My youngest, Will, turned two recently and for some reason, he has been waking up in the middle of the night asking for milk. On top of that, work has been craaazy. My schedule is packed to the brim and I'm constantly on-the-go. I'm forgetful and I know that I'm not functioning at my optimal level. I feel like a new mum all over again.
Caffeine-free Alternatives for New Mums
I'm always so tempted to drink a cup of coffee to keep my energy level up, but I can't. Because when I do, I become very excited and TOO full of energy. Yes, being too full of energy is a thing. I can't sit still, caffeine makes my heart palpitates and the worse thing is, I can't sleep at night. So, I looked online for alternatives and found some very interesting information.
Why you may want to consume less or skip that coffee
Many mums talk about how caffeine helps them get through the day. I get it, you're tired and you need that boost in energy. But caffeine comes with many side effects. You may get jittery, anxiousness and like me, your sleep cycle may be affected. And it becomes a vicious cycle, isn't it? You don't sleep well, and you compensate by consuming more caffeine the next day. And the next, and the next.
While experts say that it's okay for breastfeeding mums to have one or two cups of coffee per day, if you're breastfeeding, you may want to consume less or skip it altogether because caffeine affects babies differently. Caffeine may cause babies to be irritable, unusually fussy, overly alert and not staying asleep for long. If your baby is younger than 3 months old, it's best to do away with caffeine consumption because a newborn baby's metabolism cannot break down caffeine or get rid of it.
I also read that caffeine makes breastfeeding painful because it constricts your blood vessels. The pain may be sharp, shooting or stabbing. Yikes, we certainly don't want that.
Personally, I'm not a big coffee or tea drinker simply because I want to adopt a healthier lifestyle. If you're like me, here are a few caffeine-free alternatives for sleep-deprived mums:
Caffeine-free alternatives that are safe for both mum and baby
Water
You are like, what?! Water? But it's true, dehydration can lead to fatigue. Increasing water consumption is especially important for breastfeeding mothers. You should aim to drink a big glass of water before and after every nursing session. It's also calorie-free!
To make water more palatable, you can infuse it with lemon, cucumber, mint, strawberry or rosemary.
Bananas
Bananas are one of the best foods for energy. They are an excellent source of carbohydrates, potassium and vitamin B6, all of which can help boost energy levels in your body. That's why many gym-goers have a banana before their workout.
Apples
I tend to reach for an apple as a snack. Apples can provide a slow and sustained energy release due to their rich content of natural sugars and fiber. It also contains a good number of vitamins and antioxidant. All good stuff for ourselves and babies!
Hummus
I love hummus! It’s a great source of energy and fiber. It is made with all-natural ingredients such as chickpeas, sesame seed paste, olive oil and lemon. The combination of these ingredients makes hummus a good source of energy.
It's a bit of work but I prefer to make my own at home because the store-bought ones are quite expensive and may contain preservatives.
BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken
You probably know this one from your school days when your mum tried to load you up during exam seasons. It turns out that our mums were right all along. BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken is great for easing fatigue because of many reasons:
Better concentration
By now, you should have discovered that pregnancy brain tends to linger long after the actual pregnancy. Most new mums are just as forgetful as their pregnant counterparts. Maybe it's due to hormonal changes, lack of sleep or maybe it's a combination of both.
Whenever I find myself losing concentration, I reach for a bottle of BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken. I'm not sure whether is a psychological effect, but I do feel better afterwards and able to carry on with the task at hand.
Studies show that BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken improves blood flow to the brain, especially to the Prefrontal Cortex - the part of our brains which is responsible for problem-solving, decision making, attention, working memory and planning. More oxygen and nutrients in our blood to this are area = better concentration.
Studies have also shown that those who consumed BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken for an extended amount of time were more alert and able to respond quicker than those who didn't.
Having three kids and juggling work from home at the same time, I must say I'm pretty good at multi-tasking and switching between tasks efficiently.
Reduces tiredness
I sleep for an average of 6 hours every night. It's not ideal but I'm glad that BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken has helped to increase my metabolic rate, thus boosting my energy levels. This is similar to taking caffeine, without having the side effects.
It's actually the opposite, drinking BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken can help to manage stress levels and lowers stress hormones resulting in less anxiety!
Improved Quality of Breastmilk
Breastfeeding mums would love this one. Besides keeping you alert, BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken can also promote early milk secretion and improves milk production while maintaining your breastmilk quality. This benefits the overall immunity and gastrointestinal development of your baby.
Get yours today!
Before I head off to get myself a bottle of BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken, here's a discount code for you. Get 15% off a 68ml x 30 bottle pack of BRAND’S® Essence of Chicken Original (RSP $84.70) on Lazada from 17 Sep – 13 Dec 2018! Simply visit http://po.st/ywZQBK to redeem your Lazada voucher.*
*Limited to one use per customer.