If you're trying to conceive a baby, you may be interested in removing anything from your diet that could potentially harm an embryo or contribute to fertility problems. While there's some indication that caffeine in large quantities can do both, in moderate amounts, caffeine is likely safe to use.
Conception Perceptions
Because infertility and infertility treatments are such commonly discussed topics on the Internet, you may have the perception that most people have trouble conceiving. The opposite is true; about 30 percent of couples in which both partners are younger than 30 to 35 get pregnant the very first month they try, and 85 percent are pregnant within a year, explains Dr. Miriam Stoppard in her book "Conception, Pregnancy and Birth." As such, you don't need to assume you'll have trouble conceiving and take measures to prevent problems unless there's an indication that you're having difficulty.
Caffeine and Fertility
There's some indication that caffeine negatively impacts fertility, explains AmericanPregnancy website, but studies aren't conclusive. Further, research on caffeine and infertility focuses on heavy users of caffeine. Those who consume caffeinated beverages in more moderate quantities, 2-3 cups of coffee a day, are highly unlikely to be affected. Unless you appear to be having trouble conceiving, or use very large quantities of caffeine, you don't need to cut back to be able to conceive.
Danger To Baby
Once you've conceived, your caffeine use runs the risk of harming your embryo. Again, studies show that there's some risk, notes AmericanPregnancy, but that it's mostly associated with heavy caffeine users. If you drink a moderate amount of caffeine, you're not likely to have trouble. If you have a history of miscarriage, discuss your caffeine use with your obstetrician before conceiving.
General Guidelines
Research on caffeine during conception and pregnancy isn't absolute or conclusive, due to the ethical challenges associated with experimenting on pregnant women. Therefore, there is no clear-cut "limit" on the amount of caffeine you can drink safely. If you are concerned about caffeine use, stop using it to save you the worry. Most women who use moderate amounts of caffeine conceive and carry a baby without any trouble.
References
- "Conception, Pregnancy and Birth"; Miriam Stoppard, M.D.; 2008
- AmericanPregnancy.org: Caffeine
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