For some people, coffee in the morning is a non-negotiable requirement. If there isn’t a fresh pot in the kitchen at breakfast or a cup in hand on the way to work, the day might start going downhill. But what if you're an expecting or new mommy? Can drinking coffee during pregnancy or breastfeeding affect your baby’s sleep? According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, it’s okay as long as you don’t overdo it.
Researchers from the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil interviewed nearly 900 mothers about their caffeine intake and their babies' sleeping habits at three months. Almost all of them said that they drank caffeinated beverages during their pregnancy. In fact, 20 percent consumed at least 300 milligrams a day (a 12-oz cup of coffee is about 200 mg). Meanwhile, 14 percent still consumed a lot of caffeine three months after giving birth.
Of the mothers interviewed, 15 percent said their baby would wake up more than three times a night. Researchers discovered that the situation was the same whether or not the women had consumed a lot of caffeine. Generally, the study authors say, drinking a cup or two of coffee a day when you're pregnant or breastfeeding might not be bad for your baby's sleep. Just be careful not to overindulge since too much caffeine in breastfeeding mothers has been linked to poor sleep and fussiness in babies.
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