Caffeine intake should be limited while trying to conceive, when you are pregnant, and while breast feeding because it could affect the health of you and your baby. Read about how much caffeine is healthy and what amount is dangerous.
If you are pregnant or considering getting pregnant and wondering if you need to eliminate your daily caffeine intake there are some things you need to know.
Doctors and researchers say that if you are planning on becoming pregnant that you should either avoid caffeine altogether or reduce your intake substantially as it may take longer to conceive.
Although some researchers are now saying that you do not need to eliminate your total caffeine intake. It just needs to be limited while you are pregnant. It is ok to still have a couple of cups of coffee or perhaps a soda or two. You just need to moderate your usage of products that contain caffeine. Other researchers may disagree and that is why it is up to you and your doctor to determine if using caffeinated products during your pregnancy is safe for you and your baby.
Having too much caffeine during your pregnancy may put you at risk for having a miscarriage. You may also find that after your baby is born that the newborn may have caffeine withdrawals just as they would if they were subjected to any other form of stimulant while in the womb. It may also cause issues with your baby’s sleep cycle if they are continuing to get caffeine through your breast milk.
Another thing to keep in mind for your own sake is this. While you are pregnant your body is already under a lot of strain. Caffeine is a stimulant so you may have a rapid heartbeat. You may become shaky, get headaches or become nervous. It may also give you increased heartburn since it stimulates that production of stomach acids. You might also find you develop a case of insomnia, which can be very difficult during your pregnancy, as you need to be getting adequate rest. And because caffeine is a diuretic you will probably have to urinate more often and because of that you may become dehydrated.
The easiest thing to do is to limit your daily caffeine. If you need to substitute your daily coffee or tea look for products that are caffeine free. There are plenty of options available to you.
Doctors recommend drinking a lot of water. This will make sure to keep you hydrated and will help to keep your metabolism in check, which should help with your pregnancy weight gain. Drinking lots of water should also keep your skin from drying which should help to limit the stretch marks that often come with being pregnant. You will also keep that pregnancy glow you may have heard about.
Doctors recommend staying in close contact with your doctor during your pregnancy. Make sure to stay educated of any changes to studies on the effects of caffeine if you are trying to conceive or are already pregnant. You may want to consider keeping a diary of the food and drinks you have each day. This is a great way for you to help monitor you daily caffeine intake. And it will help if you need to adjust your diet.
By Anne Yardley
