YES, YOU CAN DRINK COFFEE & BREASTFEED

As a NICU Nurse and IBCLC, I've noticed a gap between current literature on maternal caffeine intake and the guidelines we follow within the NICU for premature infants. This confusion arises from cautionary language regarding caffeine's potential impact on baby sleep (insomnia?!) and irritable behaviour. I would like to challenge this perspective…

Lets break it down:

- Caffeine is indeed transferred into breast milk, but in MINIMAL amounts.

Comparing doses:

- I've directly compared the dose of 125mg of caffeine from a cup of coffee to what we administer intravenously to premature infants in the NICU.

- 125mg caffeine from coffee = approx 0.4mg caffeine transfer in 100ml of breast milk.

- Target dose for a neonate of approx 2.5kg = 25mg, with daily administration thereafter.

Benefits of Caffeine for premature infants!

The findings from the Caffeine for Apnoea and Prematurity Study (CAP) with >2000 premature infants showed numerous neuroprotective positive effects of caffeine administration:

- Prevents apnoea of prematurity, improving oxygenation and ventilation.

- Reduces the incidence of cerebral palsy and motor impairment.

- Reduced cognitive delay

- Facilitates early extubation for ventilated infants.

It was also found that caffeine has a wide therpautic window, minimising side effects for premature infants!

**Safety and Guidelines:**

- The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests up to 300mg is safe for breastfeeding parents.

- One study showed up to 5 cups of coffee a day wasnt associated with changes in infant behaviour.

- Chronic coffee drinking (10-20 cups): Reports of fussiness and poor sleep patterns in infants. (This is a large amount of caffeine and was also consumed alongside softdrink!)

Point of the story!

- If you’re desperate for a cup of coffee, please enjoy one

- Your coffee intake is not likely to impact on your baby’s sleep (though it may impact on your sleep if you consume it late in the day!)

How we respond to, nourish and nurture our babies is literally wiring up our child's brain for lifelong wellbeing and mental health.