An expecting mother faces plenty of do’s and don’ts when it involves food and drinks. She has got to change her lifestyle and diet for the betterment of her baby. Keeping this in mind, coffee lovers would be wondering if coffee is safe to consume during pregnancy? Is coffee good for a pregnant woman? Many women think can you drink coffee when pregnant? Are you able to drink coffee during the primary trimester of pregnancy? If it’s safe, then what quantity should it be consumed? how much caffeine is safe when pregnant? Is there any alternative to coffee? What are the consequences of coffee on pregnancy? Here is that the answer to all or any of your questions om Tinydale.
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What Caffeine Do To Your Body?
Caffeine acts as a stimulant. It is popularly consumed by people for staying alert and active, weight loss, and cognitive function. It increases heart rate and metabolism, which directly affects your growing baby in the womb. The person who drinks coffee can understand that it is addictive. Taking excess caffeine leads to insomnia and frequent headaches. Your body losses fluids and calcium as coffee is a diuretic and is a big obstacle in maintaining a healthy pregnancy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends a maximum intake of 400 mg of caffeine intake a day.
Which Food Items Contain Caffeine Including Coffee?
Caffeine and pregnancy. The food and drinks containing caffeine are as follows:
- Dark chocolate
- Coated coffee beans
- Energy drinks
- Espresso
- Sodas
- Green Tea
- Black Tea
- Coffee liquor
- Chocolate cake
- Coffee cake
- Dark chocolate cookies and brownies
- Chocolate cake with frosting
Some cold, fever, OTC, and headache tablets contain caffeine. It is always advised to take physicians’ consultation or advice before taking medicine.
Why Is It Unsafe To Consume Coffee During Pregnancy?
Too much consumption can increase the concentration of two components in our body, i.e., caffeine and polyphenols. Because the breakdown time for caffeine within the body is longer during pregnancy, the probabilities of it reaching the unborn baby are higher. Caffeine passes from the mother to the growing baby through the placenta. The organs during an increasing baby are still within the developing stage, and the processing of caffeine by the baby’s body is often delayed, which could cause side effects. A few of the side effects include:
Miscarriage
Studies say that too much caffeine (more than two cups) can cause miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy. Therefore, avoid consuming coffee within the trimester of the pregnancy.
Cardiovascular toxicity
In an unborn baby, caffeine can rise within the pulse, arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat.
Growth Retardation
Caffeine can harm the developing brain of the baby, which successively can affect the expansion. It can cause the brain to develop slowly.
Carcinogenic
A high amount of caffeine can cause cancer within the fetus. It is carcinogenic if taken in an uncontrolled amount. So, Always have a watch on your daily consumption.
Anemia
Anemia may be a condition during which there’s a deficiency of red cells or hemoglobin within the blood. Caffeine may reduce the iron absorption capacity from food to the body and may cause health risks during pregnancy.
Also, some studies have revealed that pregnant women with high consumption of caffeine (more than 300 mg) gave birth to lighter-weight babies than those with lower consumption of caffeine (100-200 mg). Also, this study says that babies born with lower weight are at a better risk of health issues once they get older.
| Types of coffee | Portion | Average caffeine amount (mg) |
| Instant coffee | 8 ounces/ 1 cup (250 ml) | 76 |
| Filtered coffee | 8 ounces/ 1 cup (250 ml) | 179 |
| Decaffeinated coffee | 8 ounces/ 1 cup (250 ml) | 3-15 |
| Brewed coffee | 8 ounces/ 1 cup (250 ml) | 137 |
Different Types Of Other Drinks That Contain Caffeine
Caffeine isn’t only found in coffee but other drinks also. Below is the list which illustrates caffeinated foods and their content.
Tea
Any sort of tea like tea, iced tea, or lemon tea contains a little amount of caffeine. Pregnant women can have tea, but during a smaller portion because it also includes a decent amount of antioxidants, good for health. Larger quantities of it should be avoided.
Chocolate-based drinks
Yes, you heard, right! The temptation to get cocoa milk and chocolate milkshakes have high levels of caffeine and should even be avoided.
Carbonated drinks
Carbonated drinks, aerated soft drinks – these drinks contain a fair amount of caffeine. Therefore, it’s recommended to avoid these. A decent alternative to those is fresh fruit juices or a banana smoothie which have little or no caffeine.
Caffeine Effect On Mother’s Health – coffee during pregnancy
Some women say it hardly affects them. While others say it causes severe changes in their health. So, it completely depends on person to person.
- The major property of caffeine is it is a diuretic. The moms to be who are having frequent restroom issues due to pregnancy. Caffeine consumption can worsen your feeling to use it more often. It’s better to restrict yourself until your little one arrives.
- Another trouble of pregnancy faced by many women is acidity and heartburn. Women feel frequent gastric upset due to the growing baby inside and other pregnancy hormones. Even little disturbance in their eating habits causes heartburn and acidity. Caffeine is known for its acidic nature. As it causes acidity in normal beings.
Tips And Tricks To Cut On Caffeine Intake
- Limit your coffee/tea intake to half the amount
- The slow and gradual process is key
- Reduce the intake by reducing half a cup a day
- Always observe your daily intake while you are pregnant
- Try mixing a decaffeinated drink with your regular coffee. This way your amount will increase, you will feel full. And, the amount of caffeine intake will be reduced to half. This trick works magic for some women.
- Slowly, If you are ok to bear the change. I would suggest limiting the intake as much as possible. If you are comfortable, Better to stop caffeine until your baby arrives.
In short, it’s highly recommended to avoid caffeine in the maximum amount possible.I am a big caffiene lover. And, as a mother, it was really challenging for me to reduce my caffeine intake during pregnancy. But, looking forward to my baby I did it. And I am sure you all can do this for your beautiful baby. Also, never hesitate to ask your doctor about caffeine intake or other pregnancy-related queries. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Happy Pregnancy!
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