Is it safe to use decaffeinated coffee while breastfeeding?

Sipping a cup of hot coffee in the morning helps yourself relax, fight sleepiness and reduce stress. For many people, coffee is an indispensable drink, to consume at least one cup per day. However, when you are breastfeeding, you should not use coffee, but instead with decaffeinated coffee.

However, while you are breastfeeding, there are many sacrifices you make, including coffee . This is difficult to do, but the good news is that you have another alternative to coffee.

This article will help you learn about nutritionally valuable choices and why caffeine adversely affects you and your baby while breastfeeding. First, we will learn why decaf coffee can be used as a substitute for regular coffee.

Caffeine levels in regular and decaffeinated coffee

The average caffeine content in a 237ml cup of coffee is 95mg, while the average decaf is only about 3mg. This means decaf still contains caffeine, but less than regular coffee. The reason is that during processing, decaf coffee has at least about 97% of its caffeine removed. Caffeine is removed with the help of solvents such as water, carbon dioxide (CO2) or organic solvents, and the beans are then roasted and ground.

In addition, the level of caffeine depends on the type, the size of the cup, and the method of preparation (making coffee). According to research, a cup of decaf coffee (180ml) has 0–7mg of caffeine, while a cup of coffee is usually 70–140mg.

The nutritional value of decaffeinated coffee

The nutritional value of decaffeinated coffee is similar to that of regular coffee. Decaffeinated coffee also contains antioxidants but some percent (about 15%) can be lost during the decaffeination process. The main antioxidants found in decaf coffee are hydrocinnamic acid and polyphenols. In addition, there are some other ingredients in decaf coffee including 4.8% potassium, 2.4% recommended daily intake of magnesium, 2.5% niacin or vitamin B3.

While regular coffee and decaffeinated coffee have nearly the same nutritional value, you should still only use decaffeinated coffee because the caffeine content of coffee is often much higher than decaf coffee, this will affect affect you and your child.

Side effects of caffeine during lactation

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the average breastfeeding consumption of caffeine between 2–3 cups or 300mg per day will not affect your baby.

• Caffeine has the ability to accumulate in the body of an infant while breastfeeding if the mother consumes high amounts of coffee, 750mg or more than a day is allowed. However, there are some babies with a high caffeine sensitivity who may even be irritable or fussy even at low levels.

• Infants are unable to clear caffeine from their body, leading to irritability, pain, insomnia and constipation .

• Caffeine causes diuretics and dehydration in nursing mothers.

• The coffee drinking habits of breastfeeding mothers can reduce the iron content of milk.

• Caffeine consumption may affect the downward milk reflex (milk released from the chest) of a nursing mother.

The concentration of caffeine in decaf coffee is low, so it will not harm your baby while breastfeeding. However, this depends on the infant's tolerance level.

Caffeinated mothers can drink caffeine

When you want to drink coffee, you can still use decaffeinated coffee while you are breast-feeding. But mothers also need to note that other sources of food also contain caffeine such as soda, chocolate, tea and some others. If decaf coffee is taken at the same time as other caffeine-containing products, increased caffeine consumption affects breast milk.