Caffeine in pregnancy and preconception? Yes or no?
The latest research on caffeine taken during pregnancy or in the pre-conceptional period (when trying for a baby) suggests avoiding caffeine , despite the guidelines allowing a maximum limit of 200 mg per day.
Can you take caffeine while pregnant?
Expectant mothers, also due to the tiredness that pregnancy entails especially in the first few months, would like to wake up and get going in the morning with a good coffee (provided it hasn’t gone into disgrace due to nausea).
On the subject of caffeine in pregnancy, the debate is very open and the studies follow one another frenetic and increasingly up-to-date.
The World Health Organization recommends pregnant women drink less than 300 milligrams of caffeine per day, while the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and our Department of Health suggest no more than 200 milligrams per day .
Caffeine is contained not only in coffee but also in tea and cocoa as well as in drinks with added caffeine.
According to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , which looked at 941 births in Ireland, women who consume caffeine during pregnancy are more likely to have smaller-than-average babies at birth or to have premature deliveries .
And that’s even if they stick to these recommended guidelines of a maximum of 200mg per day.
In fact, it has been seen that for every additional 100 milligrams of caffeine taken per day, during the first trimester of pregnancy, there is a reduction of 70 grams in the baby’s birth weight. Women who took caffeine towards the maximum threshold (200 mg) had babies weighing about 170 grams less at birth than those who drank very little coffee or tea.
In the study it was seen that not only weight but also height and head circumference were influenced, as well as the gestational age at which delivery occurred.
” High caffeine intake can cause restricted blood flow to the placenta which can subsequently affect fetal growth ,” study lead author Lin-Wei Chen explained in an interview. ” Caffeine can cross the placenta quickly, and because caffeine clearance slows as pregnancy progresses, accumulation of caffeine in fetal tissues can occur .”
The study authors believe that many women are unaware that certain teas have substantial amounts of caffeine, and some black teas, for example, can contain almost as much caffeine as a cup of coffee.
Until the guidelines are updated according to the evidence of new studies, we would like to recommend that you minimize the caffeine you introduce daily through coffee, tea or foods that contain it.
No caffeine in the preconception phase?
A further study published in August 2020 in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine concludes that both pregnant women and those trying to conceive should avoid caffeine completely.
Caffeine occurs naturally in some foods and drinks, such as tea, coffee and chocolate. It is also added to some energy drinks, some cold and flu remedies, and some soft drinks.
The research, by Professor Jack James, of Reykjavik University in Iceland, involved an analysis of 48 published studies on the topic and, according to the author, provides evidence of increased risk from maternal caffeine consumption for at least five main negative outcomes:
- miscarriage,
- perinatal death
- low birth weight
- childhood acute leukemia
- childhood overweight and obesity.
According to prof. James “ Current health recommendations regarding caffeine consumption during pregnancy need radical overhaul.”
Daghni Rajasingham, consultant midwife and spokeswoman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists disagreed, saying: “ The findings of this study add to the large body of evidence that supports limited caffeine intake during pregnancy, but women pregnant women do not need to completely eliminate caffeine. as this research suggests.
As the study notes, high levels of caffeine during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, and for babies who have low birth weight, can lead to excess weight gain during the child’s early years, which can increase the risk of health problems later in life.
“However, other — potentially more reliable — research has concluded that pregnant women do not need to completely cut out caffeine because these risks are extremely small, even if the recommended caffeine limits are exceeded.
The advice from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is to limit your caffeine intake to 200 milligrams a day. This study does not replace all other evidence that has found limited caffeine intake is safe for most pregnant women .”
Of the same non-alarmist opinion is Dr. Luke Grzeskowiak, a pharmacist at the University of Adelaide, in Australia. Interviewed by the BBC he said Prof James’ research paper was “overly alarmist” and inconsistent with accepted evidence, saying ” women should be reassured that caffeine can be consumed in moderation during pregnancy “.
In essence, given the conflicting opinions, the watchword is caution.
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.