Can pregnant women drink coffee and how will it affect your baby?
Find out how much coffee is considered safe.
Coffee is considered one of the most popular drinks in the world. For example, there are people who drink only coffee for a month. However, this is dangerous and can lead to such consequences as arrhythmia, ulcers and panic attacks. This is reported by MigNews with reference to Vsi Visti. Therefore, we ask you not to try such challenges. What about pregnancy? Can pregnant women drink coffee every day?
You are probably worried that caffeine will have a negative effect on the health of your child. We understand your concerns, so we will share the opinion of experts on this matter.
Can pregnant women drink coffee
The short answer is yes, pregnant women can drink coffee. However, it’s important to monitor your coffee and caffeine intake during pregnancy. Caffeine can affect your pregnancy and your baby in ways that aren’t entirely clear.
“The biggest misconception I see about caffeine is that people think it’s completely off-limits during pregnancy,” says obstetrician-gynecologist Layan Alrahmani. “Remember, caffeine is perfectly acceptable and unlikely to cause harm.”
Experts advise pregnant women to limit their caffeine intake to 200 milligrams per day, which can be no more than one 8-ounce cup of coffee, depending on the brand.
How much caffeine is safe during pregnancy?
The official recommendation is 200 mg or less per day. But some experts believe that even moderate amounts of caffeine during pregnancy can be dangerous.
Previous studies have linked high caffeine intake (more than 200 mg per day) to low-for-gestational-age babies or the risk of intrauterine growth restriction. However, researchers at the National Institutes of Health found that women who consumed less than 200 mg of caffeine per day during pregnancy — about half a cup of coffee a day — had slightly smaller babies than women who did not consume caffeine.
The researchers noted that caffeine is thought to cause blood vessels in the uterus and placenta to constrict, which can reduce blood flow to the fetus and hinder its growth. They also said that caffeine may disrupt the fetus's production of stress hormones, putting babies at risk of rapid weight gain after birth, as well as obesity, heart disease and diabetes later in life.
However, other studies have not found a link between moderate caffeine consumption during pregnancy (less than 200 mg per day) and problems such as low birth weight, miscarriage, or premature birth. This is why moderate caffeine consumption during pregnancy is recommended by most obstetricians.
However, since the research is not yet complete, it is best to limit caffeine consumption during pregnancy as much as possible and not exceed the recommended amount of 200 mg per day.
Ways to Reduce Caffeine Consumption During Pregnancy
While there are good reasons to cut back on caffeine during pregnancy, it's not always easy. Your desire for a morning cup of coffee may fade in the first trimester when morning sickness sets in, only to return with renewed vigor later in your pregnancy. Or you may find yourself craving your usual caffeine fix all the time.
Consider some of these tips to help you navigate a low-caffeine pregnancy:
- Cut out coffee gradually. If you’re a heavy coffee, tea, or soda drinker, quitting caffeine will likely be difficult. To help ease symptoms like headaches, irritability, and lethargy, gradually reduce your caffeine intake (but get back to 200 mg per day as soon as possible).
- Try blends with less caffeine. Start by mixing decaffeinated coffee with regular coffee, gradually increasing the ratio of caffeine to caffeine. Or use more milk and less coffee. At home, try using less ground coffee (or tea leaves) or brewing your coffee for a shorter time. Letting a tea bag steep for just one minute instead of five will cut the caffeine content in half.
- Switch to decaffeinated coffee. Consider switching to coffee or tea, even for a second cup. Decaffeinated beverages may contain some caffeine, but it's usually not very high.
- Find other sources of energy. Try to get enough sleep at night, go to bed earlier, and rest during the day when possible. Eat right and exercise – even light exercise can give you a boost of energy.
- Although herbal teas are often caffeine-free, check with your doctor before drinking them. A cup of mint or ginger tea is fine. But some herbal teas are dangerous during pregnancy.
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