Caffeine is Unhealthy for Pregnant Women

 

Here’s a little bit of bad news for all the expecting mothers who are ardent coffee lovers. It is now time to let go. While coffee might keep you on your feet and get you through your day it could and might affect your baby in more than one way. Coffee is in reality a slow killing drug. The coffee bean contains mild psychotropic chemicals which are toxic in nature. Caffeine also acts as a stimulant in the production of cortisone and adrenaline.
Caffeine and Pregnancy

Researchers and doctors have not yet been able to come to aninference as to what is the apt amount of caffeine that a pregnant woman could have, but 200mg is said to be just about enough. Caffeine gives you energy by increasing your heart-rate and pumping more blood throughout your body which keeps you up on your feet.

The liver secretes enzymes which help break down the toxics in caffeine annulling its effect to a great extent. However through the pregnant woman’s blood the caffeine reaches the placenta and increases the child’s heart rate not to mention rapid breathing and insomnia. Your small baby’s liver has not yet developed enough to break down the caffeine like your body does. Therefore excess of caffeine if, manages to maneuver its way to the baby can upsurge the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth. High doses of caffeine also reduce your baby’s weight and creel with the formation of your baby’s mental and physical capability.

Another harmful trait of coffee, courtesy the caffeine it contains is that it is diuretic. This essentially means that it absorbs all the fluids and calcium in your body leaving you dehydrated, which in return leaves the baby dehydrated. Excess of coffee also kills your hunger and absorbs the iron impeding thenutritional balance in your body. This comes in the way of the growth of your baby. Coffee at the time of breast feeding should also be eluded. Through your blood it blends with the milk and can enter your baby’s system.

What Food to Avoid?

Apart from coffee there are numerous other food products that contain caffeine in them, even if it is in small proportions. Caffeine is also present in other coffee flavored products like yogurt and ice-cream. Cola and soft drinks too have high caffeine content. Not to overlook the chocolates that we all relish.

Advice for Caffeine Addicts. It’s not easy to cut down on the coffee consumption especially for those who are habituated to it. The easiest way to do it would be to start by cutting down the quantity taken rather than cutting it out entirely. Substitution is always an effective tool. Coffee can be substituted by de-caff coffee. Exercising regularly to combat the withdrawalsymptoms, while not to forget to have a lot of water to remain hydrated at all times. At the end of it mothers need to remember just one thing ‘anything in excess is harmful’.