What is your oppinion of caffeine while pregnant??

Question

I am 8 weeks pregnant and it has been very difficult for me to quit drinking sodas....I am down to one a day...do you think this may affect my baby?

Answer 1

This is the info on caffeine put out by the mayo clinic:


Caffeine:

During pregnancy, moderate caffeine intake — 200 milligrams or less a day, about the amount in two cups of coffee — seems to have no adverse effects. But that doesn't mean caffeine is free of risks.

Caffeine can cross the placenta and affect your baby's heart rate and breathing. Heavy caffeine intake — 500 milligrams or more a day, about the amount in five cups of coffee — may lower your baby's birth weight and head circumference.

Because of the unknowns, your health care provider may recommend limiting caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams a day.

Answer 2

Congrats, I think that everything is okay in moderation. If you need to drink soda and just want it for carbonation then get caffeine-free. But I was the same way being pregnant 5 times I know that they say don't die your hair, don't drink caffeine, don't have a life but I did what I felt was right, my body told me when I needed to settle down, not to eat and drink something and I would never do anything to harm my baby. So caffeine, yes I think you can with moderation.

Answer 3

Since the placenta does not block caffeine from the baby, the baby can become dependent on the drug. Current research also indicates that the equivalent of one and a half to two cups of coffee daily may double the risk of miscarriage.


Caffeine also alters the baby’s heart rate and respiration. Besides the risk of miscarriage, researchers have found that heavy caffeine consumption during pregnancy can significantly increase the baby’s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Caffeine depresses the baby’s respiratory system, and these effects can last throughout infanthood, even after the baby is no longer receiving all of its nourishment from you.


How do you break the caffeine habit? Caffeine addiction is powerful. Consumers can become addicted after only three consecutive days of caffeine intake. The withdrawal symptoms (lower blood pressure that leads to headache, irritability, and fatigue) can be bothersome or even severe, but they won’t last long. And the following tips can help you through them as you wean yourself from caffeine:


--Keep your blood sugar up. This will keep your energy level up. Eat frequent, small meals rich in protein and complex-carbohydrate foods. Also, make sure you’re taking a prenatal vitamin.


--Get some exercise every day.


--Get enough sleep.


--Replace caffeinated beverages with something healthier: herbal tea, juice, or (best of all) water

Answer 4

I have been told by my physician that if you can limit yourself to 2 cans of soda a day you should be fine. I am like you and have found it very hard to limit my caffeine....I never really was addicted before I got pregnant but found myself having the withdrawl symptoms when I tried to stop drinking it completely. Headaches and what not.

Personally, I think you should be fine. Now later on in your pregnancy if you develop gestational diabetes then you may have to stop drinking soda's completely depending on how high your glucose is.

Just keep an eye on it.

Answer 5

Caffeine is really bad for you and can cross the placenta and get into your baby's blood stream. Caffeine is recognized by the body instead of another chemical and when it comes in place of that it causes everything to speed up.
That chemical is the bodies regulator and when it is absent things don't run smoothly. So if you want your baby to be as healthy as possible try and cut down. Not more than 3 a day should be OK but try to get down to none.
Caffeine is a drug so when you think of the babies born addicted to cocaine or whatever the same can happen with caffeine although it won't be as damaging its still not good.

Answer 6

Considering the amount you're having and when you're having it, I doubt there's gonna be much of a problem. But more than one a day isn't a good idea, and more importantly, you should start trying to break the habit now: I think the adverse effects of caffeine intake for pregnant women increase over time until the baby's born.

Answer 7

You should check with your Doctor first, but I would think 1 or 2 sodas a day would not be a problem. Im 11 weeks pregnant and Im not a big soda drinker but I have always loved my coffee. I have limited myself to 1 cup in the morn. & every now and then I will splurge and have a frappiccino (not sure how to spell it) in the afternoon at lunch.

CONGRATS!!

Answer 8

I can tell you from experience that you will have a much calmer baby if you do not drink caffeine. Although, I am also pregnant and I am finding it harder this time around to quit drinking caffeine as well. I asked my doctor the same question and he advised that caffeine is not a recommended part of your diet but it will not harm the baby.

Answer 9

Caffeine speeds up your heart which speeds up the babies. I have heard its ok to have up to three cups of coffee while pregnant, so drinking soda in moderation it should be fine. I try to drink soda without caffeine in it too.... but I still have mt dew! I have to, sometimes it just sounds so good. Nothing happened with drinking caffeine with me. I wouldnt stress it.

Answer 10

While some studdies have linked caffeine to miscarriage early in pregnancy, others have shown that a moderate amount per day has no significant effect, which is what my doctor has advised.

However, she's also warned me that caffeine is a diuretic, and you should always drink extra water to make up for this to stay hydrated.