Pregnancy and Caffeine - the Facts
Facts About Pregnancy and Caffeine
The experts can't say for sure whether caffeine intake during pregnancy restricts fetal growth. And there is no real consensus about the effects of higher levels of caffeine and miscarriage risk.
Some studies have suggested a higher rate of miscarriage with higher levels of caffeine, others not.
To put caffeine amounts in perspective, an 8-ounce cup of brewed, drip coffee averages 137 mg of caffeine, while an 8-ounce cup of instant coffee has 76 mg. A 12-ounce soft drink has 37 mg of caffeine and an 8-ounce cup of chocolate milk has 5 mg to 8 mg.
There are 2 questions concerning many pregnant women:
Does caffeine cause miscarriage?
A few studies have shown that there may be an increase in miscarriages among women who consume more than 300 mg (three 5 oz. cups of coffee) a day. Other outcomes include preterm labor and low-birth weight babies. Again, it is safer to avoid caffeine as much as possible.
Does caffeine cause birth defects in humans?
Numerous studies on animals have shown that caffeine can cause birth defects, preterm delivery, reduced fertility, and increase the risk of low-birth weight offspring and other reproductive problems. There have not been any conclusive studies yet done on humans, though.
Most health care providers suggest eliminating all caffeinated foods and beverages from your pregnancy diet. Yet, some pregnant women find this especially difficult, particularly because so many food items contain small amounts of caffeine.
One way to minimize your caffeine intake would be to switch to a beverage like green tea. Due to its light fermentation process, green tea is full of powerful antioxidants as well as containing very little caffeine in comparison to other beverages, including black teas.
So when considering pregnancy and caffeine - you can always switch to decaf if it all gets too hard!
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