As a pregnant woman, you know that the foods you eat and the substances you are exposed to can influence your baby's growth and development. If you consume caffeine during pregnancy, your baby may experience certain problems with his development, depending on how much caffeine you ingest and how far along in your pregnancy you are when you consume it. Always consult your doctor or midwife about your caffeine use in pregnancy.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a chemical found in coffee, tea, soda and chocolate that works as a stimulant. Many people consume caffeine because of its stimulant properties. Caffeine can make people feel more awake. It can also increase your blood pressure and make your heart beat faster. According to the March of Dimes, pregnant women do not process and clear caffeine from their systems as quickly as nonpregnant people. This may result in greater fetal exposure to caffeine than a mother might expect, even if she only drank a small amount of a caffeinated beverage.
Miscarriage
Pregnant women who ingest large amounts of caffeine in the first trimester appear to experience a higher than average risk of miscarriage, according to the March of Dimes. To reduce your risk of miscarriage, limit your caffeine use to less than 200 mg a day, especially in the first trimester. This is approximately equivalent to an 8 oz. serving of coffee and an 8 oz. serving of tea daily. Remember that extra large cups of soda, coffee and tea often provide far more than a single serving of caffeine.
Fetal Growth
Women who ingest a significant amount of caffeine during pregnancy increase their babies' chances of poor growth in the uterus. A 2010 study in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that fetuses exposed to large amounts of caffeine exhibited poor skeletal growth and were shorter and had smaller thigh bones than other babies who were not exposed to large amounts of caffeine. These babies tended to be smaller than average at birth, and it is unclear how these skeletal changes will affect these babies long-term.
Behaviors
Just as large amounts of caffeine can influence a baby's physical growth and development, this substance may also affect a baby's behavioral development, especially in the weeks prior to birth. Newborn babies who have been exposed to large amounts of caffeine in the last trimester appear to be harder to comfort that non-exposed babies. These babies also have higher heart rates. If your baby has a faster than normal heart rate during labor and delivery, your health-care provider may have a clinical concern about how your baby is tolerating labor. To maximize your baby's health and development through pregnancy and beyond, restrict your caffeine use as much as possible.
References
- March of Dimes: Caffeine in Pregnancy
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Maternal Caffeine Intake from Coffee and Tea, Fetal Growth, and the Risks of Adverse Birth Outcomes -- The Generation R Study; R. Bakker, et al.; June 2010
- Emory.edu; Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions About Consuming Caffeine During Pregnancy; K. Howell; January 2005
