Everything A Mum-to-be Needs To Know About Caffeine During Pregnancy

The official guidelines regarding how much caffeine should be consumed during pregnancy is up to 200mg per day. This means that you don’t have to give up your morning coffee. But, you do need to understand the issues surrounding caffeine when you are pregnant.

The Effect Caffeine Has On Your Body

Caffeine is a stimulant. That means when you drink it your brain and nervous system activity increases. The increase in activity triggers a release of cortisol and adrenaline. As a stimulant, it will make you feel refreshed and focused for a short period.

However, you should note that caffeine is addictive and, once your body has become used to the high that it gets from this stimulant, it may need more in the future.

Unfortunately, too much caffeine can lead to an irregular heartbeat, restlessness, increased levels of anxiety, tremors, and even trouble sleeping.

Caffeine & Unborn babies

Your unborn baby is unable to process caffeine. However, they will receive caffeine as it will be in your bloodstream and pass through the baby.

In small amounts, this has not been found to make any difference to baby development. However, in larger quantities, the baby may experience stunted growth. Research also suggests it can cause birth defects, premature labor, and even increase the risk of fertility issues in the future.

Naturally, research is still ongoing to confirm this.

However, the bottom line is that you need to reduce your caffeine intake while pregnant.

What If you’ve Already Consumed Too Much?

Caffeine is only a part of the equation when growing a baby inside you. A balanced diet, mental and physical exercise, and even your stress levels can all make a difference. That’s why it is essential to talk to your obstetrician Sydney and let them guide you.

Even if you have been consuming too much caffeine, they can help you reduce the consumption rate and monitor your pregnancy to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Where You’ll Find Caffeine

Mention caffeine and everyone thinks of coffee. However, caffeine isn’t just in coffee. It is also in tea and you’ll find it in most soda drinks. Caffeine also appears in a variety of cakes and other supplements.

But, perhaps the biggest one is energy drinks. An increasing number of pregnant women are using these to boost energy levels. But, energy drinks are full of caffeine and sugar, both of which can be harmful to your unborn baby in large doses.

The Take Away

You don’t need to stop drinking coffee completely and you don’t need to read the label of everything you eat or drink. As mentioned, caffeine is only part of the pregnancy puzzle. But, you should pay more attention to what you are eating and drinking to ensure you are maintaining balance. This will help to ensure your pregnancy goes smoothly and your baby is born healthy. Although, there are no guarantees.

In short, think about your caffeine consumption but don’t stress out about it, you have bigger concerns while pregnant.