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Effects of restricted maternal caffeine intake on pregnancy, fetal and newborn outcomes

Caffeine is a stimulant found in tea, coffee, cola, chocolate and some over-the-counter drugs. Conflicting literature has made it difficult for health professionals to advise pregnant women on whether caffeine intake should be avoided during pregnancy. The clearance of caffeine from the mother's blood (clearance of caffeine from the blood) is slowed down during pregnancy. Some authors of observational studies have concluded that caffeine intake is harmful to the fetus, causing growth restriction, low birth weight, preterm labor, or stillbirth. The newborn may also experience withdrawal symptoms if the mother consumes large amounts of caffeine during pregnancy (more than eight cups of coffee per day).

Two studies met the inclusion criteria, but only one contributed data to the outcomes of interest for the review. The study was conducted in Denmark. Women less than 20 weeks pregnant were randomized to either caffeinated instant coffee (568 women after elimination) or decaffeinated instant coffee (629 women). Three cups of coffee per day in early pregnancy had no effect on birth weight, preterm birth, or growth restriction.

Both included studies were randomized controlled trials. In one study, pregnant women were randomly assigned to caffeinated or non-caffeinated groups. In another clinical trial, it was not clear if the allocation to study groups was blinded [hidden]. The blinding of study staff and participants was satisfactory in both studies, while blinding of investigators evaluating outcomes was not clearly stated. One study also unclearly explained the presence of attrition bias (dropouts, loss of patients from follow-up). Results from one trial that provided data for analysis showed no evidence of an effect of caffeine withdrawal on outcomes such as birth weight, preterm birth, and small-for-gestational age [gestational age].

Two outcomes were assessed and assigned a quality rating using the GRADE methodology. The quality of the evidence for these two outcomes, namely birth weight and preterm birth rate, was rated as low, with downward decisions due in part to the relatively small sample sizes and wide confidence intervals of the single included trial that contributed data to this review.

There is insufficient evidence to confirm or refute the effectiveness of avoiding caffeine intake on birth weight and other pregnancy outcomes.

Translation notes:

Translation: Yudina Ekaterina Viktorovna. Editing: Ziganshina Lilia Evgenievna. Russian translation project coordination: Kazan Federal University - an affiliated center in Tatarstan of the Northern Cochrane Center. For questions related to this translation, please contact us at: [email protected]

Is it possible for pregnant women to have coffee? TEA.RU

Coffee is, without a doubt, one of the most popular beverages that people drink almost all over the world. This is an axiom that does not require proof. For many of us, coffee has long become a tradition, and for some, it is an integral part of our lifestyle. There are people among us who cannot imagine the morning without a cup of strong aromatic drink. If we don’t get the “next dose” of caffeine in the morning, it seems to us that the world around us has lost its colors, the mood is hopelessly spoiled, and in general the day didn’t work out initially.

According to statistics, women drink coffee more often than the strong half of humanity. And then the day comes when a woman finds out that she is pregnant. For many, the question immediately arises as to whether it is possible to drink coffee during pregnancy, how an invigorating drink can affect the health of the child and mother. Is it possible to drink coffee during pregnancy - this is a rather difficult question that has long been of concern to scientists around the world. Opinions on this matter are very different, many scientists study the use of coffee during pregnancy. Unfortunately, there is still no clear answer to this question. But there are certain studies, the data of which will help to understand this issue.

If we delve deeper into this problem, there are many more questions:

• Is it possible for pregnant women to drink natural coffee or is it better to give preference to an instant drink?
• What kind of coffee can pregnant women drink, and in what cases?
• Should coffee be avoided early in pregnancy or is it necessary later?
• If there is a ban on this drink, why not coffee during pregnancy?
• How much coffee can pregnant women, if the doctor allows?

And these are far from all the questions that a woman asks herself when she finds out about her “interesting position”. After all, many do not want to give up the morning charge of vivacity, but not a single woman would definitely want to harm the unborn baby, which is natural. So, pregnancy and caffeine - let's try to figure it out.

Coffee during pregnancy: yes or no

The question of whether it is possible to drink coffee during pregnancy can only be answered by a doctor who observes her. The fact is that coffee as such has some “contraindications”. Both in early pregnancy and later, and indeed for women, even if they are not in a “special position”, coffee is not useful if:

• history of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as gastritis, hyperacidity, peptic ulcer, and others;
• there is a tendency to high blood pressure, which is already characteristic of pregnant women due to natural physiological reasons;
• Pregnancy occurs during the hot summer months, as drinking caffeinated drinks can lead to dehydration.
• coffee in early pregnancy is contraindicated if a woman has early toxicosis, accompanied by dizziness and nausea;
• a lady "in position" was diagnosed with high cholesterol levels in the blood and in some other conditions.
Thus, drinking or not drinking coffee can be decided only after the pregnant woman is fully examined and registered for pregnancy. Timely early visit to the doctor is the key to the health of both mother and baby.

Examination will allow at the very beginning of the journey to choose the lifestyle that will be as healthy as possible and conducive to easy childbearing. The effect of coffee on pregnancy can be different, depending on the general health of the expectant mother and some other factors.

Can I drink instant coffee during pregnancy?

What is instant coffee? Good instant coffee is prepared using sublimation processes and other technologies from natural coffee. The result is a drink rich in micro and macro elements, beneficial nutrients and other compounds. This coffee has all the useful qualities of the original product, polished taste and aroma.

It is worth noting that instant coffee, in comparison with natural coffee, has a lower caffeine content. Accordingly, if there are no contraindications, then instant coffee is possible for pregnant women, but without much fanaticism. If 1 cup a day will not hurt the expectant mother and baby, then 5-6 cups of instant coffee during pregnancy are strongly not recommended by specialists.

Natural coffee during pregnancy

According to research, natural coffee contains 30-40% more caffeine than its soluble counterparts. Because of this, natural coffee has a more pronounced effect on the nervous system of the human body, has a pronounced stimulating effect and can affect the development of the fetus.

Scientists have conducted a number of studies on the long-term effects of coffee on pregnancy. In the course of these studies, it was found that natural coffee during gestation affects the formation of certain brain structures, which can lead to behavioral abnormalities. Such deviations may not appear immediately, not in infancy, but at the age of 9-10 years.

This may be hyperactivity or even aggressive conduct of the child. There is also evidence that in the future a child whose mother abused caffeine-rich drinks during pregnancy is prone to the development of malignant hypertension and various metabolic disorders.

If the pregnancy proceeds without complications, and there are no additional contraindications, then natural coffee in a volume of up to 200 ml is acceptable and does not harm either the mother or the fetus. Can pregnant women drink coffee with milk? Definitely yes! And the more milk you add to your usual drink, the more benefit and less harmful effects on the body of the mother and fetus.

Can I drink decaffeinated coffee during pregnancy?

We have already said that there are cases when coffee during pregnancy is strictly contraindicated. In this case, many coffee drinkers mistakenly assume that decaffeinated coffee can be an alternative. Such a drink is in the assortment of almost every specialized store. Moreover, sellers often recommend such a product to women "in position."

Please note! Doctors do not categorically recommend using decaffeinated coffee, since, among other things, such a product contains substances in large enough quantities that are in no way useful when carrying a fetus:
• essential oils;
• fineness;
• resins;
• cafestol, etc.
These substances are able to very quickly "wash out" calcium from the body of a woman, which is so necessary for the formation of the bones of the fetal skeleton. Thus, decaffeinated coffee during pregnancy is not the best solution and not at all a harmless drink. Its amount should not exceed 1 cup per day if your doctor has allowed you.

When can pregnant women drink coffee?

In some cases, it is worth noting in fairness, pregnant women can drink coffee and a drink can even be useful. These are the cases when:
• the expectant mother has a low level of hemoglobin, which is confirmed by the results of laboratory tests;
• with confirmed iron deficiency anemia;
• with chronic hypotension, that is, if a pregnant woman has low blood pressure;
• there are some deviations in cardiac activity that require correction.
In this case, the ideal option is latte during pregnancy. It is better to cook it like espresso from a coffee machine, to which a large amount of natural milk is added, which replenishes the deficiency of calcium, potassium and other substances useful for the body of the pregnant woman and the fetus.

How coffee affects pregnancy is still being studied by many scientists, and each time more and more contradictory data are found. It follows from this that there is no complete picture of how coffee affects pregnancy in modern medical science. Is coffee allowed during pregnancy is a question that only your doctor can answer, but in this case you yourself must realize and take full responsibility for all possible consequences.

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