| Is it safe for women to consume caffeine during | | | | How Much Caffeine is Safe during Pregnancy? |
| their pregnancy? The general consensus among | | | | While pregnant women are advised against |
| obstetricians is that pregnant women should stop | | | | consuming caffeine during pregnancy, they can still |
| their caffeine intake during their pregnancy. | | | | have some as long as they limit their consumption. |
| However, if completely cutting back on caffeine is | | | | Obstetricians deem that caffeine intake during |
| not possible, they should at least limit their | | | | pregnancy should be no more than 200mg of |
| consumption. | | | | caffeine per day. |
| The reason why obstetricians advise against | | | | Monitoring caffeine intake during pregnancy can be |
| taking in caffeine during pregnancy lies in the | | | | tricky. Coffee and tea are not the only beverages |
| nature of caffeine itself. Caffeine is a stimulant; | | | | out there that have caffeine in them. Other |
| when consumed, it triggers the nervous system | | | | foodstuffs like chocolates and pop sodas also |
| to go on alert mode. It also causes the heart to | | | | contain caffeine. Also, the amount of caffeine in a |
| beat much faster as well as raises the blood | | | | type of food or beverage varies according to the |
| pressure. Caffeine also induces the stomach to | | | | way it is prepared. |
| secrete more acid. | | | | Here is a rough estimation of the amount of |
| It takes around ten hours for a person to | | | | caffeine that popular foodstuffs contain. |
| metabolize caffeine. However, babies still in their | | | | 8 oz brewed coffee - 137mg |
| mother's womb are yet to develop fully their | | | | 8 oz instant coffee - 76mg |
| ability to metabolize, and so caffeine can stay in | | | | 8 oz brewed tea - 48mg |
| their system for a longer period, enough to cause | | | | 8 oz instant tea (Lipton) - 10mg |
| some damage. | | | | 8 oz instant tea (Nestea) - 26mg |
| Possible Effects of Caffeine on Pregnancy | | | | 12 oz caffeinated drinks (Pepsi) - 37mg |
| Caffeine intake during pregnancy can pose | | | | 8 oz chocolate milk - 8mg |
| harmful effects to both the mother and her baby. | | | | 1 bar dark chocolate - 30mg |
| On the part of the mother, caffeine can | | | | 1 bar milk chocolate - 11mg |
| over-stimulate her nervous system, causing her | | | | ¼ cup chocolate chips - 28mg |
| to feel jittery. This may make her unable to sleep | | | | ½ cup coffee-flavored ice cream or frozen |
| properly, and sleep is something that she should | | | | yogurt - 2mg |
| have enough of for her baby to develop healthily. | | | | Caffeine and Breastfeeding |
| Another one of the effects caffeine may bring | | | | Caffeine intake during breastfeeding is not as |
| during pregnancy is heartburn. As mentioned | | | | stringently advised against as it is during |
| above, it causes the stomach to produce more | | | | pregnancy. However, because the baby's body is |
| acid. Caffeine also robs the mother of her ability | | | | still developing at this period, breastfeeding |
| to absorb nutrients such as calcium and iron more | | | | mothers are nonetheless encouraged to limit their |
| properly. Calcium and iron are two nutrients that | | | | caffeine consumption while breastfeeding. |
| are essential to a baby's development. | | | | As tricky as monitoring caffeine intake during both |
| On the part of the baby, studies have shown that | | | | pregnancy and while breastfeeding, it is possible to |
| mothers who do not regulate their caffeine intake | | | | check caffeine content in one's food and drinks. |
| during their pregnancy are highly prone to | | | | Tests for caffeine are available in the market, and |
| miscarriage. This likelihood is twice that of | | | | one can easily use these to test for caffeine in |
| mothers who do not consume caffeine at all. | | | | their food and beverages. |