You probably already know that pregnant women should avoid alcohol and heavy drugs in order to minimize the risk of birth defects or premature birth. However, what about caffeine? It is, after all, considered to be a drug that acts as both a stimulant and a diuretic on the body, leading to higher heart rate and blood pressure, and an increased chance of dehydration. But do you really need to give up your daily cup of joe (or three!) during pregnancy? Read on for more conclusive information.
First, it’s worth noting that with any drug, the dosage is of primary concern. A chocolate bar contains approximately 10-15 grams of caffeine, while a cup of tea contains anywhere from 30-70 grams, and a cup of coffee can have as much as 90-150 grams. So you can see that there’s a big difference between indulging in a little chocolate and pouring down three cups of coffee to get you going in the morning. At this point, most experts believe that a moderate caffeine intake of 150-250 grams a day won’t cause any adverse effects on the mother or child.
However, when you get above the 300 gram/day mark, problems start to happen, since caffeine is one of the few substances able to cross the placenta. As an adult, you’re able to control how much caffeine you take in on any given day, but your baby doesn’t have that luxury. In addition, first- and second-trimester fetuses aren’t able to process the caffeine as efficiently as fully-formed adults, which may lead to altered sleeping or movement patterns. And on another note, it takes pregnant women as much as double the amount of time to process caffeine, so the chemical will remain in your system, affecting your baby for longer.
As your pregnancy progresses, your baby is even more susceptible to the impact of caffeine. In the third-trimester, heavy caffeine use can result in increased fetal heart rate, increased breathing rate, and a higher chance of miscarriage. In addition, babies born to mothers who are heavily-dependent on caffeine will carry some of the residual effects of the chemical with them after birth, including tremors and staying awake for longer periods of the day. Believe me – you’ll want to get as much sleep as possible after giving birth, so do yourself a favor and ease up off the caffeine.
If you aren’t yet pregnant, but plan to try for a baby in the next six to twelve months, it’s important to start weaning yourself off caffeine as soon as possible. Recent studies have demonstrated that heavy caffeine users are twice as likely to have conception delayed by a year or more than those who ingested a moderate dose of the chemical. If you’re especially sensitive to caffeine, this becomes even more important. However, chances are you’ve already begun to take better care of yourself – whether by eating better or exercising more – in preparation for your pregnancy. Consider reducing your caffeine intake to be a natural part of this process and you’ll find it easy to cut back on your morning gallon of java.
