Energy drink and pregnancy
How Much Caffeine is Safe During Pregnancy? | UNM Health Blog
June 17, 2022
200 MG of caffeine is the maximum amount a pregnant person should have, but the effects of caffeine are not fully understood. UNM Health experts can help you learn the right caffeine intake for your pregnancy
If you have always relied on a morning coffee or energy drink, you might be wondering if those things are still okay to have while pregnant.
About 90% of people in the U.S. drink caffeine daily. Here at UNM, we agree with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): Patients should consume less than 200 mg of caffeine during pregnancy.
One or two cups of coffee will put you at your daily limit. The average cup of coffee brewed at home has 95 mg of caffeine. But the amount will depend on the brand and size. Always check how much caffeine is in each serving.
Not all caffeinated drinks are safe for pregnant people. Doctors and midwives do not recommend energy drinks to anyone during pregnancy. Energy drinks contain a lot of caffeine and many other ingredients that could be unsafe for pregnant people.
Let’s discuss what drinks and foods contain caffeine and why it’s important to watch how much you have during pregnancy.
What Foods and Drinks Have Caffeine
Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in plants like tea leaves and coffee beans. It can also be made in a lab. Caffeine comes in common foods and drinks such as:
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Coffee-containing foods like ice cream or yogurt
- Energy bars (sports bars)
- Energy drinks
- Pre-workout powders
- Soda
- Tea
- Yerba mate
Be sure to check food and drink labels for caffeine. During pregnancy, caffeine and other chemicals can cross the placenta and affect the pregnancy.
Here is a quick guide to how much caffeine one 8-ounce cup of coffee or tea contains on average:
- Brewed coffee = 96 mg
- Brewed decaf coffee = 2 mg
- Brewed black tea = 47 mg
- Brewed green tea = 28 mg
- Espresso = 64 mg
Many of these drinks contain a lot of extra sugar, too, which is not healthy for you or your pregnancy.
Problems from Drinking too Much Caffeine
During pregnancy, it takes up to three times longer for caffeine to leave your bloodstream. You could be more sensitive to its effects as a result. For example, your morning coffee could keep you awake at night.
The effects of caffeine on pregnancy are not well understood. Some studies say that too much caffeine can put your pregnancy at risk. Problems with too much caffeine can include:
- Miscarriage
- Gestational diabetes
- Having children with behavioral or attention problems
- Having children with a low birthweight
- High blood pressure (preeclampsia)
You are higher risk for problems with caffeine if you have certain health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or high cholesterol. Caffeine can also interfere with some medications, such as mental health drugs or medicines for HIV/AIDS.
Talk with your doctor or midwife if you feel any of these side effects from drinking too much caffeine:
- Anxiety
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Heartburn
- Higher body temperature
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Rapid heartbeat
- Restlessness
- Sleeplessness
- Trembling hands
Drinking caffeine will make you need to urinate more.
This will reduce the amount of fluid in your body. So, be sure to drink plenty of water after having caffeine.
Keep Your Energy Up Safely in Pregnancy
Hormone changes in pregnancy can make you feel tired. Instead of drinking more coffee, talk with your doctor or midwife. We can recommend safe alternatives to caffeine such as:
- Adjusting exercise plans: We can help you determine if you are exercising enough or too much at any state of pregnancy.
- Changing your schedule: Allow yourself to say “no” to added responsibilities and new plans.
- Eating a healthy diet: We can check whether you are getting enough of the right calories, prenatal vitamins and nutrients to feel energized.
- Getting more rest: Give yourself permission to sleep in, nap, and rest whenever possible.
Make sure to skip caffeine after lunchtime if you have a hard time sleeping during pregnancy. Though caffeine can help you feel more alert and awake, it cannot give you more energy.
Your health is our top priority. Call your doctor or midwife if you are concerned about how much caffeine is safe during pregnancy. We are always here to answer your questions!
To find out whether you or a loved one might benefit from Ob/Gyn care
Call 505-272-2245.
Categories: Women's Health
Prenatal Energy Drink | Natural Energy for Pregnancy
Aides Carry
Giving up coffee was the hardest part of my pregnancy. I could hardly keep my eyes open, especially in my first and third trimesters. I looked for healthy natural alternatives to no avail.
Beat Pregnancy Exhaustion with Premama's Energy Boost Drink MixGiving up coffee was the hardest part of my pregnancy. I could hardly keep my eyes open, especially in my first and third trimesters. I looked for healthy natural alternatives to no avail. When our team began conceptualizing a safe, prenatal energy drink for pregnant women, I was thrilled.
During pregnancy, women are encouraged to put caffeine on hold. Doctors suggest only one cup of coffee per day – if at all. Due to the potential dangers of caffeine, we knew extensive research would have to be completed to ensure each ingredient would be safe for mama and baby.
Energy drinks and pregnancy just don't mix. Many energy drinks out there have copious amounts of Caffeine, Taurine, and numerous other ingredients harmful to pregnant women. They also have crazy, unpalatable flavors. Such scented flavors are essential to steer clear of while moms to be experience morning sickness. So how do you gain energy while pregnant without harming your body? One option is to try our prenatal energy drink.
We tried roughly nine different flavors, ultimately landing on watermelon as the tastiest and most refreshing! We have chosen to make this a prenatal energy drink mix rather than a chew or gummy because staying hydrated throughout the day is critical for pregnant women. Most women need an energy boost in the morning or throughout the work day.
Why not make it easy to take on the go? It’s also great to drink during prenatal workouts.
For ingredients, we selected Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 for Premama Energy Boost caffeine-free energy drink because they boost energy and soothe the effects of morning sickness—two essential needs during pregnancy. Vitamin B12 during pregnancy is very important; a B12 deficiency can have serious lasting effects on your baby and this ingredient is potentially as vital as Folic Acid.*
We chose to incorporate Omega-3 plant based DHA into our B12 drink mix because this ingredient is known to boost mood and cognition. With constant hormonal fluctuations—this can be a key factor in balancing a mama out! Not to mention it’s wonderful not having to swallow an extra Omega-3 fish-tasting pill. We incorporated 2g of Fiber because it curbs fatigue plus the added benefit of regularity. Additionally, Premama Energy Boost Drink Mix is gluten-free, vegetarian and non-GMO.
*
Whether you are pregnant, planning for baby or breastfeeding, we are so excited for our Premamas to get some much-needed natural energy for pregnancy with Premama Energy Boost Drink Mix.
Have you tried Premama’s Prenatal Energy Drink Mix for pregnant women? Tell us what you think at [email protected] or tag us on Instagram @premamawellness.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
products mentioned in this article
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Coffee and energy during pregnancy - is it possible or not?
Drinking coffee and energy drinks has become a habit for many, so many women are worried about whether they can continue to drink during pregnancy?
One of the main components of coffee and energy drinks is caffeine, which stimulates the central nervous system and causes cheerfulness in the body. For this reason, coffee or energy drinks are usually drunk to focus on important work or stay awake. However, excess caffeine in the body can lead to disorders such as hypertension, heart palpitations, nervousness, dizziness, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
How do energy drinks and coffee affect children, what are the risks, whether they can use them - we have already written.
Possible risk
First, let's look at what additional risks caffeine creates for pregnant women. Firstly, the body of a pregnant woman digests it 2-3 times slower than a normal body. Secondly, part of the caffeine passes into the placenta and enters the bloodstream of the embryo.
American gynecologists Xiaoping Weng, Roxana Odouli and De Koon-Lee investigated the effects of caffeine on pregnancy in 2008. They concluded that the maximum allowable dose is 200 mg per day, which is about the same as 1 cup of coffee. Regular excess of this dose creates the risk of miscarriage, premature birth or the birth of a child with insufficient weight.
Of course, it is worth remembering the general dangers of caffeine overdose, the symptoms of which can occur not only in pregnant women.
Which foods contain caffeine?
Caffeine is found in: coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks, chocolate and some medications.
The table below shows their caffeine content per standard serving.
| Product or drink | Caffeine, mg | ||
| Natural Coffee, 200 g | 80-200 | ||
| Caffeine ”, 200 g | 2-15 | ||
| ice cream or yogurt with coffee taste, 100 g | 2 | ||
| 15-60 | |||
| cocoa, 3 teaspoons per cup for a cup. | 8-12 | ||
| cola, 300 g | 30-45 | ||
| Chocolate milk, 200 g | 5-8 | Dark Chocolate, 40 g | 30 |
| . 40 g | 11 | ||
| Chocolate syrup, 1 tablespoon | 26-28 | ||
| Energy *, 200-300 g (one bank) | 50-400 |
* for each for each energy drink manufacturer - its own composition, hence such a large spread.
So, jar Red Bull contains 80 mg of caffeine and Hyde Extreme contains 400 mg.
For caffeinated medications, these include certain cold, migraine and pain medications. Pregnant women should talk to their doctor about which of these medicines they can take. Of course, the presence of caffeine in medications means that you will have to cut the amount of it in the diet.
It's not just the caffeine
It's not a good idea to cut out everything that contains caffeine completely: some foods and drinks contain vitamins, antioxidants and other essential substances that compensate for the harmful effects of caffeine. These products include primarily various herbal teas and dark chocolate (however, it has more caffeine than milk chocolate).
After consulting the table, we will understand that the lowest risk of overdose is created by decaffeinated coffee, tea, cocoa, milk chocolate and chocolate milk, and the highest is energy drinks.
By the way, there are no substances in energy drinks that could compensate for the harm of caffeine (or rather, they are there, but in too small quantities to bring real benefits). Conclusion: Pregnant women should not drink energy drinks .
Regular coffee falls into the "middle group" for caffeine. If you're pregnant, one cup a day won't cause you to overdose on caffeine, but you'll need to keep a close eye on other caffeinated products.
As for cola, it has less caffeine than energy drinks or even coffee. But it is better to refrain from it for another reason: it is notorious for being a source of extra calories and sugar, and there will be no benefit from it.
Source: crispy.news
Energy drinkers - why energy drinks are harmful: effects on the body of men and pregnant women
№1. What are energy sources made of?
Caffeine is the main component that belongs to the group of stimulants.
It replaces substances important for the nervous system (neurotransmitters) that conduct nerve impulses. So, the more caffeine, the more active the nervous system works. Hence the surge of vivacity, and increased physical and brain activity.
Taurine is an amino acid accumulated in muscle tissue. It is generally accepted that taurine has a positive effect on the functioning of the heart. However, there is no scientific study that proves this for sure.
L-carnitine is an amino acid that the body can produce on its own. It really helps to reduce fatigue and increase stamina. But in ordinary energy it is so small that its effect is difficult to feel.
Glucose and carbon dioxide - i.e., in fact, a classic soda.
No. 2. Energy drinks contain vitamins and natural extracts of exotic herbs. This is true?
True. As a rule, energy drinks contain vitamin C and almost the entire range of B vitamins.
Vitamins are a useful thing, but not in such a chemical company.
Vitamin B in large quantities causes tremors, heart palpitations and allergic reactions. Vitamin C reacts with preservatives and flavors - as a result, carcinogenic substances are produced.
Also, energy drinks often contain herbal extracts: guarana, mate or ginseng. It may seem that they add benefits to the drink, but in fact they are just an additional source of stimulants, the name of which looks beautiful on the package.
No. 3.
Do power engineers "charge"? No. In short - "forced." As it became clear from the composition, the action of energy drinks is aimed at the nervous system. The brain, under the influence of caffeine, decides to activate the “emergency reserves” of the body, which it has in store for a “rainy day”. Those. an energy drink in itself does not contain any energy, but simply deceives the body, makes it actively spend the stored forces quickly and right now. The effect of cheerfulness lasts 3-4 hours. Then a decline follows and the person's condition becomes even worse than before use.
There is fatigue, irritability - up to depression.
No. 4.
Energy - is it harmful? It's like with fast food: if rarely and wisely, then the use of energy drinks is safe for health. Nothing good, but nothing bad either. Drink no more than two jars at a time and be sure to let your body recover: eat healthy food, drink more water and get enough sleep.
If you drink energy drinks regularly, then you will experience nervous and physical exhaustion, which, in turn, can become the basis for a number of diseases. And the increased content of carbon dioxide and sugar leads to exactly the same consequences for the stomach as the consumption of ordinary soda.
No. 5.
Is it true that energy drinks are addictive? True. As we said earlier, caffeine replaces neurotransmitters. If our body sees that they are constantly coming from outside, and in larger quantities than it is used to, then it gradually ceases to produce them on its own - there is no need to waste internal resources.
And when after a long consumption of energy drinks you stop drinking them, your condition will worsen significantly: drowsiness, reduced efficiency, bad mood and, of course, an acute desire to use a new “dose” of energy drinks. In addition, the "dose" must be constantly increased to achieve the same effect. In other words, a real addiction.
No.6.
If it's all about caffeine, maybe just drink coffee?Drinking coffee is less harmful to health. In one jar, the energy of caffeine is like in four cups of strong coffee. And several other types of stimulating ingredients. Therefore, the energy drink has a stronger effect on the body: the heart rate changes, blood pressure increases significantly. But on the other hand, the effect of vivacity from coffee lasts 1-2 hours, and from the energy drink - 4 or more.
No. 7.
It is customary among young people to mix energy drinks with alcohol. How harmful is it? This is the most negative scenario for using energy drinks.
The fact is that the energy drink belongs to the group of stimulants, and alcohol belongs to the depressants. In fact, they are antagonists and their confrontation is the strongest load on the body. The cardiovascular system suffers the most - the pressure rises to extreme levels. Fatal outcomes from such "cocktails" are not uncommon. Therefore, if you have heart problems, in no case do not use energy drinks with alcohol. In addition, the state of intoxication under energy drinks comes on more slowly, so it is difficult to control the measure.
No. 8.
Who should refrain from consuming energy drinks? It is highly undesirable to drink energy drinks for children and adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, people who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, heart, blood vessels and pressure, as well as with increased excitability, nervousness, sleep disturbances and sensitivity to caffeine.
No. 9.
Energy is freely available in Kazakhstan.
