Caffeine, a bad companion during pregnancy for women and babies

A pregnancy It changes a woman's life in many ways, even before the child is born. One test is how the mother's diet changes and what was previously allowed, now is restricted until a new order. The menu adapts to the needs of the situation and food benefits are introduced and other susceptible ones are removed from the year.

Some restrictions are known to everyone. Alcohol or excess sugar is prohibited. In other cases you may not have as much information as it is in the case of caffeine. This drink so present in the lives of adults is a great companion during pregnancy, as indicated by a study by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, published in the British Medical Journal and which warns of the dangers of its consumption in the pregnancy.


Risk of overweight in the baby

To buy how long-term caffeine consumption affected children, researchers followed 51,000 women and their children from 2002 to 2008. Those responsible for this work grouped the mothers into four groups according to the foods they ingested until 22 weeks of pregnancy:

- Low caffeine consumption: from 0 mg to 49 mg.

- Moderate consumption: between 50-199 mg.

- High consumption: 200-299 mg.

- Very high consumption: 300 mg. or more.

Other factors were also taken into account, such as the weight, height Y length. Data that was collected periodically, from six weeks after birth, to eight years.


By pooling the data on caffeine consumption of mothers with the possible overweight of their children, it was found that 11% of children born in a pregnancy with a low consumption of caffeine were overweight. Percentage that increased to 12% in cases of moderate consumption and to 17% in pregnancies with a very high consumption.

Considering the relationship between height and caffeine consumption. At 23% of pregnancies with a low consumption of caffeine, children were high, in situations of high and very high consumption of caffeine the relationship with a higher stature was located in 15%, 30% and up to 66% of children respectively.

In any case, the authors of this study indicate that it is an observational study. While it is true that the results indicate a relationship, new works are needed that deepen in it. In any case, caffeine is one of the products that should be monitored more in pregnancy for the effects they have on it.


Caffeine in pregnancy

From the American Pregnancy Asssociation The following effects of caffeine in pregnancy are highlighted, both for the mother and the baby:

- Stimulating effect. As a stimulant, caffeine increases blood pressure and heart rate.

- Diuretic effect. Caffeine also tends to increase the frequency of urine, causing a decrease in the levels of bodily fluids resulting in possible dehydration.

- Effect on the baby. The adult body of the mother is able to process caffeine intake, but the baby does not have the same capacity because her metabolism is still maturing. Even a small amount can cause changes in the child's sleep pattern or normal pattern of movement in the final stages of pregnancy.

Damián Montero

Video: Getting Pregnant After 35 Tips


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