It is common knowledge that alcohol and tobacco are dangerous for the unborn child and should therefore be taboo during pregnancy. That medication should be taken only after consultation with the doctor is also self-evident. But even the seemingly harmless consumption of coffee during pregnancy can have a negative effect on the baby.
What does caffeine do to the placenta?
Caffeine, which is found in coffee but also in black and green tea, cola, energy drinks and, to a lesser extent, cocoa, is a psychoactive substance that has a stimulating effect on the body. Because caffeine increases the heart rate and stimulates the metabolism, coffee makes you alert and increases concentration, but in larger amounts it also causes headaches and sleep problems. While many other harmful substances are filtered out by the placenta, which separates the maternal from the fetal bloodstream, caffeine can pass through the placental barrier unhindered. Therefore, the consumption of coffee during pregnancy affects not only the organism of the expectant mother, but also that of her unborn child. The effect on the baby is even intensified by the fact that the child’s body lacks important enzymes that facilitate the breakdown of caffeine in adults. Caffeine can accumulate in the child’s brain tissue in particular. It takes up to twenty times longer for the unborn child’s body to eliminate the caffeine it has absorbed than it does for an average adult. The body of the pregnant woman herself can also only break down caffeine at a slower rate due to the changes in her metabolism. In addition to the direct effects on the growing child, the intake of caffeine also affects the placenta, as it causes the blood vessels to constrict. This leads to reduced blood flow and indirectly to a lower supply of oxygen and important nutrients to the baby.
Too much coffee affects baby’s weight
The more coffee an expectant mother consumes, the greater the effect of the caffeine it contains on the child’s development. In addition to the reduced nutrient supply, direct growth-inhibiting effects of caffeine also play a role. Even comparatively low coffee consumption can therefore have a causal relationship with a reduced birth weight of the child. Even one cup of coffee per day can cause a 30-gram drop in average birth weight. Body size can also be below average. The less an infant weighs at birth, the greater the health risks not only in the period immediately after birth, but also the more likely long-term consequences that can affect the child’s development. For this reason, international health organizations recommend that pregnant women consume no more than 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine per day. This corresponds to about two to three small cups of coffee. If the daily dose is only occasionally higher, negative effects are unlikely. However, if significantly more coffee is consumed on a sustained basis, the risk of premature birth is added to the reduced birth weight.
Coffee during breastfeeding?
Even during breastfeeding, coffee should be enjoyed only in moderation. Shortly after ingesting caffeine with drinks or food, the substance can be detected in breast milk. About an hour later, the caffeine content is at its highest. Therefore, if a baby is put on to drink during this time, it also absorbs caffeine with the milk. The more caffeine contained in breast milk, the more frequently and severely infants react to it with sleep disturbances, restlessness and nervousness. However, the mother’s metabolism normalizes very quickly after the end of pregnancy, so that the ingested caffeine is soon broken down again at the usual rate before pregnancy. As soon as a baby is breastfed at a greater interval, there is nothing to stop drinking coffee immediately after breastfeeding, as the caffeine it contains has already been broken down in the body by the time the baby is next laid.
Tips for a balanced caffeine consumption
Since small amounts of caffeine are harmless, no pregnant or breastfeeding woman needs to completely avoid drinking coffee. However, the two to three cups allowed should preferably not be drunk all at once, but rather spread out over the course of the day.It is also important to remember that other beverages such as black tea or cola also contain caffeine and must therefore be taken into account in the overall balance. If coffee and cola are drunk primarily for their taste, it is advisable to switch to decaffeinated products. Black tea can be replaced by rooibos tea, which also contains no caffeine. Instant coffee drinks, on the other hand, are not an alternative, as they also contain caffeine and, moreover, are often quite high in calories. If a woman appreciates coffee primarily for its pick-me-up effect and drank a lot of it before pregnancy, she may experience fatigue and headaches during the transition phase. However, this will pass by itself after a few days, after the body has adjusted. In case of particularly severe problems with the changeover, the daily amount of coffee can also be gradually reduced. Instead of coffee, hot lemon, ginger lemonade, freshly squeezed juices or alternating showers can also be used as morning pick-me-ups. Fruit tea can also be delicious and refreshing.
Indulgence without remorse
Drinking coffee is a natural part of everyday life for many. Even during pregnancy and breastfeeding, this habit does not have to be completely abandoned. However, since larger amounts of caffeine can have an unfavorable effect on the development of the unborn child, consumption should be reduced accordingly. Thanks to numerous caffeine-free drinks in a wide variety of flavors, even avid coffee drinkers are sure to find something they can enjoy without hesitation.
