in the morning. That 'new study' linking caffeine to miscarriage came out when I was still pg, and DH was adamant that I stop drinking coffee, and I haven't had any since. So now I'm breastfeeding DD3, and also working part time from home; and without my morning coffee I am REALLY dragging. So do you think I can have a cup a day now, without it affecting DD3's sleep habits (she's a pretty good sleeper) or make her hyper?

I breastfed DDs 1 and 2 for a year and a half each, but I wasn't a coffee drinker then, so I was wondering if you all had some ideas? Thanks xo

My understanding is that moderate amounts of caffeine are fine while breastfeeding.  It's different than when you're pregnant--some crosses over into breastmilk, but not a whole lot (even small amounts of alcohol are supposed to be fine while breastfeeding). 

 I have a "half-caLf" mocha per day!

I drank coffee while I was breastfeeding. You could always have your coffee straight after you have fed bub, that way when it is time to feed again it should all be out of your system.

I have 2 cups a day and even throw in a latte once in a while and it doesn't seem to affect my daughter at all.  I think you need to do what you have to to get through these early months.

Hey Alli!

Maybe we are all crazy here...but I am like you and I quit caffeine while I was pregnant COMPLETELY except some chocolate.  I am kind of a tee-totaller.  So anyway, I LOVE and I mean LOVE coke.  Coca-Cola....Mmmmm, I could bathe in it.  My mother used to give it to me in a bottle..not kidding either.  I LOVE it.  SO, I decided to have a glass a few times after having DS3.  Yeah, he was hyper as hell.  It COMPLETELY disrupted his sleep cycles and he was going nuts in his bouncy jumperoo thing.  The sleep habits was the most noticeable.  He did not take a nap that whole day.  So, I watched it the next 4 or 5 times that I had a can of coke and low and behold...same thing.  It REALLY affected him that way.  Today, I had a LOT of chocolate...(hey...I started my period...) and THAT even seemed to affect him...he only took one 30 minute catnap all day and then didn't go to bed until after 10 pm.  Normally, he takes 3-4 cat naps and 2 significant naps still. 

It wasn't worth it for me.  Maybe he is more sensitive to it...but I work from home also...and I had to PAY for that caffiene.  Better to drag ass and muddle through...with a sleeping baby then to be trying to type with a 6 month old banging on your laptop and sqealing cuz he's high on caffeine!!!

Kimberly713:

 Better to drag ass and muddle through...with a sleeping baby then to be trying to type with a 6 month old banging on your laptop and sqealing cuz he's high on caffeine!!!

LOL Kimberly!!! I did so much one-handed typing when DD2 was a baby that I swore this time I would only work when the baby is SLEEPING. Darnit, just when I was thinking of breaking out my new espresso machine too . . . o well maybe I should hold off awhile, I really can't afford to turn DD3 into a fussy baby. I wonder, does it depend on the baby?

Girrrrrrllll, I am singing your sign.  I work from home 100%, I LOVE my company...they are so incredibly flexible!  There are some days that I have to work very odd hours to accomadate my children.  Fortunately, I have that flexibility too....like yesterday I worked 8-11 am then took a break for nap, feeding etc. then was back on from 2-5, then break...dinner homework etc....then back on from 9-1230.  They get more than 8 hours sometimes...but they deserve it for what I get.  When I have to start "pecking" on the computer and hunting down my cursor because my little man keeps hitting the touchpad...I know it's time to take a break...or when none of his soothies work...

One thing that makes my house DREAMY during the day is relaxation music.  I have a two story great room...so I put a rainforest musical CD in and it wafts throughout the house and the kids are SO much more calm with that going in the background...me too actually!  Plus, DS3 will be down for a nap and hear that when he wakes up and lay there and go back to sleep sometimes...whereas otherwise he yells for me to come and get him.  Sounds new agey...but it works!

You won't turn DD3 into a fussy baby....except for the day...you can always try a little caffiene and see if there is a threshhold.  Ethan was back to normal like the next day I believe...The days that he did have caffiene were HORRENDOUS and I had to work through the night to make up for it!!!

I think it does depend on the baby- I drank pop while bf'ing the boys and it never seemed to affect them at all. DD, however, has a hard time with it so I had to give it up. :( Like a pp said, try drinking some right after you finish nursing and see what happens.

I agree that it depends on baby, but I do know they say 1-2 cups of coffee a day are fine and shouldn't really have an affect on baby.  So, maybe just try one cup and that may help you a tad. I am a HUGE HUGE HUGE coffee lover. I drink coffee daily. I also LOVE coke and dr. pepper but can't drink it until Anakin turns four, so I am solely on Coffee

Yes, it must depend on the baby.  I drank 1-2 cups of coffee plus 1 soda a day (maybe even 2) while breastfeeding both of my sons, and neither one was fussy. 

DS2 didn't sleep for more than 2 or 3 hours until he was 7 1/2 months old so I drank a lot of coffee, tea and coke.  I didn't start that until I went back to work and he was sleeping terribly before that so it wasn't the caffeine affecting him.  Good luck!

Alli:

Then when I got pg I cut back to one cup in the morning. That 'new study' linking caffeine to miscarriage came out when I was still pg, and DH was adamant that I stop drinking coffee, and I haven't had any since.

I actually talked to my Ob about this, and she said that the study was not large enough to make any difference. She says that every 5-6 years, you will hear a different story. One year its ok, the next, its not, etc. etc. She said that, speaking from a liberal point of view, you can actually consume up to 9 cups of coffee without it having any impact on the fetus. But speaking from a more conservative point, she said that 3 cups a day is what she recommends. She said she do what feels best for you. But not to let the "studies" scare you. Drink up.