Are you pregnant or have you just had a baby? Congratulations! Pregnancy and motherhood bring a whole new level of fatigue to many (expectant) mothers. So, it's tempting to quickly grab a cup of coffee to recharge. But is caffeine safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding? And if so, how much coffee can you drink while pregnant and breastfeeding? Does caffeine affect the baby or cause problems? This week, we'll answer these questions and show you good alternatives if you don't want to drink coffee during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Happy reading!
How does coffee affect the body?
The caffeine in coffee wakes us up. Most of the caffeine is absorbed in the small intestine. Our blood pressure rises slightly, our heartbeat increases, and we feel more energetic. After about four hours, roughly half of the caffeine has been eliminated from our system. You can find out here whether coffee is healthy or unhealthy!
Is caffeine problematic during pregnancy?
As with many things, it's the quantity that matters. Many adults, even when not pregnant, already feel unwell after consuming, for example, 600 mg of caffeine per day. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) therefore recommends a maximum of 200 mg of caffeine per day. This corresponds to 2-3 cups of filter coffee or 3-4 medium-strength espressos. However, expectant mothers must be aware that, firstly, caffeine is metabolized more slowly during pregnancy, and secondly, the placenta does not act as a barrier to caffeine, meaning it passes unhindered to the unborn child, and the baby, in turn, takes longer to metabolize the caffeine than the mother. Responsible caffeine consumption during pregnancy is therefore essential!
Many pregnant women also react differently to various foods due to hormonal changes (for example, pickles with cream). Therefore, carefully observe how your body reacts to caffeine and skip your cup of coffee if you experience side effects. Coffee can also affect your sleep during pregnancy. Since sleep is crucial for expectant mothers to have enough energy to support a growing baby, coffee should be avoided if you are experiencing sleep problems.
Is coffee safe while breastfeeding?
Here too, a maximum of 200-300mg of caffeine per day is recommended. This means mothers don't have to forgo their coffee while breastfeeding and can enjoy a cup with a friend without guilt. As during pregnancy, other sources of caffeine should also be considered to avoid accidentally exceeding the limits. For example, caffeine is also found in cocoa, chocolate, cola, black and green tea, certain dietary supplements like protein powder, and medications. If you drink a maximum of three cups of coffee a day, the caffeine is barely detectable in the baby. Approximately 1 to 3% of the caffeine concentration in the blood passes into breast milk and thus reaches the baby. Nevertheless, some babies can react to even these small amounts. Your baby may become overstimulated, nervous, or experience stomach aches. Therefore, when drinking coffee while breastfeeding, be sure to pay attention to the amount and observe your baby closely to ensure you can enjoy your coffee. If you have any concerns, consult your doctor or midwife.
Tip:
Drink your coffee while breastfeeding or shortly afterward. This way, as much caffeine as possible will be metabolized before the next feeding, and less caffeine will pass to your baby through your breast milk!
Coffee during pregnancy and breastfeeding - what alternatives are there?
Those who consciously choose to avoid coffee during breastfeeding and pregnancy have many alternatives. These include rooibos tea, a spicy chai latte, a refreshing minute, or a hot chocolate which contains about 20mg of caffeine per 100ml – a rather low-caffeine alternative.
Lupin coffee is also becoming increasingly popular. It's made by roasting lupin seeds. These legumes are naturally caffeine- and gluten-free and have a mild, nutty flavor. Lupins are nitrogen fixers. This means they bind nitrogen from the air and release it back into the soil. This improves soil quality and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers – an alternative that can also be cultivated in our latitudes.
Our alternative at SIMON&BEARNS:
No matter how delicious a beverage may be, it can't replace the taste of coffee. Therefore, our clear recommendation for coffee during pregnancy and breastfeeding is our decaffeinated coffee from Colombia. This decaf is a so-called omni-roast and is thus suitable for both espresso and filter coffee preparation. Our coffee is decaffeinated using the EA Sugarcane process, which removes the caffeine with the help of cane sugar. You can read more about how this works and what other decaffeination methods exist here. A residual caffeine content of 0.01–0.03 mg/L remains.
We hope we've cleared up some uncertainties about coffee during pregnancy and breastfeeding and alleviated some of your concerns. If you'd like to know more, you should definitely ask your doctor or midwife. They can give you further advice and answer any questions you may have.
Your SIMON&BEARNS Team
How much coffee is allowed during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Are you pregnant or have you just had a baby? Congratulations! Pregnancy and motherhood bring a whole new level of fatigue to many (expectant) mothers. So, it's tempting to quickly grab a cup of coffee to recharge. But is caffeine safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding? And if so, how much coffee can you drink while pregnant and breastfeeding? Does caffeine affect the baby or cause problems? This week, we'll answer these questions and show you good alternatives if you don't want to drink coffee during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Happy reading!
How does coffee affect the body?
The caffeine in coffee wakes us up. Most of the caffeine is absorbed in the small intestine. Our blood pressure rises slightly, our heartbeat increases, and we feel more energetic. After about four hours, roughly half of the caffeine has been eliminated from our system. You can find out here whether coffee is healthy or unhealthy!
Is caffeine problematic during pregnancy?
As with many things, it's the quantity that matters. Many adults, even when not pregnant, already feel unwell after consuming, for example, 600 mg of caffeine per day. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) therefore recommends a maximum of 200 mg of caffeine per day. This corresponds to 2-3 cups of filter coffee or 3-4 medium-strength espressos. However, expectant mothers must be aware that, firstly, caffeine is metabolized more slowly during pregnancy, and secondly, the placenta does not act as a barrier to caffeine, meaning it passes unhindered to the unborn child, and the baby, in turn, takes longer to metabolize the caffeine than the mother. Responsible caffeine consumption during pregnancy is therefore essential!
Many pregnant women also react differently to various foods due to hormonal changes (for example, pickles with cream). Therefore, carefully observe how your body reacts to caffeine and skip your cup of coffee if you experience side effects. Coffee can also affect your sleep during pregnancy. Since sleep is crucial for expectant mothers to have enough energy to support a growing baby, coffee should be avoided if you are experiencing sleep problems.
Is coffee safe while breastfeeding?
Here too, a maximum of 200-300mg of caffeine per day is recommended. This means mothers don't have to forgo their coffee while breastfeeding and can enjoy a cup with a friend without guilt. As during pregnancy, other sources of caffeine should also be considered to avoid accidentally exceeding the limits. For example, caffeine is also found in cocoa, chocolate, cola, black and green tea, certain dietary supplements like protein powder, and medications. If you drink a maximum of three cups of coffee a day, the caffeine is barely detectable in the baby. Approximately 1 to 3% of the caffeine concentration in the blood passes into breast milk and thus reaches the baby. Nevertheless, some babies can react to even these small amounts. Your baby may become overstimulated, nervous, or experience stomach aches. Therefore, when drinking coffee while breastfeeding, be sure to pay attention to the amount and observe your baby closely to ensure you can enjoy your coffee. If you have any concerns, consult your doctor or midwife.
Tip:
Drink your coffee while breastfeeding or shortly afterward. This way, as much caffeine as possible will be metabolized before the next feeding, and less caffeine will pass to your baby through your breast milk!
Coffee during pregnancy and breastfeeding - what alternatives are there?
Those who consciously choose to avoid coffee during breastfeeding and pregnancy have many alternatives. These include rooibos tea, a spicy chai latte, a refreshing minute, or a hot chocolate which contains about 20mg of caffeine per 100ml – a rather low-caffeine alternative.
Lupin coffee is also becoming increasingly popular. It's made by roasting lupin seeds. These legumes are naturally caffeine- and gluten-free and have a mild, nutty flavor. Lupins are nitrogen fixers. This means they bind nitrogen from the air and release it back into the soil. This improves soil quality and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers – an alternative that can also be cultivated in our latitudes.
Our alternative at SIMON&BEARNS:
No matter how delicious a beverage may be, it can't replace the taste of coffee. Therefore, our clear recommendation for coffee during pregnancy and breastfeeding is our decaffeinated coffee from Colombia. This decaf is a so-called omni-roast and is thus suitable for both espresso and filter coffee preparation. Our coffee is decaffeinated using the EA Sugarcane process, which removes the caffeine with the help of cane sugar. You can read more about how this works and what other decaffeination methods exist here. A residual caffeine content of 0.01–0.03 mg/L remains.
We hope we've cleared up some uncertainties about coffee during pregnancy and breastfeeding and alleviated some of your concerns. If you'd like to know more, you should definitely ask your doctor or midwife. They can give you further advice and answer any questions you may have.
Your SIMON&BEARNS Team