Washington: Caffeine intake by breastfeeding women may trigger wakefulness and irritability in their babies as they are unable to metabolize or excrete the compound, says an expert.
Ruth Lawrence, a paediatrician from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, told Jack E. James, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Caffeine Research, that "usually a mother, particularly if she is breastfeeding, is cautioned to limit her caffeine intake".
After giving birth, mothers "should consume all things in moderation and try to avoid the excesses that might really add up to a lot of caffeine," which the babies are unable to excrete, Lawrence added, according to a Journal of Caffeine Research statement.
Caffeine is found in a wide range of products in addition to coffee, tea, and chocolate, including soft drinks, sports drinks, and some over-the-counter medications.
IANS