Why shouldn't pregnant women drink coffee? Why is coffee bad for pregnant women?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. He won mass recognition several centuries ago and from the moment he met a man, he only expanded the circle of his admirers. The scale of its production also grew. As long as this fragrant drink exists, there are so many disputes regarding its benefits and harms. It is known that it has many medical contraindications, so it is not surprising that pregnant women should also refuse it.

Coffee is bad - is it a myth?

Why pregnant women should not drink coffee and is it really so? Some consider this statement a prejudice from the area of \u200b\u200b"why it is impossible for women in position to cut their hair and knit with knitting needles." Although you should not confuse folklore and really real facts, which have been studied for years by the great minds of science and the luminaries of medicine. Of course, nothing bad will happen to either mother or child from one cup of coffee. In addition, there are many skeptics who unanimouslyclaim that they personally drank coffee throughout their pregnancy (or know such cases) and carried absolutely he althy children.

But after all, alcoholics and drug addicts also do not always give birth to handicapped children. If there is at least a grain of doubt, even when you do not know exactly why pregnant women should not drink coffee, it is prudent to play it safe. It is better to endure without your favorite drink for only 9 months, then to enjoy your happy motherhood all your life.

How does caffeine affect the fetus?

The main reason why pregnant women should not drink coffee is, of course, its harm to the he alth of the unborn child. Therefore, risking only for the sake of one's own whim is at least selfish. Some argue that coffee is harmful only in the first trimester of pregnancy, others are of the opinion that the greatest danger awaits in the last. But all experts, without exception, adhere to the same point of view on whether coffee is harmful to pregnant women.

Caffeine is sometimes compared in its effect to amphetamine. It also causes a specific dependence and instantly enters the blood, brain and all organs of a person. And if a woman is pregnant, the fetus receives the same nutrition. Drinking coffee is not worth it either during the period of bearing a child or during breastfeeding. It is a mistake to believe that decaffeinated coffee is safe for pregnant women. This name is only conditional, since caffeine is still present in the drink, just in a smaller amount. A woman must understand that almost everything that enters her body penetratesand into the baby through the placenta. Caffeine narrows the placental vessels, which is why the baby experiences oxygen starvation and lacks the nutrients that he needs for full growth and development all the time.

Nervous system and skeleton

Caffeine excites the nervous system, and this negatively affects the development of the fetus. By itself, this condition can disrupt the sleep of any person. And for a pregnant woman, this can result in insomnia, fatigue, and frequent mood swings. But there are more serious explanations of why coffee is harmful to pregnant women. Even a slight excess of the normal dose of coffee affects the nerve cells and the overall functioning of the mother's body. And her innocent love for the ancient drink affects the nervous system and the skeleton of the child.

According to research and medical observations, coffee promotes the removal of calcium from the body. If this may not particularly affect the well-being of a he althy person, then a child in the mother's womb, whose skeleton is at the stage of formation, is detrimentally affected by calcium and mineral deficiency. All these elements the fetus receives from the mother. Even if she eats well, large doses of caffeine will prevent the normal absorption of trace elements and vitamins from food.

Blow to the body

Why can't pregnant women drink coffee? Regardless of whether it is natural or soluble, for women in position, this drink is even fraught with work disorders.internal organs. So, due to excessive consumption of coffee, the work of the kidneys and the frequency of urination are significantly accelerated. The kidneys already endure a lot of stress during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester. Because of this, swelling often occurs, there is an increase in pressure and a number of related problems. A woman should strive to minimize this process, and not aggravate it. Both the general well-being and the ease of transferring the entire period of pregnancy depend on this. And if she has previously had kidney problems, it is better to give up coffee altogether (and not only during the period of bearing a child).

For pregnant women, constant monitoring of blood pressure is very important. Fragrant drink not only increases it, but also causes heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Along with this, the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach increases, which affects its mucous membrane. Heartburn during pregnancy is an almost banal phenomenon that plagues women around the clock. Coffee is one of the causes of this disease.

Conception and gestation

Specialists working with the problems of conception and the inability of women to bear a pregnancy have come to the conclusion that coffee plays an important role in this matter. Their observations showed that coffee drinkers have a harder time getting pregnant than women who prefer other drinks. Therefore, even at the planning stage of motherhood, it is recommended to give up coffee. Or at least significantly reduce the number of cups you drink a day.

Why pregnant women shouldn't drinkcoffee? It is possible that, leaving this seemingly harmless habit with her, a woman will lose a child at an early stage, because miscarriages often occur due to the increased tone of the uterus. Those who drink three (or more) cups of coffee daily are 60 percent more likely to have preterm birth than women who don't.

The main thing is a sense of proportion

Dealing with why coffee is harmful to pregnant women, it would be unfair to ignore the question of what dose is considered abuse. Of course, in moderation, the harm from this drink is not so serious and is fraught with consequences for the woman herself and for her unborn baby. So how much coffee can you drink while pregnant? Even 2 cups a day is already a lot! For those who are so attached to him that even fear for their own child does not become a motive for complete rejection, it is permissible to pamper yourself sometimes, but not more than once a week. However, it is still recommended to avoid large portions and high strength of the drink.

Can pregnant women have instant coffee? It is known that instant analogues cannot be compared with real brewed bean coffee. But many choose them, believing that such a drink is less strong, has less caffeine in its composition, and therefore is not so harmful. In fact, everything is not so. Being in position, women should give preference to natural products, without any impurities and additives. This also applies to coffee. If it will be present in your life at least once a week, make sure that it is a really high-quality variety.

Fightingcaffeine addiction

It is unlikely that even the most desperate coffee fans will not agree that a beloved child is still more expensive than a favorite drink. But it's easy to say, but it's not always easy to do. People who are used to starting the morning with a cup of espresso, having lunch with it, having dinner and falling asleep, will not be able to endure several days to get another fragrant boost of vigor. Especially if your favorite drink is very close, at arm's length, how to resist the temptation?

In such cases, a cup a week is not an option, but rather an torment and additional daily stress due to such a severe restriction. It's hard to stick to the rules. Doctors advise getting rid of addiction and temptation in one fell swoop by eliminating coffee from your diet altogether. Just forbid it to yourself, like alcohol or spicy food. As practice shows, deliverance through complete rejection is much easier than gradual weaning. To somehow smooth out this period, it is necessary to replace the drink with another drink, for example, instead of a cup of coffee - a glass of water without gas.

Coffee and more

In addition to coffee, it is recommended to give up black tea during pregnancy, it also contains caffeine. Of course, not completely, but it is better to brew weak tea or add milk to it. Cocoa, unfortunately, is also partially banned for pregnant women. This sweet drink is allergenic, like chocolate, and also not very favorable.affects the absorption of calcium. This list also includes green tea, which, even with a low percentage of caffeine, is fraught with considerable danger. It is known that excessive love for him leads to a loss of calcium, joint pain, even in absolutely he althy people. And pregnant women already give a lot of resources of their own body to a growing baby. Of course, if you choose from three evils, then green tea is the least. It contains a lot of vitamins and useful trace elements, so you can drink it, the main thing is not to forget about the sense of proportion.

What can I drink?

Of course, from hot drinks, fruit tea is more preferable, but not in bags, but from real dried fruits. It is better to replace carbonated sweet drinks with still water and fresh juices from vegetables and fruits. Homemade compotes, fruit drinks, kefir and milk are not forbidden, and even recommended. Based on this, the answer to the question of why pregnant women should not drink coffee becomes obvious. After all, not only coffee, but everything that brings less benefit than harm, is undesirable to use throughout the entire period of bearing a child. Adherents of a he althy lifestyle can easily do without coffee, soda, unnatural food and drink every day. Perhaps you will join their ranks along with the whole family. And you will continue to take care of your he alth even after giving birth.