If you are pregnant and you can’t live without your coffee in the morning, don’t feel like you can’t have coffee at all! Learn the facts about pregnancy and coffee.
THAT DARN CAFFEINE!
Caffeine can directly affect the fetus because the caffeine consumed by Mom will cross through the placenta. That means overdoing coffee drinking can result in lowered birth weight, which is incredibly dangerous for the baby! Caffeine will also put additional strain on the liver, which already processes increased hormones during pregnancy.
Not all coffee is caffeinated equally. Do your research and read labels. The recommendation is no more than 200mg of caffeine daily. This amount includes other sources of caffeine as well as coffee, such as chocolate. Following your doctor’s orders as well as paying close attention to consumption recommendations are key to a healthy birth.
WHAT CAN I HAVE?
If you drink coffee regularly, then two small home-brewed cups per day is what’s usually recommended. If you want to spread out your coffee intake, try switching over to decaffeinated coffee or a darker roast which has slightly less caffeine. But again, read the labels because decaf coffees still contain 3% caffeine that was in the original beans.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE COFFEE REGULARLY?
Depending on how you handle caffeine on a regular basis, you can make your decision as to whether you are going to continue drinking it while pregnant or not.
YOU KNOW YOUR BODY THE BEST; LISTEN TO IT
If you experience any of the following: heart palpitations, anxiety, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excessive sweating, and shakiness—either dial back or eliminate your caffeine and coffee intake. Anytime your body says, “Nope,” don’t force yourself to drink coffee. If you can handle it, enjoy it.
(Note: If you are extremely concerned about your caffeine and coffee intake while pregnant, the best person to speak to is your doctor or healthcare practitioner. Consider this to be a good launching point into the conversation, however! And like we said, listen to your body—you’re the one who knows it the best!)