Are you wondering what happens when you drink too much caffeine while pregnant?
Well, join the club because most of the caffeine-addicted moms search for the exact same thing to ensure they are not putting their health and their baby’s health at risk without even knowing.
This guide is put together to help you understand caffeine pregnancy relations and how it can affect your body and also your baby.
We will also talk about the use of energy drinks during pregnancy and some great alternatives for caffeine that you can try. So with said, let’s jump right in:
Table of Contents
Is it OK to have a little caffeine while pregnant?
Caffeine has favorable effects on many people ranging from high energy and focuses to even the alleviation of migraines. However, when it comes to consuming coffee while pregnant,
it is not totally OK. Before we talk about anything, we would like to say that you should avoid having caffeine during pregnancy at all.
However, if you need your daily fix at any cost, then we would suggest that you do not take too much caffeine, or it can cause problems for both you and your baby.
The reason is that the body of pregnant women takes some time to metabolize caffeine, which can range between 1.5 and 3.5 times longer than normal body.
Now at that time, the caffeine also goes through the placenta, which sends it into the bloodstream of the baby, which can have a negative effect on your baby. Therefore, experts suggest that you should avoid getting coffee at all during pregnancy, but if you do want to take it, it should not exceed 200mg a day. (NCBI)
What does caffeine do to a pregnant woman?
Do you want to know what happens when you drink too much caffeine while pregnant? Well, there is no doubt that caffeine can cause a risk for the well-being of both the mom and the baby if consumed in large amounts. But the quantity of caffeine affecting the pregnant body depends on the trimester as well.
Caffeine and pregnancy first trimester:
According to a study done in California, pregnant women who consumed 300mg or greater caffeine per day faced a greater risk of having a miscarriage during their 1st trimester. Therefore, if you must have to drink it, do not have more than 200mg a day.
Caffeine during pregnancy second trimester:
When you are in your second trimester, it takes two times longer for caffeine to get cleared from your body than when you are not pregnant. This can increase the risk of having its adverse effects, which is why its intake should be lowered by 182mg on an average per day.
Caffeine and pregnancy third trimester:
In the third trimester, the coffee takes three times longer to get cleared from your pregnant body than a normal body. This means it will stay longer in your baby’s bloodstream, which can further increase the risks.
By seeing the aforementioned caffeine pregnancy effects, we would suggest that you stop or at least cut back on coffee as much as you can. Plus, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you consult your doctor before taking coffee while pregnant, even if you are taking it in the dosages mentioned above.
Recommended caffeine intake while pregnant:
It is suggested that the less coffee pregnancy relation you have, the better. However, according to some experts, you might drink coffee, but it should not exceed 150mg a day. If it goes above this range, then it is too much caffeine for your body and your baby.
Although we suggest that you avoid caffeine as much as you can and only take it if your doctor gives you permission, if you do take it on your own, you should not go above 150-200mg a day under any circumstances.
And also, the more you progress into your pregnancy, the more time it will take for your body to get rid of caffeine in its system, which means the longer it will stay with the baby. So try to lower the intake as much as you can from early on.
What can I replace coffee with while pregnant?
If you want to switch to an alternate of coffee until you deliver your baby into this world, then we have shortlisted some caffeine pregnancy alternatives for you below:
- Espresso: If you are addicted to coffee, moving to an alternative might not be easy since your body will be craving for caffeine. Therefore, we suggest that before you start consuming an alternative, you should start using espresso for a few days as its single shot contains around 75mg of caffeine, which is lower than a cup of coffee.
- Decaf Coffee: Now, when you stop getting a monster craving for coffee, we suggest you shift to decaf coffee, which only gives you between three and 18mg of caffeine in a 12oz cup. Though the caffeine quantity is lower, it tastes almost the same as coffee and will significantly help you get rid of caffeine addiction.
- SUTRA Black: Now, you are ready to shift to a completely caffeine-free alternative, and SUTRA Black is one of the best. It has a rich chocolate-like taste that will satisfy your cravings for coffee or hot chocolate. Plus, it comes with different healthy ingredients that will boost your energy, reduce cholesterol, lower bloating that expecting mothers feel, and also help in decreasing heartburn.
- Fresh Juice: If you are expecting in the hot summer days, your best bet to cool down your body while getting an energy kick is to chug down lots of fresh juices and smoothies instead of iced coffee. The nutrients found in fresh fruits will be beneficial for your baby too.
Now that you know what happens when you drink too much caffeine while pregnant, we suggest you start making your shift towards healthier options as soon as you can.
Benefits of drinking coffee while pregnant:
There are not really any more benefits when drinking coffee while pregnant than the ones you already experience when not expecting. Some of these are:
- It can improve your focus and energy levels
- According to research, caffeine can stimulate your central nervous system and brain, which will help you stay sharp and mentally alert.
- It is also beneficial for migraines when combined with some OTC painkillers
- Also, caffeine contains antioxidants that are very beneficial compounds when it comes to preventing cell damage, warding off chronic illnesses, and reducing inflammation.
- Coffee can also help with digestion if you are feeling constipated
These are all the benefits that you would expect from coffee pregnant or not, which is why, if you really want to drink coffee while expecting, you should shift to the coffee specially made for pregnant women.
Can energy drinks make you go into labor?
People consume energy drinks all the time, and according to the companies making them, they offer great health benefits, but should you drink them during pregnancy?
NO, you should not! The regular energy drinks that we see on TV like Red Bull or Monster can cause problems inside your body, and the stimulating ingredients in the energy drinks will go inside your baby as well, causing further complications
Therefore, we suggest that if you really want to have an energy drink, you should consume the ones that are specially formulated to be safe and even beneficial for pregnant women. You can easily find these drinks on Amazon.
Does decaf coffee during pregnancy is healthy?
The answer is YES, and NO! It depends on the quantity of caffeine you are consuming, what your body condition is, and how far you are in your pregnancy. Decaf coffee is safer than regular coffee because it contains less caffeine quantity, but drinking it all day long won’t do any good either.
Therefore, we suggest that you do not drink it unless you have to, and even then, do not go beyond the recommended amount of caffeine per day mentioned above. Lastly, it is best if you consult this with your doctor as he/she knows your condition so they can better guide you.
Best energy drink during pregnancy:
If you want to satisfy your energy drink cravings during pregnancy but not sure which one to get that’s both safe and healthy, then don’t fret, you’ve got us. We have shortlisted some of the best energy drinks specially formulated for women in pregnancy, have a look at them below:
- STIMULANT-FREE PRENATAL ENERGY BOOST: No coffee-No problem! Here's a...
- OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS AND FIBER: Premama Energy Boost contains 2 grams of...
- B6-AN ENERGY POWERHOUSE: Along with assisting in the development of your...
- ORGANIC, VEGAN, NON GMO AND KOSHER CERTIFIED: Premama Energy Boost is...
- SUPPLEMENT ON THE GO - Individual serving packets are easy to take wherever...
- ALL DAY REPLENISHING BOOST - Vitamin B12 supports energy levels through...
- CLEAN & SIMPLE WAY TO HYDRATE - Whether you’re a hopeful mom, a...
- PROTECTING MOTHER EARTH – All Natalist products and packaging are 100%...
- BOOST HYDRATION: Hydration is particularly important during pregnancy and...
- ESSENTIAL VITAMINS: Preggie Hydration contains a wide array of vitamins,...
- AN ABUNDANCE OF ELECTROLYTES: Electrolytes are minerals that play a...
- PREVENT DEHYDRATION: Dehydration is a specific concern during pregnancy, as...
- GOOD FOR YOU & GOOD TASTING: By combining bold flavors with real benefits,...
- SUGAR FREE: Get the morning boost you need with only 5 calories and...
- WHERE ENERGY MEETS WELLNESS: Take on your morning without the crash of...
- A TASTE OF SUMMER, ANYTIME: It's giving sitting on a wrap around porch...
- Liquid I.V. Energy Multiplier – Yuzu Pineapple Energy Multiplier merges...
- Natural Energy – Energy Multiplier Powder Drink Mix is naturally...
- Cellular Transport Technology – The science of Cellular Transport...
- Non-GMO and made with premium ingredients – Liquid I.V. Energy Multiplier...
- FUEL SOMETHING BIGGER: Experience the power of our healthy energy drinks,...
- ENJOY A NATURAL ENERGY LIFT: Our natural energy drinks use only naturally...
- SUGAR-FREE + FULL FLAVOR: Our sugar free energy drinks are crafted to...
- 100% DAILY VITAMIN C: Boost your immunity while you energize. Each can of...
- Fruit Flavored Energy Drinks: Four (4) packs of six (6) 8 fl oz cans of V8...
- Natural Energy From Tea: Steady energy powered by black and green tea to...
- Plant based energy drink contains 6 deliciously blended vegetable and fruit...
- Non-GMO: Non-GMO drink that's free of added sugars (1)
- Clean, Crash Free Energy Boosted with 7 Organic Red superfoods!* A...
- Absurdly Delicious, Naturally Flavored Energy without the Jitters. Boosted...
- Super-packed with Superfoods! Each serving is bursting with 7 of the best...
- 30 Convenient Grab and Go Packets. Mix a powder packet with 16-20 oz of...
- All-Natural Long-Lasting Energy – A clean, daily energy booster made with...
- Developed by Scientists and Doctors – Made with 75mg of Organic Caffeine,...
- Light Refreshing Flavor – Our energy powder packets are flavored with...
- Daily Coffee, Energy Drink & Soda Alternative – Make Nectar a healthy...
- ENERGY + HYDRATION Wake Up Water is a light and refreshing morning...
- ALL NATURAL - With 175mg of natural caffeine (same as a medium cup of...
- ZERO SUGAR, GREAT FLAVOR - Available in Orange, Coconut, Lemon, and Variety...
- FOR ANY OCCASION - Morning wake up, afternoon pick-me-up, workout boost,...
Conclusion:
Now you know what happens when you drink too much caffeine while pregnant, so we suggest that you start cutting back on your caffeine intake and go for healthier alternatives instead of maintaining that harmful caffeine pregnancy combination. Lastly, we recommend you check with your doctor before consuming any product containing caffeine to avoid putting yourself and your baby in jeopardy.
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