Caffeine and Pregnancy
In recent years, research has emerged demonstrating that coffee, in moderation—may have a number of previously unrecognized health-promoting properties.
However, it's important to understand that coffee is both a potent drug, and a whole food provided it's organically grown. The drug element of coffee can present problems for pregnant women.
Caffeine can significantly impact the growing fetus as it is able to freely pass through the placenta, and since caffeine does not provide any benefits to your baby, only potential hazards, it is strongly recommend that pregnant women avoid ALL forms of caffeine.
Unfortunately, most people (pregnant or not) use coffee for its energy-boosting properties, which can end up serving as a band-aid for poor nutrition. If you're supplying your body with the nutrients it needs, you simply won't need the extra energy boost.
If this sounds like you, you may want to consider taking a look at your dietary habits. Proper nutrition clearly becomes even more important when pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
Coffee in Pregnancy Tied to Smaller, Later Newborns
In a recent Norwegian study, which included data on nearly 60,000 women, coffee and other caffeinated beverages increased the odds of delivering a low birth weight baby and/or extended the gestation period.
Lead researcher Dr. Verena Sengpiel, an obstetrician/gynecologist believes women are advised to limit their caffeine intake.
Higher caffeine consumption was found to be associated with an increased risk for reduced birth weight. Every 100 mg of caffeine consumed by the mother per day equated to a nearly one ounce reduction in the baby's weight at birth. Every 100 mg of caffeine also increased the length of the pregnancy by five hours.
Interestingly, when the source of the caffeine was coffee, the length of the pregnancy was extended by eight hours. The reason for this difference is unknown. Seeing how your average cup of coffee contains anywhere between 95-200 mg of caffeine, it may be best to err on the side of caution.
We do know that caffeine crosses the placenta and the baby is not able to metabolize it very well, it may affect some of the factors associated with growth.
Caffeine During Pregnancy May Damage Your Baby's Heart
Previous animal research from 2009 found that drinking the equivalent of just two cups of coffee while pregnant could be enough to affect long-term heart function of the offspring. They also found that this minimal exposure could lead to increased levels of body fat in males, when compared to offspring not exposed to caffeine in the womb. Scott Rivkees, Yale's Associate Chair of Pediatric Research and a senior researcher on the study.
"Our studies raise potential concerns about caffeine exposure during very early pregnancy, but further studies are necessary to evaluate caffeine's safety during pregnancy."
"Caffeine is everywhere: in what we drink, in what we eat, in pills that we use to relieve pain, and even in candy... This report shows that despite popular notions of safety, there's one place it probably shouldn't be: in the diet of an expectant mother."
When You're Eating for Two...
There is rarely a more nutritionally demanding time during a woman's life than pregnancy (and later breastfeeding), when your intake of nutrients from foods and supplements are needed not only to keep your body running but also to nourish and support your rapidly growing baby. Proper nutrition is crucial at all stages of fetal development, and if mom doesn't eat right, her growing baby won't either.
If you're a woman in your childbearing years and you're planning to have children any time soon, it's imperative that you start eating healthy now. Research7 published just last year showed that women who ate a vegetable-rich diet during the year before pregnancy had a significantly lower risk of having a baby with certain birth defects as women who ate an unhealthy high-sugar diet.
Crucial Nutrients for Pregnant Women (and Women of Childbearing Age)
Healthy nutrition cannot be limited to a handful of nutrients; it can only be achieved by eating a variety of whole, high-quality foods daily. I cannot stress this enough, as if you seek to make up for a diet of processed foods by taking a multi-vitamin or eating a salad here and there, you are deceiving yourself and missing the point -- and the benefits.
· Fermented Foods and/or Probiotics: Nearly everyone can benefit from optimizing the balance of good vs. bad bacteria in their gut using probiotics, but if you are pregnant or planning to be, this is of utmost importance to you and your new baby. One of the best ways to do this is to avoid sugar and processed foods and to include fermented foods in your diet. A high-quality probiotic supplement is an option, especially if you don't eat many fermented foods.
· Vitamin D: Your main source of it should be from the sun, not from food. Supplementation may be necessary in winter months.
· Vitamin B12: B12 is critical for normal neurological development and maintenance, and shortages can result in permanent birth defects.
· Folate in the form of Metafolate: Another B complex vitamin (vitamin B9), folic acid deficiency at the time of conception is known to increase the risk for birth defects such as spina bifida.
Dr. Stephen Kelly is located at Family First Chiropractic. www.family1stchiro.ca 403-347-3261. 142 Erickson Dr. Red Deer
