There’s nothing like that first warm sip of coffee to kick-start your day, right? But what if you’re expecting a baby?
Can you still grab your favourite cup of coffee in the morning or should you set aside your coffee mug for now? At such an amazing time of life, a simple question arises, “can coffee affect pregnancy?
We’ll unfold it right In this article.
Is it ok to drink coffee while pregnant?
Yes, it is generally acceptable to drink coffee while pregnant, but in a limited quantity. The American pregnancy Association recommends that pregnant women should limit their caffeine intake to less than 200mg per day.
This is crucial because research shows that consuming more than this limit may lead to pregnancy complications. So you can ahead and enjoy the comforting cup of joe during pregnancy, but in moderation.
Benefits of drinking coffee while pregnant
Drinking coffee can have some benefits when you check your portion sizes. Here are some of these benefits:
1. Boosts energy
Since fatigue is common during pregnancy, a moderate intake of Coffee can help you stay alert and energized.
2. Improves focus
If you need to get a work done or remain active doing daily tasks, then coffee can help you stay focused.
3. Relieves Headaches
Some pregnant women experience frequent headaches. While coffee isn’t the robust remedy to this, a small amount of it can quickly relieve these headaches.
4. Increased antioxidants
Coffee contains antioxidants which are good for overall health. They protect your cells from damage caused by toxic molecules called free radicals.
5. May help prevent certain diseases
Studies have found that moderate intake of caffeine may lower the risk of Parkinson’s diseases and type 2 diabetes.
Does caffeine coffee affect early pregnancy?
Yes, caffeine may affect early pregnancy. During pregnancy, caffeine is metabolized more slowly.
Its half life increases from 3 to 5 hours in the first trimester up to 15 hours between the last end of the second to the third trimester.
And these long hours of caffeine activeness in your body is linked to baby’s inability to sleep properly.
Studies have recognized that drinking caffeine to excess in early stages of pregnancy may heighten risk of miscarriage and decreased weight of baby when born.
So you should make sure you only take small portions of coffee whenever your cravings let you to take it.
What happens when you drink coffee while pregnant?
Caffeine is a stimulant, so it can boost blood pressure and heart rate, both of which are typically not encouraged during pregnancy. It can as well cause you to pee more and potentially lead to dehydration.
Drinking too much coffee will often trigger some side effects for pregnant women. Let’s discuss these side effects.
Effects of drinking coffee while pregnant
You’re likely to experience these side effects of caffeine when you overdrink it;
- High blood pressure
- Heartburns
- Frequent urination
- Dehydration
- Miscarriage risk
- Insomnia
- Stress
- Low birth weight
- Can affect baby’s development
How can caffeine affect a fetus?
So basically when you drink caffeine, it crosses and reach the fetus as early as 7 to 8 weeks of gestation.
Some times your baby swallows the amniotic fluid, and so anytime it does, it can ingest several milligrams of the caffeine along with the fluids.
If this continues for quite a long time, it may lead to fetal growth restriction and low birth weight. These complications can affect baby’s risk of being overweight and having impaired cognitive development later in life.
These are the reasons you should be mindful to limit your dosage anytime you need to take in coffee while pregnant.
How much caffeine can you have while pregnant?
Several health experts including myself recommends that pregnant women should keep their coffee consumption under 200 milligram in a day. This is equivalent to 12 oz cup of coffee.
It’s also note worthy to know that caffeine could be present in some of your regular beverages like tea, chocolate drink, and sports drinks, even some other medications you may be taking.
So you might want to keep an eye of all these sources and make sure you stay within the recommended limit.
Can coffee cause miscarriage in first trimester?
This mainly boils down to how much of it you take. Drinking too much coffee (two cups and over) can increase the chance of a miscarriage in your first and second trimester.
But when you stick to the right amount (one cup a day), you drastically reduce your risks of any pregnancy complication including miscarriage.
What not to drink during pregnancy?
These drinks are best to avoid during pregnancy as it may increase risk to pregnancy complications.
- alcohol
- some herbal teas
- unpasteurized juice
- high sugar drinks
- excessive alcohol
FAQs
Yes, you can drink coffee regardless of the trimester you find yourself in, including the early stages of pregnancy, but you don’t need to drink too much or use it regularly.
There’s no evidence that supports black coffee in preventing pregnancy. Like all types of coffee, when you drink small amounts and don’t take it regularly, it should be fine.
Final thought
It’s no doubt that coffee can affect pregnancy in various ways. The caffeine can make you energized and focused, but it also carry some risks when you take in large amounts.
Drinking coffee to excess might cause you to miscarry your baby or stunt its growth. That’s why you need to stay in the limit – nothing more than a 12-ounce cup per day when pregnant.
Go ahead and discuss with your doctor if you’ve accidentally over consumed. Talk to him when you also notice some unusual symptoms after drinking it.
Your OB-GYN will also give you advises that ensures that you stay safe and healthy with your baby.
References:
Kids Health (Coffee and Caffeine Use During Pregnancy – or Parents), National Institute Of Health (Is caffeine consumption safe during pregnancy?), Cleveland Clinic (How much caffeine i safe during pregnancy?)
