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Caffeine and Early Pregnancy
Drinking too much coffee can increase your chances of having a miscarriage. Here’s what you need to know about drinking caffeine during early pregnancy.
by: Nancy Ripton
Caffeine and Early Pregnancy
- Drinking 200 milligrams of caffeine a day (less than a "tall" Starbucks coffee) during early pregnancy can double your risk of miscarriage.
- A developing fetus can become stressed as its heart rate increases due to excess caffeine during early pregnancy.
- The first four months are the most crucial time to monitor your caffeine intake.
- Espresso-based coffees have less than a third of the caffeine of brewed java.
- Milk chocolate contains less caffeine than dark chocolate.
he last thing any pregnant woman wants to hear is that there's one more thing she should give up. But a new study published in The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found expecting mothers should monitor their caffeine intake, especially in early pregnancy.
The study followed more than 1,000 women throughout their pregnancies and found a substantial link between caffeine in early pregnancy and miscarriage rates. This wasn't the first study to find such a link, but it is getting more attention than past research.
According to head researcher Dr. De-Kun Li, pregnant women who consume as little as 200 milligrams of caffeine per day can double their risk of miscarriage. What does this look like in your coffee mug? It depends on how you brew your java, but it's not a lot. Starbucks' smallest coffee–a tall–contains 300 milligrams of caffeine.
Why caffeine in early pregnancy can cause problems
The San Francisco-based study found that caffeine in early pregnancy might be dangerous to the developing fetus because it crosses the placenta. A fetus does not have a sufficient metabolic system to cope with the increase in heart rate that results from this jolt of caffeine. In severe cases, the result can be a spontaneous abortion. In less severe cases, caffeine can contribute to low birth weight. Because the risk of miscarriage is highest in the first three or four months, caffeine intake should be most strictly monitored during early pregnancy.Cutting back on caffeine in early pregnancy
Of course, it's not just coffee moms-to-be should watch out for-caffeine is also found in chocolate, soft drinks, tea and hot chocolate. In light of the study, the March of Dimes now recommends that pregnant women limit their intake to 200 milligrams or less per day–so it makes sense to choose your caffeine sources wisely.
Ordering decaf whenever possible is the safest way to enjoy your coffee. When decaf doesn't cut it, espresso-based drinks contain less caffeine than brewed coffee. (A tall Starbucks latte has just 90 milligrams of caffeine.) Green tea is a good choice with just 40 milligrams of caffeine in a tall cup–less than half the caffeine in black tea. As for chocolate, this is one time when milk wins out over dark. A three-ounce piece of milk chocolate has just 18 milligrams of caffeine, while the same size of dark chocolate contains 60 milligrams.
Our sources include:
The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2008); Position of the American Dietetic Association: Nutrition and Lifestyle for a Healthy Pregnancy Outcome. Journal of the American Dietetic Association (2002); Prediction of Pregnancy Loss. The Lancet (2000)
