If you're pregnant, you probably wonder what you should do to help keep your developing fetus as healthy as possible. You might have heard that caffeine isn't safe, and you probably know that prenatal vitamins are a good idea. The latter is true, the former only partly so; caffeine is probably fine in moderation.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant compound, which is why it's so popular. It activates the "fight or flight" branch of your nervous system, also called the sympathetic nervous system, explains Dr. Neil Carlson in his book "Foundations of Physiological Psychology." This, in turn, raises your heart rate and respiration rate, and also makes you feel more alert and aware. You can find caffeine in coffee, tea and many sodas, as well as in most energy drinks and some foods, including chocolate.
During Pregnancy
If you're pregnant, studies suggest that it's a good idea to avoid caffeine--or at least moderate your intake. In their book "You: Having A Baby," Drs. Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz explain that early in pregnancy, use of large quantities of caffeine increases your risk of miscarriage. Later in pregnancy, large quantities increase your risk of preterm labor and having a small birth weight baby. They recommend no more than a small cup or two of coffee a day, or the equivalent quantity of caffeine from other sources.
Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins, commonly prescribed or recommended by obstetricians during pregnancy, help to ensure that you're getting the nutrients you need to support your own cellular function and that of your developing fetus. Prenatals are quite similar to regular daily multivitamins, except that they're high in iron and folic acid--and sometimes calcium--explain Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel in their book "What To Expect When You're Expecting." The most important considerations in choosing a prenatal are making sure it contains 800 to 1,000mcg of folic acid and 27mg of iron.
Prenatals and Caffeine
There's very little interaction between prenatal vitamins and caffeine, particularly if you're using caffeine in the low-to-moderate amounts recommended during pregnancy. Caffeine may interfere mildly with your ability to absorb calcium, but most prenatal vitamins don't contain large amounts of calcium. This is because iron also significantly interferes with calcium absorption, and for this reason, most obstetricians recommend that you take calcium supplements separately from--and at a different time of day than--your prenatal.
References
- "Foundations of Physiological Psychology"; Neil Carlson, Ph.D.; 2004
- "You: Having A Baby"; Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.; 2009
- "What to Expect When You're Expecting"; Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel; 2008
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