Can you Have Caffeine While Pregnant?
Caffeine While Pregnant: For many people, a cup of coffee or tea in the morning is a must-have to get going. In fact, as many as 90 percent of the people in the world use caffeine in one form or another, and in the United States 80 percent of adults consume caffeine every day, making caffeine by far the most popular neuroactive substance in the world.
Caffeine is a stimulant and diuretic; too much of it can be harmful in pregnancy. As a stimulant, caffeine increases your blood pressure and heart rate. As a diuretic, it can increase the frequency of urination, which can cause a reduction of body fluid levels and may lead to dehydration. In the most extreme cases, drinking too much caffeine may be associated with an increased risk of miscarriage.
Caffeine while pregnant also crosses the placenta and enters your baby’s blood supply and system. While a “normal” level of caffeine may be easy for your body to handle, babies cannot properly metabolize caffeine because their systems are still immature.
During pregnancy, it is recommended that caffeine intake should be limited to 200 mg (two five-ounce cups of coffee) each day.
Sources:
- American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Maternal caffeine consumption during pregnancy and the risk of miscarriage: a prospective cohort study. U.S
- Department of Agriculture
- Nutritive Value of Foods. U.S
- Food and Drug Administration
- Medicines in my Home: Caffeine and Your Body
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