Coffee vs Breast Milk

Most new moms we know have about a dozen questions they are way too terrified to ask for fear of sounding like a bumbling idiot. So, as a public service, we'll make it a point to write about the "doh" parenting stuff from time to time that everyone might be too embarrassed—or even ashamed—to ask.

So, lets get on with it! Breastfeeding. Not everyone is into it, and some moms we know can only take it for so long before they're the ones crying for formula! No matter how you choose to feed your baby you're still a great mom, and we need to throw that out there because so many woman look down upon "formula feeders" and it's not right. If you choose to, and you are a coffee lover like so many moms [coffee addict is more appropriate for us] you may be wondering if caffeine is going to get to your baby via your milk. Hey! It's a good question, nobody wants a wired newborn.

The facts are that most moms can drink coffee in moderation. You're going to have to put a hold on your four times a day Starbucks runs, but a cup or two in the morning won't affect your child. Some babies do have a sensitivity to caffeine, but with time this fades away. Caffeine will not affect your breast milk supply either, but cutting back on fluids in general will, so be careful and make sure you're not substituting coffee for water, milk and other hydrating beverages.

For some great tips and advice on breastfeeding you can check out a La Leche League in your area. Kellymom offers graphs on how long caffeine stays in your body, and some pretty interesting charts on how much caffeine is in certain drinks.

Share your breastfeeding experiences here with other women—did you love to breastfeed? Did you find cutting coffee out of your mornings helped?