Coffee in pregnancy: do you really have to give up this pleasure?
You can drink coffee during pregnancy, but only in moderation. This is the recommendation of the "World Health Organization, which stresses that 250 milligrams per day should never be exceeded, which is equivalent to about 2 or 3 cups of espresso. We try to answer the most common questions about caffeine consumption during pregnancy, but first here is a video with all the foods to avoid especially in the 9 months before giving birth.
Coffee in pregnancy: everything you need to know
One of the main problems related to the consumption of coffee during pregnancy is the amount of caffeine that is put into circulation within the body. It is a stimulant found in various foods and drinks, as well as in some medications.
Although it is a little known information, caffeine is also found naturally in the leaves, seeds and fruits of more than 60 plants (eg guarana and ginseng), for this reason often the herbal teas, considered harmless, can have between the active ingredients precisely caffeine, which for example in tea, takes the name of theine.
Caffeine works by stimulating the central nervous system and making us immediately feel more active and full of energy, which is why millions of people every day start the day with a good coffee that helps them cope with the daily routine, defeating tiredness and sleepiness.
Usually 45/60 minutes pass after taking coffee or another "caffeinated beverage" to feel the effects, but it should be emphasized that this "prolonged habit over time can lead to a reduction in its effectiveness," as if the "organism after a while" was addicted to it.
Caffeine also has negative effects: it stimulates the production of stomach acids and can sometimes cause nausea or stomach pain; in addition, it promotes the elimination of liquids from the body, depleting the stocks of water and calcium. It is eliminated after some metabolic transformations through the urine.
Here are the main side effects experienced by exceeding the recommended daily dose of caffeine:
- nervousness
- palpitations
- irritability
- headache
- agitation
- insomnia.
See also
The risks associated with the consumption of coffee during pregnancy
During pregnancy it is normal to pay the utmost attention to nutrition and therefore coffee is also one of the drinks that must at least be reduced. Proceeding with moderate consumption (equal to about 200/300 mg / day, 1-3 cups of coffee), even pregnant women can indulge in the whim of drinking a nice cup of coffee. Pregnant women, moreover, should also drink a sufficient amount of water, to better counteract the effect of caffeine that goes and eliminate liquids.
Given that in these quantities the coffee is not harmful to the fetus, the expectant mother may observe
an increase in blood pressure and slightly altered heart rate; in some cases a mild diuretic effect may also occur, but this is usually nothing to worry about.
Some studies are trying to understand if there is a relationship between caffeine and miscarriage. In general, the results obtained so far have shown that low or moderate consumption of caffeine does not increase the risk. on the contrary, there may be a greater risk of miscarriage or fetal death following the intake of high amounts of caffeine, especially when combined with smoking or alcohol.
One thing is certain: however, caffeine is able to cross the placenta, so large amounts of caffeine are harmful to both the fetus and the mother. Experts have found that children of women who consume more than 500 mg / day of caffeine per day are more likely to have a high heart rate and respiratory rate, suffer from tremors and stay awake longer in the first days of life. .
Finally, drinking coffee or beverages containing caffeine would be detrimental to the newborn's birth weight: for every 100 mg of caffeine taken daily in the first trimester, there are newborns weighing an average of 72 g less at birth.
Caffeine and conception
The caffeine study also affects all those couples who are trying to have a baby. The question arises: is it true that caffeinated drinks such as coffee do reduce the chances of getting pregnant?
The results of the studies are contradictory: on the one hand it appears that excessive use of caffeine can actually hinder conception, but in general the moderate intake of coffee (1-2 coffees per day) does not seem to decrease the chances of staying pregnant.
In other cases, the question arises whether the child's father consumed a lot of coffee immediately before conception. In this case what are the effects?
The effects of caffeine on sperm are not yet known with certainty, caffeine could increase sperm's ability to move, so it will be good practice to limit the amount.
Coffee during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Many women after becoming mothers wonder if they can increase the daily dose of coffee, without affecting the health of the child. In fact, we have to specify that caffeine passes into breast milk, but very little is known about how it affects the newborn. For this reason, the advice is to continue to take coffee and other caffeine-based drinks moderately even while breastfeeding, to avoid any type of problem.
Some studies have shown that drinking coffee and then breastfeeding would lead to occasional states of irritability, nervousness and insomnia affecting the newborn.
