Is coffee bad when pregnant?

Question

lately i have been drinking coffee everyday for the past 2 weeks and sometime 2 day or once. i am 36 weeks pregnant. but i often drink water after i am done with the coffee

Answer 1

Can I continue to drink coffee or tea?
There is no evidence that regular amounts of caffeinated beverages, such as tea, coffee or colas, cause birth defects, but some studies indicate that heavy use of these beverages may be associated with a slight increase in your risk of miscarriage in the first and second trimesters. In a study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development the researchers found no harm in drinking up to three cups of coffee a day, but most experts advise limiting consumption to no more than two caffeinated beverages a day, or switching to decaf. Tea and colas have less caffeine than coffee does, and are also available in decaffeinated formulas.
http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/pregnancy/faq10.cfm

Answer 2

I just read an article on that and it reads:


"Compared to women who did not drink any coffee, women who drank four to seven cups had an 80% increased risk of stillbirth and women who drank eight or more cups a day a 300% increased risk."

You said that your only drink one - two times a day... having any risk at all I would completely STOP. I wouldnt want to risk anything that would harm my baby even if I am not drinking that much.

Answer 3

Do I have to give up caffeine now that I'm pregnant?
Not necessarily. You can still enjoy your favorite caffeinated drinks as long as you don't overdo it. After years of controversy over the issue, most researchers now believe that, although caffeine does cross the placenta, moderate amounts (less than 300 milligrams a day) won't harm your baby.

That's about what you'd get from two or three 8-ounce cups of coffee or six cans of cola. (Keep in mind that the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee varies widely depending on how strong it is, and that your serving size depends on how big your mug is — a typical mug holds about 10 ounces.) Many pregnant women limit their intake even further or cut out caffeine completely. If that seems wise to you, you won't get any arguments from your midwife or doctor.

Is it dangerous to get more than a moderate amount of caffeine during pregnancy?
No one knows for sure. Some studies found that women who got 300 mg of caffeine or more a day had a higher risk of miscarriage. And according to the March of Dimes, high caffeine consumption may slightly increase the risk of preterm labor or low birth weight, which could make a difference for a baby who's already at risk for these problems.

Other research has shown that babies of women who got more than 500 mg a day had faster heart rates and breathing rates, and spent more time awake in the first few days after birth. Though the research isn't conclusive, it makes sense to cut back if you're downing more than three cups of java or more than 300 mg a day from all sources — sodas, tea, coffee, and chocolate — combined.

One thing's for sure: You'll feel better if you cut back on caffeine. It's a stimulant, so it increases your heart rate and metabolism and can cause insomnia, nervousness, and headaches. It contributes to heartburn by stimulating the secretion of stomach acid. It's a diuretic, so it makes you pee more often and become dehydrated more easily.

What's more, it has no nutritional value — in fact, it causes your bones to lose calcium. And all these effects are only likely to get worse as you approach your due date because your body breaks down caffeine more slowly as your pregnancy progresses, and that means a higher level of caffeine in your bloodstream (and in your baby's).

By the way, there's one more reason to cut back on coffee and tea during your pregnancy, whether it's caffeinated or not. These beverages contain compounds called phenols that make it harder for your body to absorb iron. This is particularly important because many pregnant women are already low on iron. If you drink any coffee or tea, have it between meals so it has less of an effect on your iron absorption.

Which foods and beverages contain caffeine?
Caffeine is in all the usual suspects (coffee, tea, and cola) as well as in chocolate, other soft drinks (including some orange sodas and root beers), and "energy" drinks. It's also in some over-the-counter drugs, including some headache, cold, and allergy remedies. The amount of caffeine in coffee and tea varies widely, depending on whether they're brewed or instant, weak or strong. Check the chart below for caffeine amounts in some common foods and beverages.

Item Amount Caffeine
Brewed coffee, drip method 8 ounces 100-300 mg
Brewed coffee, percolated 8 ounces 65-275 mg
Instant coffee 8 ounces 50-190 mg
Espresso 2 ounces 40-70 mg
Cappuccino 2 ounces 40-70 mg
Decaffeinated coffee 8 ounces 1-8 mg
Brewed tea 8 ounces 35-175 mg
Green tea 8 ounces 8-30 mg
Instant tea 8 ounces 40-80 mg
Iced tea 12 ounces 65-75 mg
Coffee ice cream or frozen yogurt 1 cup 8-85 mg
Soft drinks a 12-ounce can 30-60 mg
Hot cocoa 8 ounces 3-30 mg
Chocolate milk 8 ounces 2-7 mg
Milk chocolate 1 ounce 1-15 mg
Dark or semisweet chocolate 1 ounce 5-35 mg
Baker's chocolate 1 ounce 26 mg
Chocolate syrup 1 ounce 4 mg

Answer 4

Moderation moderation moderation! As long as you stik to that you will be fine. Unless for some reason your doctor tells you "stop the coffee" to which you should find out "why?" you are fine to drink your coffee. As to the person who said abut the soft drink aswell, the reason they tell some pregnant women not to drink soft-drink, primarily caffine filled soft drinks, is becuase women who are prone to alot of weight gain, or who are already over weight pose a risk to their unborn child by gaining TOO much weight. Someone tried to tell me not to drink softdrink and I asked my doctor and she said for someone my size (small) it's not a problem.

Enjoy that coffee!!

Answer 5

Yes it is bad. Coffee is a diretic and you need your fluids for you and the baby. Think about it your baby is getting everything youare would you put coffee is their bottle.
You should drink 8-8oz water a day then one more 8oz for every cup of coffee you have. That is a lot of trips to the bathroom you going for 2 now.

Answer 6

too much could be but my nurse told me to drink a cup of coffee or soda a day cuz I was having major headaches due to caffeine withdrawal

Answer 7

hiya i love my coffee!!
i was told that its like everything else moderation is the key word. as long as you are not drinking it in excessive amounts you should be fine. ive been told something like 2/3 cups regular strength wont do any harm

Answer 8

They say 1 cup of java a day wont hurt, but no more than 1 cup.

Answer 9

Stop drinking the coffee! It has caffeine in it, which is not good for the baby. Most doctors will tell you, no sodas with caffeine, no tea, etc. Even de-caffeinated has some caffeine in it. Talk to your doctor.

Answer 10

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/3955.html

It's safer bet to just lay off of it