Why is too much caffeine bad during pregnancy?

Question

Why is too much caffeine bad during pregnancy?

Answer 1

YES

Answer 2

because it's a stimulant. imagine giving a 4 or 5 year old coffee...now imagine giving an unborn fetus coffee...not good on the body's systems at all.

Answer 3

It crosses the placenta nd enters the baby's blood stream. You have to be very careful what u eat and drink when your preggers....It can also have a neg effect on the baby when he/she is born..they can be cranky and irritable(mycousin drank tons on mountain dew when she was preggers) and her son is always bouncing off the walls and into trouble...Now im not sayin it happens all the time but i honestly believe her drinking all that caffiene had a negetive affect on her kid..

Answer 4

Caffeine is a drug just like nicotine or alcohol, which is obviously bad for the baby...it has been link to cause higher rate of stillborn deaths..also because it is addictive the baby can go through withdrawl once born, which can be very hard on the baby...

See this link for information about caffeine dependence etc...

Good luck

Answer 5

It can cause low birth weight and also cuts down on blood flow to the placenta.  This causes the baby to recieve less oxygen and nutrients.

Answer 6

Effects of Caffeine on Your Baby

Caffeine is thought to pose certain risks during pregnancy. Though researchers debate how much caffeine is acceptable during pregnancy, there is evidence to suggest than any amount will cause some physical effects on your little one. This is because caffeine passes through your placenta and is absorbed by your baby. Adults are able to break down caffeine fairly quickly, thanks to chemicals inside of our body. However, your developing baby can't do this as efficiently. This means that caffeine will be stored inside of his blood for longer periods of time, and could reach dangerously high levels.

Caffeine also affects other aspects of your baby's health. It is known to increase your baby's heart rate and may affect how much he moves in utero. Because caffeine is a diuretic, it can also affect the nutrition your baby receives from you. Caffeine intake may cause you to absorb less iron and calcium from foods, a possible detriment to your baby's overall fetal development.

Coffee and Miscarriage

Recent studies have focused on the effects of coffee intake during pregnancy. A large-scale Danish study polled more than 80,000 pregnant women regarding their coffee intake. This study found that women who drank large amounts of coffee during pregnancy were more likely to experience a miscarriage. Women who drank more than 2 cups of coffee a day had a slightly increased risk of miscarriage, while those that drank 8 or more cups experienced a 59% increase. This is why it is so important to watch your caffeine intake during pregnancy.

Interestingly, this Danish study found that this considerably greater risk of miscarriage was specific to coffee. Other caffeinated beverages and foods did not present the same significant increase, leading researchers to believe that other chemicals contained in coffee could possibly play a role in causing miscarriage.

How Much Caffeine is Too Much?

Most health care providers suggest eliminating all caffeinated foods and beverages from your pregnancy diet. Yet, some pregnant women find this especially difficult, particularly because so many food items contain small amounts of caffeine. If you are finding it hard to eliminate all caffeine from your diet, one caffeinated beverage or food item once in awhile probably won't make much difference to your baby's health. However, it is important to realize that caffeine does pose a risk to your little one, especially in large amounts, so work to reduce that caffeine intake.

Tips on Reducing Caffeine Intake

Just as quitting smoking and drinking can be difficult, it can also be hard to eliminate caffeine from your daily diet. After all, caffeine is an addictive drug. Here are some tips on how to reduce your caffeine intake and ensure that you and your baby stay healthy throughout your pregnancy.

Cut back on your caffeine intake slowly. Going cold turkey can cause you to experience withdrawal symptoms, like headaches and nausea.

Try replacing your caffeinated beverages with non-caffeinated ones, like decaf coffee.

Exercise regularly to help combat any withdrawal symptoms and to stay energized.

Stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water will help you manage cravings and fatigue.

http://www.epigee.org/pregnancy/caffeine...

Daily consumption of up to 300 mg/day (approximately two to three 8 oz. cups of brewed coffee) has been shown to have no adverse effects on pregnancy. However, it is wise for pregnant women to monitor their caffeine consumption and talk to their obstetrician or other physician about consuming caffeine during their pregnancy.

Answer 7

No idea but it can't be that bad because I drank coke and ate chocolate all the time with my first, he's perfectly healthy, born at 40w6d and weighed 7lb 8oz. He is top of his class now.

This time I am off chocolate but still enjoy my coke (coca cola btw not the drug).

Answer 8

Because it crosses the placenta, and effects the fetus.