Will Caffeine During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding Make Baby a Bad Sleeper?

So is it okay for pregnant and breastfeeding moms to drink caffeine? Here’s the deal. A new study says that pregnant and breastfeeding moms aren’t messing with their babies’ sleep cycles by drinking caffeine. In the study published in Pediatrics, researchers looked at 885 infants born in 2004 in Brazil. Their findings showed that although women who drank a lot of caffeine had babies who were more restless at night, the difference was so small that it might have been due to other factors in the groups and not just caffeine intake.

Researchers asked the mothers about their babies’ sleeping habits right after birth and three months later. They found that 20 percent of moms drank a lot of caffeine (over 300 mg, which is about two to three 12-ounce cups), but while they don’t know why moms’ caffeine habits don’t have as big of an effect on their babies’ sleeping patterns as other things, they believe that some of these babies have developed a tolerance.

But before you grab a trenta at Starbucks, beware that some studies suggest drinking more than 300 mg of caffeine per day could put you at higher risk for miscarriage and baby at higher risk for birth defects. And one recent report suggests babies of moms who drink more than three cups of coffee per day while breastfeeding could become jittery and irritable.

Long story short? Have a cup or two, but stay away from a triple shot latte for a while.

Do you limit your caffeine intake? How many cups of coffee or tea do you drink a day?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Eating Right During Pregnancy

What to Drink While Breastfeeding

Is Caffeine Okay During Pregnancy?

-- Sarah Yang

See More: Baby Basics , Breastfeeding , Sleep Problems