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Can I drink energy drinks while breastfeeding?

Avoid Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Energy drinks, regular or sugar-free, show Avoid in Doola Scan for breastfeeding in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and Check in Ireland. Health Canada, the UK and FSANZ require energy drink labels to say they are not recommended for breastfeeding women, and Pregnancy Birth and Baby says caffeinated energy drinks are not recommended while breastfeeding. Ireland's HSE counts them toward 200 to 300mg of caffeine a day and puts a 250ml can at 80mg.

Check any food in Doola Checked against Doola Scan's breastfeeding rules · Updated

  • Energy drink, regular

    AvoidUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAustraliaNew ZealandCheckIreland

  • Sugar-free energy drink

    AvoidUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAustraliaNew ZealandCheckIreland

  • Monster, Red Bull and other branded cans

    AvoidUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAustraliaNew ZealandCheckIreland
Doola Scan checking a plate
What each country says

Can you drink energy drinks while breastfeeding? What each country says.

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

  • United States

    Avoid
    • 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
    • Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDA/HHS)Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages such as sodas, fruit drinks and energy drinks (general population).Source
    • MyHealthfinder (HHS)Breastfeeding: up to 300 mg caffeine a day is usually safe; tea and energy drinks count.Source

  • United Kingdom

    Avoid
    • 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
    • FSAHigh-caffeine drinks must carry 'Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women'.Source
    • NHSBreastfeeding: no more than 200 mg caffeine a day; a 250 ml energy drink is 80 mg.Source

  • Canada

    Avoid
    • Health CanadaMaximum 300 mg caffeine a day when breastfeeding.Source
    • Health CanadaBreastfeeding: no more than 300 mg caffeine per day.Source
    • Health CanadaEnergy drinks must be labelled not recommended for under 14s, pregnant or breastfeeding women.Source

  • Australia

    Avoid
    • 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
    • Better Health Channel (Victoria)Pregnant women should avoid energy drinks.Source
    • FSANZEnergy drinks must be labelled not suitable for young children, pregnant or lactating women; caffeine powders banned.Source
    • NSW Food AuthorityAvoid energy and sports drinks with caffeine.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Energy drinks are not recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.Source

  • New Zealand

    Avoid
    • 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
    • Health NZHigh in caffeine and sugar; NZ advises avoiding them in pregnancy, and AU/NZ labels say they are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.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
    • HSELimit energy drinks in pregnancy.Source
What to check

Before you drink energy drinks.

  1. Read the warning on the can

    Health Canada requires every caffeinated energy drink to say it is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and caps caffeine at 180mg a serving. In the UK, high-caffeine drinks must carry 'Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women'. Health Canada

  2. In Australia, choose another drink

    Pregnancy Birth and Baby says caffeinated energy drinks are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and sets no more than 200mg of caffeine a day while breastfeeding. FSANZ requires energy drink labels to say they are not suitable for pregnant or lactating women. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby

  3. In Ireland, count the can in your caffeine

    The HSE asks breastfeeding mothers to try not to have more than 200 to 300mg of caffeine a day. It puts a 250ml can of energy drink at 80mg, and says larger cans may contain up to 160mg. HSE

Questions

About energy drinks
while breastfeeding.

Branded energy drinks show the same as any energy drink: Avoid in Doola Scan for breastfeeding in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and Check in Ireland. Read the can for its caffeine and its warning.

Sugar-free energy drinks show the same as regular ones in Doola Scan: Avoid in five countries and Check in Ireland. Check the can for its caffeine and its warning.

The NHS puts a 250ml can at 80mg, and the HSE says larger cans may contain up to 160mg. The FDA gives a range of 54 to 328mg per 16 ounces, and Health Canada caps a serving at 180mg.

Pregnancy Birth and Baby says the caffeine in breast milk usually peaks about an hour after you have it, and that newborns can take 2 to 4 days to process caffeine. Doola has no body's guidance on a waiting time after an energy drink.

The HSE's breastfeeding page counts energy drinks within its 200 to 300mg daily caffeine limit, rather than advising against them. The US line comes from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which advise avoiding sugar-sweetened drinks such as energy drinks, and the CDC lists energy drinks among sources of caffeine.

The CDC says fussiness and poor sleep have been reported in babies of mothers with very high caffeine 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.

Для кормления грудью Doola Scan показывает Avoid для энергетиков в США, Великобритании, Канаде, Австралии и Новой Зеландии, и Check в Ирландии. В Канаде, Великобритании и Австралии на банке должно быть указано, что они не рекомендуются кормящим женщинам.

Yes. Take a photo of the can or the label, and Doola Scan checks it against your country's guidance for breastfeeding, including caffeine. Food scans are free, 3 a day.
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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.