While giving up your early morning coffee or your late night latté for the next nine months may sound like cruel and unusual punishment, you may want to consider moderating your caffeine consumption or switching to decaf, given the research concerning the effects of caffeine intake during pregnancy.
Caffeine has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage, reduced birth weight, and smaller head circumference (in women who consumed more than five cups per day). What's more, research has shown that it crosses the placenta, increasing your baby's heart rate.
Caffeine can add to the day-to-day discomforts of pregnancy: it can increase breast tenderness, heighten mood swings, and make it difficult for you to get a good night’s sleep.
Suddenly, that cup of java doesn’t seem quite so appealing after all….
Tip: While you might be tempted to quelch that killer craving for a jolt of java by picking up a pound of decaf coffee from your favorite gourmet coffee establishment, you may want to go light on the decaffeinated beverages. Not only are decaffeinated beverages lacking in the nutrients that can be found in healthier drinks such as milk and juice: decaffeinated drinks can actually deplete your body of iron and calcium—two good reasons to moderate your intake or avoid them entirely during pregnancy.




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