Can I Still Drink Coffee While Pregnant?

The main thing that is keeping you from your cup of coffee is caffeine. Caffeine is a natural stimulant. Caffeine is present in beverages like coffee, tea, soda and energy drinks and it is often used as a performance enhancer by many individuals who wish to lose weight and have more energy. An article from the Nih.gov website says "It is recommended that pregnant women consume less than 200 mg of caffeine per day, or about one cup of coffee (about 150 mg). Caffeine has the ability to raise blood pressure, which is why pregnant women should limit and or avoid it. But like anything, moderation is key.

Reduce Your Caffeine Intake

While you can't always get rid of caffeine, you can certainly try to lessen your consumption. The first step is to look at how much caffeine you're consuming every day. It is important to be mindful always during your pregnancy. One simple way to reduce your caffeine intake is to switch to decaf coffee, that way you can hopefully enjoy the same great taste without that added stimulate. Ideally, avoiding caffeine all together is the safest plan, but if you still find yourself needed that extra pick me up during your pregnancy, consult with your healthcare provider on your safest course of action.

Facts about caffeine

Caffeine has the ability to raise your blood pressure, because it is a stimulant. In addition, because it is a stimulant it can also cause an increase in your heart rate. Caffeine is also a diuretic, which means it increases the frequency of urination, which can result in dehydration. Although you may be used to a cup or two or even a pot of coffee everyday, your baby has not developed the enzymes needed to metabolize coffee. Caffeine passes from the mother's blood stream through the placenta to the baby, affecting both heart rate and sleep patterns.

There have been studies on animals that have show that caffeine can increase the risk of low-birth-rate, reduce fertility, cause birth defects, and premature labor, though there have not been any studies done on humans where the conclusion was the same, it is better to play it safe than sorry. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist along with the March of Dimes recommend that until further studies can be done to prove that caffeine is safe, for pregnant women to limit caffeine intake to less than 200 mg a day.