The most widespread stimulant in our society is none other than caffeine. Caffeine is in our coffee, our tea, and even in our chocolate. This popular stimulant acts a booster all day long, and everyone is doing it, so why shouldn’y you? If you are pregnant, the fact is, caffeine can be harmful not only to you but to your developing fetus.
Okay, okay. Truthfully, news reports and scientists say almost everything good is bad for you when pregnant. I remember in the 80s reading a report stating apples could cause cancer,, apples! I am not here to tell you caffeine is the root of all that is evil; I just wanted to know why caffeine could be harmful, and of course, I had to share my findings.
Caffeine is a stimulant working directly on the central nervous system, which is why when you drink or eat caffeine you feel less drowsy, more alert; but if you drink or eat large quantities of caffeine you can actually get shaky, drowsy, and/or have increased anxiety. If you consume too much caffeine, your body overdoses causing agitation and lethargy.
The Facts
What I found more interesting was the facts concerning the affects a stimulant have on the human body. As with anything, what goes up, must come down. A stimulant acts as a temporary upper; once the stimulating affect runs its course, the body and mind becomes more exhausted than normal. Caffeine also acts as a diuretic. Over use of caffeine will make a person need to urinate more, and often, the caffeine drinker will become dehydrated.
The Effects
During pregnancy, everything the mother consumes the delicately developing fetus consumes. If you eat a pound of cheesecake, the baby is eating the same thing. If you drink two pots of coffee, the developing fetus is drinking the same thing. Whatever the mother consumers, the fetus is consuming as well.
Caffeine may seem okay for the mother, but the fetus has a developing central nervous system, and caffeine acts as a direct stimulant. Once the stimulating affect diminished, the mother’s central nervous system yoyos down taking the ever-important growing fetus with her.
Staying hydrated is vitally important to a pregnant woman. The fetus must have proper hydration to grow healthy and strong. Consuming products with caffeine even if it is soda, tea, or coffee does not count as drinking a liquid.
Caffeine also raises the blood pressure, causes headaches, shakiness, rapid heartbeat, and at high enough dosage delirium and convulsions. Needless to say, none of this bodes well for a fetus.
How Much Caffeine Is There
- Baker’s Chocolate / 1-ounce 26 mg
- Dr Pepper / 12-ounce can 37 mg
- Green Tea / 6-ounces 40 mg
- Mountain Dew / 12-ounces 55 mg
- Black Tea / 8-ounces 60 mg
- Excedrin / per pill or capsule 65 mg
- Coffee, Drip / 8-ounces 115-180 mg
- Coffee, Brewed / 8-ounces 80-130 mg
How Much Is Okay?
From what I could find, experts have varying opinions on how much caffeine is acceptable. The usual range was from 150 mg to 300 mg per 24-hour period. However, risking a baby’s health for some instant gratification is extremely dangerous. In my opinion, caffeine abounds in so many of the products we eat and drink naturally there is no need to drink caffeine simply because you stay under a count.
What Are The Options
Instead of drinking Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, or any other caffeinated beverage, consider switching to Mug Root Beer, 7-UP, Sierra Mist, or Slice. There are a lot of beverage choices to replace the caffeinated beverages.
If you are a tea and coffee drinker, you may want to consider a natural tea such as Rooibos Tea. Not only is it caffeine free, but Rooibos tea has the good stuff in it all pregnant women need.
Instead of munching on chocolate, this comes from a serious chocoholic, try purchasing or making your own chocolate-like candies using carob. Yes, carob does taste strikingly like chocolate.
A good rule of thumb for any woman either pregnant or considering becoming pregnant is to always check the label for ingredients. You would be amazed at what has caffeine as an ingredient. When there are healthier choices for you than products with caffeine, choosing to go caffeine-free while pregnant is the first step in being a good mother.
