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| Recent Study Linking Miscarriage and Pregnancy |
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A recent study suggesting that consuming more than 2 cups of coffee or caffeinated beverages a day may dramatically increase a woman's chance of miscarrying was certainly alarming to any pregnant woman that was within earshot. To think that such a minimal amount of caffeine could double the chance of miscarriage left many women wondering what the latest findings were really suggesting. Should caffeine be excluded entirely from a pregnant woman's diet? Should it be limited and what were those new guidelines? Or was everyone jumping to conclusions based on media-hype? What is most important to understand is the design and findings of this specific study and how its implications may affect you. First of all, the study that created this renewed interest in the link between caffeine and miscarriage only included women who were up to 20 weeks pregnant. Second of all, the women in the study who had the highest levels of caffeine intake also exhibited other risk factors linked to miscarriage - such as being over 35 years of age, smoking, drinking alcohol, and having had a previous miscarriage. Finally, the study concluded that consuming more than 200mg of caffeine a day doubled a woman's chance of miscarriage when compared to those who consumed no caffeine at all. |
| Concerns Associated with Caffeine |
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The reasoning behind caffeine being a concern to a developing fetus is that the caffeine crosses the placenta, and the fetus' metabolic system is not yet developed enough to handle the caffeine intake. This, in turn, can possibly affect cell development directly and indirectly through decreasing blood flow from the placenta. Additionally, caffeine when consumed in large amounts, increases the need to urinate and can in severe cases lead to dehydration. Caffeine is also a stimulant increasing both blood pressure and heart rate, both of which need to be monitored during pregnancy. |
| Estimating Caffeine Intake |
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So how can you estimate your own caffeine intake? An 8 ounce cup of regular coffee has approximately 60-120 mg of caffeine depending on the variety and roast of the coffee bean, while a 2 ounce double espresso has 45-100 mg of caffeine. An 8 ounce cup of black tea has approximately 45 mg of caffeine, whereas an 8 ounce cup of green tea has 20 mg. A 12 ounce can of soda contains approximately 20-40 mg of caffeine, an 8 ounce cup of hot chocolate 3- 32 mg of caffeine, and a 1 ounce piece of milk chocolate contains approximately 1-15 mg of caffeine. |
| What it all comes down to |
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All things considered, the best recommendation would be to talk to your doctor about consuming caffeine based on your current health and lifestyle. If you feel comfortable in cutting back your caffeine consumption before, during, or after pregnancy, it may provide many benefits beyond simply decreasing your risks during pregnancy. |
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