TUESDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- Caffeine consumption among expectant or new mothers does not appear to affect the nighttime sleeping habits of their newborns, new Brazilian research indicates.
The conclusion is based on an analysis of sleeping patterns among more than 4,200 infants until the age of 3 months, in light of the caffeine-consumption habits of their mothers both before and after delivery.
Researchers looked at two beverages: coffee and mate, a hot tea-like beverage popular in their area.
The team, led by study author Dr. Ina Santos of the postgraduate program in epidemiology at the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil, reports its observations online and in the May print issue of Pediatrics.
The authors note that it is very common for newborns to experience nighttime awakenings, and that caffeine consumption has long been linked to sleep disruption and insomnia among adult drinkers.
To see whether caffeine consumption among pregnant women and nursing mothers affects their child's sleep, Santos' team tracked more than 4,200 infants who were born in 2004 in the city of Pelotas, with a specific focus on 885 infants within that group.
All the new mothers were interviewed at the hospital immediately after delivery and then three months later to gauge their caffeine-drinking habits. Heavy coffee drinkers were defined as those who consumed 300 milligrams or more of caffeine per day, either via coffee or some other caffeinated beverage.
According to the Mayo Clinic, two to four cups of brewed coffee contain between 200 and 300 milligrams of caffeine.
All the newborns were examined at birth, with follow-up exams conducted at three months. At that point, the mothers provided details on their child's sleep habits during the prior 15 days, including total day and night sleep hours and bed-sharing practices.
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