According to a recent study, mothers with hyperactive children can let go of any guilt they had over consuming caffeine during pregnancy. Based on their results, children born to women who consumed caffeine during pregnancy were not any more likely to be hyperactive than children born to women who had not consumed caffeine.
In the early months of parenthood, fatigue is quite common. Many moms turn to caffeine for a quick pick-me-up during the day. While there is no doubt that the caffeine consumption of a formula fed baby is benign, experts have pondered for years about breastfed babies, unsure of whether or not it could affect their sleep patterns after being passed along through the mother’s breast milk.
Caffeine, a stimulant naturally found in, or added to coffee, tea, chocolate, some soft drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks and some over-the-counter medications, are a part of everyday life for most people. During pregnancy, women are cautioned to limit their caffeine intake because of potential adverse effects of caffeine on the fetus. But what some women may not know is that experts recommend limiting caffeine while breastfeeding as well.
Researchers have found that pregnant women who drink large amounts of coffee daily have a higher chance of giving birth to small babies. Six cups a day can be enough to significantly affect fetal growth.
