Consuming too much caffeine during pregnancy may negatively affect both the mother and unborn baby. Because of this, some pregnant women decide to significantly limit or completely eliminate caffeine from their diets. Doing so may cause unpleasant withdrawal effects. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your caffeine withdrawal symptoms during pregnancy.
Time Frame
The specific time that withdrawal symptoms become noticeable vary depending upon specific circumstances, but typically begin when you go six to 24 hours without caffeine, according to the Aetna InteliHealth website. Women who regularly consume large amounts of caffeine may experience withdrawal effects sooner than those that consume caffeine sporadically or those that only consume low amounts of caffeine.
Symptoms
Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal include headaches, irritability, low energy, fatigue and depression, according to Aetna InteliHealth. These symptoms are also common for pregnancy in general, so it may be difficult for you to determine if the symptoms are occurring due to the caffeine withdrawal or pregnancy hormones. Generally speaking, the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal typically only last one to two days, according to the American Heart Association, while pregnancy symptoms generally last much longer.
Treatment
You can normally treat many of the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal at home easily using over-the-counter products, but you need to consider a few additional factors during pregnancy. Over-the-counter pain relievers are generally effective at reduce the pain of headaches from caffeine withdrawal, but you should avoid medications containing aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Acetaminophen is the pain reliever of choice during pregnancy, but check the label to make sure the acetaminophen product does not also contain caffeine. Using a pain reliever with caffeine will temporary reduce your headache pain, but may cause more severe rebound headaches, notes the Cleveland Clinic. To treat the other symptoms of caffeine withdrawal during pregnancy, consider natural methods. Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, may reduce irritability or depression. Taking a nap, getting extra sleep at night or simply resting may help you combat feelings of fatigue to help improve your energy levels. Consult your doctor before taking any pain reliever.
Prevention
Caffeine withdrawal typically occurs when caffeine consumption ceases suddenly. Gradually reducing the amount of caffeine you consume each day may prevent caffeine withdrawal symptoms from occurring. This does, however, expose the baby to the higher levels of caffeine for a longer period of time. Talk to your doctor about your specific caffeine habits to determine if gradually reducing your caffeine intake over time is right for you.
Misconceptions
Some pregnant women believe it is necessary to eliminate all caffeine from their diet to protect their unborn babies, but this may not be true. Although you should monitor your caffeine intake to avoid getting excessive amounts of caffeine, consuming up to 200 mg of caffeine a day is generally considered safe, according to the March of Dimes. Maintaining this limited caffeine consumption may also help you avoid caffeine withdrawal symptoms.
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