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Home › Articles › Issues for Mom › Can Breastfeeding Moms Have it All?

Can Breastfeeding Moms Have it All?

By Shel Franco

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Coffee and Chocolate
Aside from spicy buffalo wings, Stratton suspects that her son might also have trouble with the occasional afternoon cup of coffee or chocolate binge. When the food or drink contains caffeine, the speculation can quickly turn to fact. Fortunately, moms who can't function without their morning cup of coffee need not worry.

coffee "Only limited amounts [of caffeine] are excreted into breastmilk," says Dwiggins. "Generally, one or two servings a day are OK." But because some babies are more sensitive than other babies, she cautions mothers to keep an eye out, watching for irritability and wakefulness. Also, it can take young babies longer to process substances such as caffeine through their livers, so the amount of caffeine a mother drinks over the course of a few days should be considered.

Coladas and Coolers
Of course, every woman knows that alcohol during pregnancy is a no-no, but what about during breastfeeding?

"I drank an occasional glass of wine with our pediatrician's OK," says Michelle Alcido, of Houston, Tex. "She actually suggested it for times when I had a hard time sleeping, but no more than one glass."

Moderation is the key, Dwiggins says. And to be on the safe side, she suggests avoiding breastfeeding during and for two to three hours after the drnk of alcohol. Most importantly, she points out that drinking large amounts of alcohol on a regular basis can inhibit let-down and even deplete milk supply, not to mention affect baby's development.

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