I knew it would happen at some point- the one primal fear of every new parent.
I heard of it happening to other moms, but I thought it wouldn’t happen to me. I thought I was somehow- different, luckier.
It happened in Florida of all places.
We’re visiting the grandparents. To entertain her, there is an adorable pool, sunshine (albeit it is rather chilly for Florida currently), shrouds of attention from Bubbe and Grandpa, a stack of new books, a swing. But this wasn’t enough for the Baby Bee.
It’s just that, she’s finally reached the point in her development where she’s a curiosity glutton.
It was the curiosity that drove her. I saw it happening.
She was sitting on my lap, her newly minted hands roving over the table’s edge. Bubbe was asking me if wheat bread was bad for you. She had seen an AOL video put out by a weight loss surgery doc.
Aside: Whole grain bread is better than white, but all bread in moderation please. In excess, flour products cause inflammation.
And then, in a split second, her hand grasped it.
I saw it out of the corner of my eye. But my right hand was tightly around the spork (why had Dr. P grabbed us sporks for our breakfast? I do not know). And my left hand was firmly around Baby Bee’s little, pudgy waist.
Her tiny hand clenched it as my bite of berries and Kodiak pancakes, seemingly in slow motion, reached my mouth.
Then, with the flick of a wrist, down it went.
She spilled my entire cup of freshly-filled, steaming hot coffee – the floor, the table, the bench. Everything but the baby (thank you, thank you, thank Gawd) was drenched in black Maxwell house.
And I realized we are suddenly, as of this first spill, in the new developmental stage where she not only reaches, but reaches for everything.
A new mom alertness awakens.
Which leads me to benefits of drinking coffee.
It increases (new mom) alertness and focus by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels. Low dopamine is associated with ADD- hence, distraction.
It has been linked to a decreased risk of diabetes. Research shows 3 cups a day may be helpful here.
It could lower our risk of dementia.
When taken black, it is a calorie-free beverage.
It is actually full of antioxidants, and it could lower our risk of some types of cancer.
In excess it can cause decreased blood flow to the brain and increase anxiety. Try to limit it to less than 4 cups of caffeinated coffee a day.
Too much coffee can also increase heart rate and blood pressure.
Avoid coffee (and all caffeine) past 4 pm as it can affect our ability to fall into a deep sleep.
Coffee during pregnancy or breastfeeding should be kept below 200 mg a day (one normal size cup or 2 espresso shots).
Dr. P and I are headed out for another Florida run (Coffee is considered an ergogenic aid as well so it helps us run better and faster. Boom). Have a cautious and coffee-driven day!
I know! Watch out, rug!