New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Can consuming caffeine while breastfeeding harm your baby?

Date:
February 21, 2012
Source:
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News
Summary:
Babies are not able to metabolize or excrete caffeine very well, so a breastfeeding mother's consumption of caffeine may lead to caffeine accumulation and symptoms such as wakefulness and irritability, according to an expert.
Share:
FULL STORY

Babies are not able to metabolize or excrete caffeine very well, so a breastfeeding mother's consumption of caffeine may lead to caffeine accumulation and symptoms such as wakefulness and irritability, according to an interview with expert Ruth Lawrence, MD, published in Journal of Caffeine Research, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Caffeine is found in a wide range of products in addition to coffee, tea, and chocolate, including soft drinks, sports drinks, and some over-the-counter medications. In a provocative discussion with Dr. Ruth Lawrence, Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Jack E. James, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Caffeine Research, asks a variety of probing questions. Is there a safe level of caffeine intake while breastfeeding? Are there potential long-term effects of caffeine exposure on development and intellect? Can a baby whose mother consumed caffeine during pregnancy experience withdrawal if she then abstains from caffeine while breastfeeding? Dr. Lawrence bases her responses on the scientific and medical evidence related to caffeine exposure in breastfed babies, and distinguishes between what is and what is not well understood in this developing field of study.

"Usually a mother, particularly if she is breastfeeding, is cautioned to limit her caffeine intake," says Dr. Lawrence, who is Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed journal Breastfeeding Medicine. After giving birth, mothers "should consume all things in moderation and try to avoid the excesses that might really add up to a lot of caffeine."


Story Source:

Materials provided by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Jack James. Can Consuming Caffeine While Breastfeeding Harm Your Baby? An Interview with Ruth Lawrence, PhD. Journal of Caffeine Research, December 2011 DOI: 10.1089/jcr.2011.1212

Cite This Page:

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News. "Can consuming caffeine while breastfeeding harm your baby?." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 February 2012. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120221125405.htm>.
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News. (2012, February 21). Can consuming caffeine while breastfeeding harm your baby?. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 19, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120221125405.htm
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News. "Can consuming caffeine while breastfeeding harm your baby?." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120221125405.htm (accessed March 19, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES