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Can I drink coffee while breastfeeding?

Check Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Coffee, including espresso, lattes and cold brew, shows Check in Doola Scan for breastfeeding in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, because of its caffeine. The limits differ: the CDC puts low to moderate intake at about 300mg a day, or 2 to 3 cups of coffee, and Health Canada sets 300mg. The NHS, Pregnancy Birth and Baby and Health NZ say 200mg, and the HSE 200 to 300mg. The FDA suggests asking your health care provider whether you need to limit caffeine.

Checked against Doola Scan's breastfeeding rules · Updated

  • Brewed, filter or instant coffee

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Espresso shots

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Lattes, cappuccinos and flat whites

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Iced coffee and cold brew

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Decaf coffee

    CheckIn all six countries
Doola Scan checking a plate
What each country says

Coffee while breastfeeding: what each country says.

Each country's own breastfeeding guidance on coffee, with a link to it. Doola Scan uses your country's first.

  • United States

    Check
    • CDCLow to moderate caffeine is about 300 mg a day or less (2-3 cups coffee); preterm/newborns clear it slower.Source
    • MyHealthfinder (HHS)Usually safe up to 300 mg caffeine a day, but your doctor may recommend less.Source
    • CDCCaffeine passes into breast milk; high intake can make some babies fussy or jittery.Source

  • United Kingdom

    Check
    • NHSCaffeine passes into breast milk and large amounts may make baby restless and wakeful.Source
    • NHSNo more than 200 mg caffeine a day while breastfeeding (US says about 300 mg).Source

  • Canada

    Check
    • Health CanadaMaximum 300 mg caffeine a day when breastfeeding.Source
    • Health CanadaBreastfeeding: no more than 300 mg caffeine per day.Source

  • Australia

    Check
    • Better Health Channel (Victoria)Small amounts (3 or fewer caffeinated drinks a day) should not be a problem.Source
    • FSANZNo more than 200 mg caffeine a day from all sources.Source
    • healthdirectLimit caffeine to 200 mg a day when breastfeeding.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Maximum 200 mg/day while breastfeeding.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Maximum 200 mg caffeine a day in total in breastfeeding (US up to 300 mg).Source

  • New Zealand

    Check
    • Health NZUp to 200 mg caffeine a day is safe while breastfeeding.Source
    • Health NZUp to 200 mg caffeine a day while breastfeeding (lower than 300 mg).Source

  • Ireland

    Check
    • HSEBreastfeeding: try not to exceed 200-300 mg caffeine a day; more may make baby fussy.Source
    • HSE200-300 mg/day while breastfeeding.Source
What to check

Before you drink coffee.

  1. Keep to your country's daily caffeine limit

    The CDC says about 300mg a day or less is low to moderate, and Health Canada sets no more than 300mg while breastfeeding. The NHS, Pregnancy Birth and Baby and Health NZ say 200mg, and the HSE asks you to try not to have more than 200 to 300mg. CDC

  2. Know how much is in your cup

    The HSE puts a mug of filter coffee at 140mg and a mug of instant coffee at 100mg. Health Canada puts an 8 ounce (237ml) cup of brewed coffee at 135mg, and Pregnancy Birth and Baby puts espresso at 60 to 120mg a 250ml cup. HSE

  3. Have less while your baby is a newborn

    Pregnancy Birth and Baby says newborns are particularly sensitive to caffeine and can take 2 to 4 days to process it. The CDC says mothers of preterm and younger newborn babies might consider even less caffeine, and the NHS suggests cutting down especially while your baby is under 6 months. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby

  4. Switch to decaf gradually if you cut down

    The HSE says that if caffeine seems to make your baby fussy and unsettled, you can consider slowly switching to decaffeinated coffee or tea. It suggests reducing gradually to avoid headaches. HSE

Questions

About coffee
while breastfeeding.

It depends on the country. The CDC (US) and Health Canada say about 300mg a day, the NHS (UK), Pregnancy Birth and Baby (Australia) and Health NZ say 200mg, and the HSE (Ireland) says 200 to 300mg. Doola shows each line and doesn't pick one.

The CDC says about 300mg is 2 to 3 cups of coffee. The NHS puts a coffee at 90mg within its 200mg day, and the HSE a mug of filter coffee at 140mg within 200 to 300mg.

Coffee shows Check for breastfeeding in all six countries at any age. The CDC says preterm and younger newborn babies break down caffeine more slowly, so mothers might consider having even less, and Pregnancy Birth and Baby says newborns can take 2 to 4 days to process it.

Decaf coffee shows Check in Doola Scan for breastfeeding in all six countries, because Doola Scan reads it under the caffeine rule. Health Canada puts an 8 ounce cup of decaf at 3mg of caffeine, against 135mg for brewed coffee.

Espresso shows Check for breastfeeding in all six countries. Pregnancy Birth and Baby puts it at 60 to 120mg a 250ml cup, so count each shot in your daily caffeine.

The CDC says caffeine passes to the baby in small amounts through breast milk, and that irritability, poor sleep and fussiness have been reported with very high intakes, about 10 cups of coffee or more a day. If you're worried about your baby, talk to your midwife, health visitor or doctor.

Pregnancy Birth and Baby says the amount of caffeine in breast milk usually peaks about an hour after you have it.

El café muestra Check en Doola Scan para la lactancia en los seis países, por la cafeína. Los CDC y Health Canada hablan de unos 300mg al día; el NHS, Australia y Nueva Zelanda, de 200mg.
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Doola shows what official guidance says; it never diagnoses. No known issues means none of these countries' breastfeeding guidance names it, not a promise that a food is safe.