Addison is 6weeks old and LESS than her birth weight..

[Trillian]

I remember something my Mum said once about when she was weaning she would drink extra coffee to 'dry her up', I assume because of the diurectic properties of caffeine, but I don't know if that's just an old wives tale or if there is some truth in it - I'm googling it ATM but not finding it much help.

BINGO! There is some truth in it afterall...

Caffeine
Some breastfeeding mothers report that their baby is unsettled, irritable, or even constipated if they drink large volumes of coffee, strong tea, or cola. However, there appears to be individual variation in how much caffeine is found in breast milk after having a high caffeine drink.

Poor milk supply may sometimes be related to caffeine intake. Caffeine can also affect the nutrient make up of breast milk. The iron levels in the breast milk of a woman who drinks more than three cups of coffee a day during pregnancy and the early phases of breastfeeding, are one-third less than that of a mother who does not drink coffee.

It is advised that during breastfeeding, caffeine consumption should be limited to 2 to 4 cups of coffee, tea or cola per day.

Note: It has been found that cigarette smoking compounds the effects of caffeine in breastfed babies.

For more information about the caffeine content in food and drink:

• Food Standards Australia New Zealand: Caffeine

• Australian Breastfeeding Association - Breastfeeding and the use of recreational drugs - alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and marijuana

Bare in mind that even though you are only having 4 cups a day, it will be metaboloised differently in every person, so what may not be a high level to one person, will really affect another, so maybe if you try to cut down on the coffee to maybe a decaf and try using a probiotic to keep your energy levels up it might make a difference.