As a result of its caffeine content, regular coffee boosts your heart rate, increases your alertness and elevates your blood pressure. It also, however, reaches your baby whose metabolism isn't developed yet and is less adept at thoroughly processing caffeine.
Miscarriage
Drinking caffeine constricts your blood vessels, which may reduce the amount of blood that reaches your placenta. The restricted flow of blood and oxygen may impede your baby's cellular development. In a 2008 study published in "Epidemiology," women who had 2 or fewer cups of coffee every day were no more likely to have a miscarriage than women who drank no caffeine. However, other research suggests that having even a small amount of regular coffee may be harmful. In a 2008 study published in the "American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology," women who had under 200 mg of caffeine per day in the early stage of their pregnancy were 40 percent more likely to have a miscarriage than those who said they had no caffeine. Women who had more than 200 mg further increased their miscarriage risk an additional 10 percent, which meant they were twice as likely to miscarry as women who reported having no caffeine.
Stillbirth
Caffeine might pose serious risks even in late pregnancy. For instance, you may be at a higher risk of having a stillbirth if you drink 4 or more cups of coffee a day during your pregnancy, according to a 2002 study in the "British Medical Journal." In the study, women who had 8 or more cups of coffee a day were twice as likely to have a stillbirth as women who had none. However, researchers didn't pinpoint the caffeine as the direct culprit.
Growth Deficits
Drinking a large amount of coffee may increase your chances of giving birth to a smaller baby, according to 2010 research published in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." In the study, which gathered information from over 7,000 pregnant women, women who had 6 or more cups of coffee every day -- equivalent to 540 mg or more of caffeine -- were more likely to have fetuses that were smaller in length than women who reported drinking no caffeine during their pregnancies. The same women who drank at least 6 cups of coffee a day were also at a greater risk of giving birth to babies deemed small for their gestational age.
Other Risks
Drinking coffee may lead to unwanted symptoms for you during your pregnancy because your body is slower to break caffeine down as you get further along in your pregnancy. Some symptoms you might have include jitters, higher blood pressure, trouble sleeping, heartburn and irritability. And once your baby is born, the caffeine that lingers in his system could continue to pose developmental problems for him. You are more likely to have a newborn with a fast heart rate, more awake hours and a rapid breathing rate, if you drink over 500 mg of caffeine per day, according to BabyCenter.
References
- BabyCenter: Caffeine During Pregnancy
- "British Medical Journal"; Maternal Consumption of Coffee During Pregnancy...; K. Wisborg, et al; 2002
- American Pregnancy Association: Caffeine Intake During Pregnancy
- March of Dimes: Caffeine in Pregnancy
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Maternal Caffeine Intake... and the Risks of Adverse Birth Outcomes"; R. Bakker, et al; 2010
- "American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology"; Maternal Caffeine Consumption... Risk of Miscarriage; X. Weng, et al; 2008
