Caffeine During Pregnancy
Should I avoid caffeine during pregnancy?
Many women want to know whether they should avoid caffeine during their pregnancies. Everyone is agreed that pregnant women and those trying to conceive should avoid consuming large quantities of caffeine. But after many years of controversy and conflicting evidence, it is still uncertain how much caffeine is without effect during pregnancy.
A study published in the March 2008 issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology demonstrated that pregnant women who consumed 200 mg or more of caffeine a day had double the risk of miscarriage compared with those who had no caffeine.
However, there are further reasons for avoiding large amounts of caffeine while pregnant. Caffeine causes blood vessels to constrict, and so could reduce blood flow to the placenta. Caffeine also crosses the placenta and may directly affect the baby's growing cells.
A Danish study suggested that stillborn babies were double the number in women who consumed caffeine than in those who did not. Some studies show that high caffeine consumption may slightly reduce a baby's birth weight, but other research refutes this.
Caffeine laden beverages contain compounds called phenols that inhibit the absorption of iron. This is particularly important because many pregnant women are already iron deficient.
So all in all, the wisest course may be to avoid caffeine while pregnant to give your baby the very best chance of developing as well as possible.
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