Caffeine Intake While Pregnant

Americans consume a lot of caffeine. However, excessive amounts of caffeine can be harmful to your baby. If you are pregnant, it is important to only consume small amounts of caffeine, or none at all.

Caffeine is classified as a stimulant drug, meaning that it increases heart rate and blood pressure. Both of these are not good for pregnant women. Although most people are aware of caffeine in coffee, they may not be aware of the other products that contain it. Chocolate, headache medicine, tea, and soda all contain caffeine.

Although your body can generally handle caffeine without issue, your baby cannot metabolize it properly. When you consume the drug it crosses the placenta and acts as stimulant not only to you but to your maturing baby as well. Caffeine may disrupt your baby’s sleep pattern and movement, especially in the last months of pregnancy.

Many animal studies have shown caffeine can result in preterm delivery, birth defects, reduced fertility, and increased risk of low-birth weight. However, there has yet to be any conclusive evidence from human studies. However, human studies have shown an increase in miscarriages in women who consume more than 300 mg of caffeine a day.

Pregnant women can have caffeine but only in moderate amounts. It is best to stay below 150 mg. Green tea (6 oz) contains 40 mg, Dr. Pepper (12 oz) contains 37 mg, and Starbucks House Blend Coffee (16oz) contains 259 mg of caffeine. It is important to be aware of the caffeine content in the beverages you are drinking.

Contact Us

If you suspect you or your baby has been harmed because you have consumed too much caffeine as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the Racine personal injury lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. today at 1-800-242-2874.