Caffeine
and Miscarriage
For years, obstetricians have been
advising pregnant women to limit their caffeine intake,
due to concern that caffeine consumption could possibly
be linked to miscarriage. Now even more attention is
being paid to this issue, since two research studies
released in 2008 have linked caffeine consumption in
pregnant women to the possibility of higher miscarriage
rates and lower infant birth weights. If you are pregnant
or considering becoming pregnant, now’s the time
to take a serious look at eliminating or at least cutting
back on the amount of caffeine in your daily diet.
|
Caffeine Linked to Miscarriage and
Lower Birth Weight
According to a study published in January, 2008 in
The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, daily
consumption of more than 200 milligrams of caffeine
by pregnant women might double their risk of miscarriage.
(That’s the equivalent of about two 8-ounce cups
of regular coffee or 25 ounces of tea.) While some medical
practitioners have expressed reservations about these
findings – it should be noted that they do not
definitively conclude that caffeine is a risk factor
for miscarriage – the study does present a strong
scientific argument in favor of cutting out caffeine
if you are pregnant. Another study, released on the
British Medical Journal website in November, 2008, is
not directly related to caffeine and miscarriage, but
it does report a connection between caffeine intake
and greater odds of lower infant birth weight (called
fetal growth restriction) in mothers who consumed as
little as one 8-ounce (100 milligrams) daily cup of
coffee during pregnancy. The overall conclusion of both
studies is that caffeine in any form – not just
coffee – should be avoided during pregnancy because
it can be absorbed through the placenta by the fetus
and may have a harmful effect on fetal development.
Caffeine and Miscarriage – Tips
on Cutting Down
If you are pregnant and trying to cut down on caffeine
because of its potential link to miscarriage, it’s
important to remember that coffee isn’t the only
source of caffeine in beverages and food products. Caffeine
is also a common ingredient in tea (including many green
teas), cola-flavored soda, energy drinks, over-the-counter
weight loss supplements, chocolate, coffee-flavored
ice cream and even some medications. If you’re
a regular coffee drinker, you might not want to quit
“cold turkey”, as this could result in temporary
unpleasant side effects such as headache, fatigue and
anxiety. If you cannot abruptly stop drinking coffee
altogether, you can gradually reduce your caffeine consumption
by mixing regular coffee with decaf and then increasing
the amount of decaf each day. But keep in mind that
even decaffeinated coffee contains small amounts of
caffeine. Many medical experts feel that moderate amounts
of caffeine – up to about 200 milligrams/day –
won’t be harmful if you’re pregnant, but,
to be on the safe side, pregnant women should stay away
from caffeine as much as possible. How much is 200 milligrams?
Depending on the commercial brand you’re drinking,
that’s about 2 cups of coffee, 3 cups of tea,
2-3 energy drinks or 5 cans of cola-flavored soda. Craving
ice cream during your pregnancy? Bear in mind that coffee-flavored
ice cream has about 60-70 milligrams of caffeine in
an 8-ounce serving. Chocolate has notably less caffeine
than coffee products – about 15-20 milligrams
in an average 3-4 ounce bar – but the high fat
and sugar content in chocolate should also be avoided.
And be sure to read the labels on over-the-counter medications
to see if they contain caffeine. If you’re thinking
about having a baby or trying to get pregnant, it’s
recommended that you reduce or cut out caffeine consumption
starting one-three months before conceiving.
|
