  |
|
|
|
Caffeine and PregnancyWhy Women Should Limit Caffeine Intake While PregnantLimiting caffeine intake during pregnancy is important. Taking in too much caffeine while pregnant can be harmful to both mother and baby.
The American Pregnancy Association recommends pregnant women limit their caffeine intake to no more than 150 mg a day, the equivalent of one to two cups of coffee depending on strength. Women who drink too much caffeine while pregnant are at risk of having a number of adverse effects both on themselves and their babies. Higher Risk of MiscarriageWomen who drink more than three 5-oz cups of coffee a day or the equivalent are at a higher risk of having a miscarriage than women who drink less. Women who drink more than this amount are also at a higher risk of going into labor too early or having a low birth weight baby. When a Pregnant Woman Drinks Caffeine Her Baby Does TooCaffeine is able to cross the placenta and enter into the baby's system. In low doses this is not necessarily harmful but too much can cause and accelerated fetal heart rate. High doses of caffeine have also been shown to reduce the amount of blood that is able to flow through the placenta. Increased Risk of StillbirthThe March of Dimes states that a Danish study suggested that women who drank more than four cups of coffee a day were at higher risk of having their babies be delivered stillborn. This is a tragedy no parent wants to experience and limiting caffeine intake may prevent it. Boys May Be Born With Undescended TesticlesThough the exact cause is unknown, some studies have shown that expectant mothers who drink an excess of caffeine and are carrying a boy may give birth to a son who has undescended testicles. Normally a male's testicles go down into the scrotal sac in the third trimester. Caffeine intake by the mother during pregnancy seems to prevent this from happening for some boys. Caffeine Reduces Iron in Mother's BloodFew people realize that caffeine actually reduces iron absorption. Too much caffeine in pregnant women can lead to anemia. Pregnant women need plenty of iron in their system to support their own health as well as that of their developing baby. A pregnant woman who is anemic may experience extreme fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath as well as other symptoms. Drinking one cup of coffee or coffee drink or having one can of caffeinated soda day is not necessarily harmful during pregnancy; ingesting too many caffeinated products can be. Women should strictly limit the amount of caffeine they consume from the moment they find out they are pregnant. Doing so will help them stay healthier during pregnancy and give birth to healthy and strong babies.
The copyright of the article Caffeine and Pregnancy in Prenatal Health is owned by Julie King. Permission to republish Caffeine and Pregnancy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|
|
|
