Many women are accustomed to drinking strong aromatic coffee in the morning. It invigorates, improves tone and lifts your mood. Scientists have not yet reached a unanimous opinion about the dangers or benefits of coffee. A Can pregnant women drink this drink? How does caffeine affect the baby's body?
This question worries all lovers of an invigorating drink. Some experts say that during pregnancy it is enough to reduce the amount of coffee consumed to 1-2 cups per day, in the morning. Others call for giving up coffee completely.
Can pregnant women drink coffee?
Caffeine doesn't just invigorate and give you strength. It excites the nervous system, which can cause insomnia and disruption of internal organs. Coffee has a strong diuretic effect, increases the acidity of the stomach, and irritates the intestinal mucosa. In addition, drinking coffee increases blood pressure and can cause increased breathing and arrhythmia.
Is coffee harmful during pregnancy? Many have heard that coffee flushes calcium, sodium, phosphorus, and iron from the body and other useful microelements. The worst thing is that drinking this drink prevents them from being fully absorbed. And this has a bad effect on the health of the pregnant woman and the development of the child.
It is very important to remember that coffee, better than any other liquid, penetrates the placental barrier to the baby. The action of caffeine, in this case, leads to a narrowing of the blood vessels of the placenta. This is fraught with oxygen starvation, fetal hypoxia.
Abuse of this drink leads to the birth of an underweight child, rickets, neurological diseases, and heart disease.
Scientists have proven that coffee, when consumed regularly, has a strong contraceptive effect. According to studies, many women who drank more than three cups of drink a day experienced difficulty conceiving. Therefore, planning for conception should begin with a complete refusal of this invigorating drink. If a woman is already pregnant, then excessive caffeine can cause cause uterine tone and premature birth or miscarriage. Strong coffee is most dangerous for women over 35 years of age. It promotes the accumulation of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels. You can drink coffee in small quantities, but not everyone. Doctors recommend using it for low blood pressure and swelling.
All lovers of the aromatic drink are concerned with the question: how much coffee can you drink per day. When determining daily value, experts take into account the amount of caffeine taken. Some scientists believe that caffeine at a dose of 300 mg per day is harmless. European doctors say that daily norm is 200 mg. Therefore, boiled coffee can be consumed, but no more than 2 coffee cups in a day.
In our other material you will find the answer to the question: can mothers drink?
Coffee during pregnancy at different stages
What are the dangers of drinking coffee at different stages of pregnancy?
Pregnant women in the early stages (1st trimester)
Many women are confident that at the beginning of pregnancy the harmful effects of coffee on the body will be minimal. But it is not so. Even with moderate consumption, caffeine can increase salivation and urination, leading to increased heart rate and dizziness. The first trimester is often accompanied by toxicosis, the constant “companion” of which is nausea and drooling. In this case, you should not drink coffee, even in small quantities. But if you feel well, you can easily afford a couple of sips of weak coffee with milk in the morning (or tea with milk). we have already written about how beneficial milk tea is for breastfeeding and pregnancy.
2nd trimester
The middle of pregnancy (second trimester) is considered the most “calm” period. But do not forget that it is at this time that the growth of the baby’s skeletal bones is activated, and the need for calcium increases sharply. Drinking any drinks containing caffeine is not recommended.
3rd trimester
Drinking coffee most dangerous in late pregnancy. Not even a large number of caffeine can cause enormous harm to a child’s nervous system. The third trimester is a very important period. To avoid such negative consequences for the child as hypoxia, premature birth or neurological diseases, it would be wiser to give up coffee.
Instant coffee and coffee with milk
In moderate doses, natural coffee can be drunk during pregnancy. And it is better to abstain from instant coffee. The benefit of its use is zero, and it can cause significant harm. The content of coffee beans in this drink is only 15%. Everything else is all kinds of chemical compounds. All this applies, naturally, to low-quality instant coffee, which is the majority in Russia. There is not much coffee that is truly worthwhile, and it costs a lot of money. We have already talked about the benefits and harms of instant coffee.
Some women are concerned about the question: can pregnant women drink 3 in 1 coffee. The answer is clear: no. There can be nothing natural in such a drink. Its use can cause heartburn, provoke gastritis and ulcers even in an absolutely healthy person.
The best option during pregnancy would be a small cup of natural coffee with milk, drunk in the morning, after breakfast. This drink will help maintain normal calcium levels in the body.
Decaffeinated coffee - why not?
Many people believe that decaffeinated coffee is safe for pregnant women. Firstly, even this drink contains a certain percentage of caffeine, and secondly, it contains a lot of chemical components that are harmful to the health of the baby and mother. Drinking it is not just harmful, but very dangerous, because it may cause the development of allergies in a child.
How to replace coffee
In his book, the well-known doctor Komarovsky recommends refraining from drinking coffee not only during pregnancy, but also after. It is better to replace it with healthier drinks.
Alternatively, you can try natural chicory or cocoa. Chicory (real, not instant) helps with kidney and liver function, cleanses the blood, soothes, and increases hemoglobin. Chicory with milk is very healthy, and you can drink it instead of coffee. Ours will tell you in more detail about the effect of chicory during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Cocoa is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Although it contains caffeine, it is in very small doses. A morning cup of cocoa can lift your spirits and give you energy. Still, find out if pregnant women can drink cocoa.
Various types of coffee can be an excellent substitute herbal teas: with mint, lingonberry, raspberry and cherry leaves, rose hips. Do not overuse black or green tea, because the caffeine content in them is almost the same as in ground coffee. Is it useful? green tea during pregnancy we discussed.
Contraindications
- severe toxicosis;
- headache;
- convulsions;
- high blood pressure;
- gastritis or stomach ulcer with high acidity.
If there are no such problems, then a few sips of weakly brewed coffee with cream will not cause much harm to your health.
Not everyone has a coffee machine at home, but everyone wants to make the most delicious cappuccino. Here we will tell you how to make cappuccino at home without a coffee machine:
Ivan tea is an extremely useful plant, especially for pregnant women. But can everyone unconditionally drink Ivan tea during pregnancy? You will find the answer in ours.
To minimize calcium loss, coffee Be sure to drink it with milk or cream. It is important that the diet contains as much as possible more dairy products, vegetables, fish, lean meats, fruits and nuts.
It is advisable to drink coffee in the morning, and only after meals. Be sure to drink as much as possible clean water.
Many women simply cannot imagine their life without coffee doping. For coffee lovers, a morning without coffee is “not good,” and a day without an aromatic cup of Espresso will be a waste. But with the appearance of a baby in the tummy, mothers begin to think about the effect of this alluring drink on the baby.
Is drinking coffee harmful during pregnancy?
Coffee beans contain many chemical components, the main one being caffeine. With prolonged consumption of coffee in large quantities, a person develops an addiction similar to alcohol. Therefore, if a woman drank coffee before pregnancy, then when the coveted two lines appear on the test, she should not suddenly stop drinking her favorite drink. This must be done gradually, reducing the amount of coffee you drink per day. The optimal dose is no more than one cup of weak coffee per day, preferably diluted with milk.
Although it is believed that drinking coffee in small quantities during pregnancy cannot harm the unborn child, it is still recommended to completely abandon this drink while pregnant. After all, caffeine can penetrate the placenta, causing an increase in the fetal heart rate, and it can also reduce blood flow to the placenta, which increases the risk of developing anemia and fetal hypoxia.
Coffee has a strong diuretic effect on the pregnant woman herself, so it is necessary to replenish fluid loss by drinking at least 1.5 liters of pure water without gas per day. Besides constant use coffee provokes the occurrence of urolithiasis, and also contributes to the leaching of beneficial microelements and vitamins from a woman’s body. Coffee also causes heartburn and abdominal discomfort for many.
But how can you refuse aromatic coffee? It invigorates, increases attention and productivity, improves mood. Caffeine is effective for some types of headaches and enhances the effect of some painkillers.
But despite this, drinking coffee in large quantities (6-7 cups per day or more) in the early stages increases the risk of miscarriages, and in the later stages - premature birth, as well as the birth of children with low body weight. Therefore, drinking coffee during pregnancy more than one cup a day and more than 3 times a week is not recommended.
In addition to all that has been said, coffee should be naturally ground and freshly brewed, and it is better to dilute it with milk or cream.
Chicory instead of coffee during pregnancy: what are the benefits and what are the contraindications?
Chicory cannot be called a complete substitute for coffee, although these two drinks are similar in taste and color. But during pregnancy, it is preferable to drink a chicory drink than strong coffee in the morning.
Chicory is rich in B vitamins (B1, B2, B3), vitamin C, pectin, carotene, microelements (potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron and others), as well as inulin, proteins, organic acids and tannins. It does not contain caffeine, which means that chicory drink can be drunk by people with high blood pressure and arrhythmia.
It promotes:
- improving metabolism and cleansing the body of toxins and other harmful substances, thereby helping the liver;
- normalizing the functioning of the intestines and stomach, reducing constipation and relieving heartburn and nausea, which is especially important during pregnancy;
- reduces the load on the heart (which is important during pregnancy, because with the appearance of a belly, the volume of blood in a woman’s body increases and the load on the heart increases);
- strengthening the walls of blood vessels, purifying the blood and increasing hemoglobin, which is important for anemia in pregnant women.
Chicory is also useful for congestive diseases of the kidneys and gall bladder, because it has a diuretic and choleretic effect.
For colds, a drink made from soluble chicory relieves heat and inflammation, suppresses the development of bacteria and increases the patient's immunity. But if you have a bronchial cough (including asthma), drinking chicory is not recommended, as it can worsen the cough.
During pregnancy, chicory is an effective tonic. Chicory also acts as a mild sedative, calming the nervous system after experiences, thereby improving mood.
Pregnant women with diabetes can drink chicory without fear, because it reduces blood sugar levels. In addition, chicory root has a sweetish taste, so there is no need to sweeten the drink with a sweetener, which is also good when fighting excess weight.
During pregnancy, you should not abuse chicory drink unless directed by a doctor. It is recommended to drink this drink no more than 2 times a day. You can add milk to it, so the drink will be even healthier and tastier. In addition, people with lactose intolerance do not experience discomfort after taking chicory with milk. This is due to the fact that chicory prevents milk from curdling in the stomach.
Taking a drink from chicory root is contraindicated for pregnant women with varicose veins, as well as for hemorrhoids. This is due to the vasodilating effect of chicory.
If there is a threat of miscarriage, bleeding, pain in the lower abdomen, shortening of the cervix, placenta previa, it is not recommended to drink chicory, as it can aggravate the situation. But if the pregnancy is progressing normally, then periodically taking a chicory drink will not harm.
Pregnant women who are allergic to the herb, as well as the vitamin C it contains, should also be wary of chicory.
For gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers, chicory is also not recommended, because it causes an increase in appetite due to the secretion of gastric juice, which irritates the damaged mucous membrane of the patient’s gastrointestinal tract.
Pregnant coffee drinkers with gastritis who cannot resist a cup of this drink are still better off giving preference to chicory, but “soften” it with milk (can be condensed) or a scoop of ice cream and not drink it on an empty stomach.
In addition to all that has been said, chicory improves appetite, and excess weight during pregnancy is not welcome, so watch your diet and do not overeat.
Look for brands that say "100% natural chicory extract." Please note that the presence of artificial sweeteners and colors, as well as industrial fortification with vitamins, is NOT welcome.
A good product is, for example, Instant chicory with blueberries TM “Golden Root” (Russia) or TM “Galka” (Ukraine). You can also buy “pure” chicory (without added fruits and berries), but if you don’t like bitterness, then it’s still better to buy chicory with natural additives, which makes the taste softer.
A tasty and aromatic drink is also obtained from soluble chicory with extracts of green tea and chamomile TM “Elite Health Line” (Russia).
Tasty, aromatic, invigorating, this drink is familiar to the whole world. For most of us, drinking a cup of coffee a day is the key to productivity and excellent work. But what to do if an interesting situation obliges you to give it up? Substitute or add other drinks to minimize negative impact? Let's figure it out together, especially since doctors are not as categorical about whether pregnant women can have coffee with milk or not, as we think.
Perhaps only the lazy don’t argue about the beneficial and harmful properties of coffee during pregnancy. But, despite all the negative consequences of drinking an invigorating drink, doctors are not going to completely ban it in an interesting situation. Do you know why? It turns out that it is shown by:
- who has low blood pressure;
- who has swelling;
- who has difficulty waking up in the morning;
- who are so accustomed to it that they cannot deny themselves.
And if you add milk to it, then so does everyone else. It is reliably known that caffeine leaches calcium from bones. But it is vital for the growth of the child’s skeleton. Ideally, this microelement should enter the mother’s body with food, so she is recommended to include dairy products, cottage cheese, cheeses, nuts, vegetables, and fish in her diet at the planning stage.
And to be honest, until the age of 25 - 29, doctors generally recommend that women of excellent quality adhere to a dairy diet. Simply because calcium accumulates intensively only up to the age of 30, and then it is mainly consumed at the rate of 1% per year. Hence, by the way, early osteoporosis, dental problems, frequent fractures, bone pain, poor metabolism, low immunity and even early wrinkles. According to statistics, the likelihood of their occurrence in the mother and problems with the skeletal system in the child only increases over the years.
Everything is explained by poor nutrition and debilitating diets among girls already in adolescence. As a result, when the fetus appears, it takes away from them those existing grains of calcium that have managed to be deposited, and leaves them with nothing. To prevent this from happening, you just need to pamper yourself with a cup of coffee with milk. Another acceptable option is coffee with cream, which will also compensate for calcium losses.
When and how much can you drink?
When asked how much coffee you can drink per day, experts answer that a woman with a belly can afford this drink once. It is worth abandoning it as soon as the first signs of toxicosis appear, especially when aggravated by convulsions, headaches and severe vomiting. Otherwise, the condition may worsen.
For low blood pressure, two cups of coffee with milk are acceptable, but it is better to drink them in the morning in the early stages of pregnancy or before lunch in the late stages. It is not recommended to drink at night, because frequent trips to the toilet, headaches due to high blood pressure and insomnia are of no use to you now.
Women who have crossed the age of 35–40 should especially moderate their ardor with this drink: by this age they often experience increased level cholesterol. But it is additionally affected by coffeestol, a substance found in coffee. True, in order to feel all the unpleasant consequences of its effects, you should consume more than 4 cups per day. 
If a future woman in labor has gastritis with high acidity, peptic ulcer disease or other ailments of the gastrointestinal tract, she is strictly forbidden to indulge in a coffee drink. Otherwise, the acidity will increase further, especially after drinking a cup on an empty stomach, and complications will not be long in coming.
Which to choose
The main requirement regarding coffee for a woman in her new position is the quality of the product and the correctness of its preparation. This means that you need to make a weak, weak drink using purified (filtered) water and dilute it with a few tablespoons of milk.
However, preference should still be given to natural coffee. The amount of harmful substances in it is reduced to zero. Its only drawback, according to consumers themselves, is the need for long brewing, but this is fully compensated by the taste and properties of the product: it invigorates, increases blood pressure if necessary.
Of course, it’s easier and faster to cook instant coffee, but is it worth it? It contains up to 15% coffee beans. Everything else is compounds with which it is enriched during processing into a quickly soluble form. The true effect of these substances on the child’s body has not yet been established, but it’s still not worth the risk. Especially when there are worthy substitutes.
Decaffeinated coffee is another product promoted by marketers, which is also subject to chemical treatment during the production process. The most interesting thing is that caffeine remains in it, albeit in small quantities, but due to the procedures carried out by the manufacturer, it takes unusual shape, which can subsequently cause the development of an allergic reaction in the fetus and atherosclerotic plaques in the expectant mother. 
Scientists are still working to study the true effect of such a drink on the body, but they still do not advise women with a tummy to include it in their diet. The same applies to 3 in 1 coffee - compact bags and sticks that allow you to enjoy the product within a few seconds after preparation. It contains a lot of artificial additives, of synthetic origin, and natural milk or cream is replaced with unnatural ones.
Do pregnant women drink green coffee? Judging by the posts on the forums of expectant mothers, no, and they are doing the right thing. This product differs from the usual one in the processing process: the grains are not fried during its preparation. Whether this is useful or harmful, time will tell. On this moment Research in this area is just underway. Therefore, it’s not worth experimenting with your health yet.
Why is it dangerous?
A sweet or tart drink with or without bitterness is of great interest to scientists all over the planet. It tones and adds strength, but at the same time sometimes provokes the development of dangerous diseases. To fully understand its positive and negative sides, coffee is constantly being researched and... more and more of its properties are being discovered all the time.
Do pregnant women benefit from this? Unfortunately, no, and here's why. Even a cup of coffee, drunk once a day, can cause great harm to them, because it:
It is difficult to say whether coffee is harmful only during a certain period or always. In the first weeks after conception, it is better to avoid it altogether in order to protect yourself from abortion. After 20 weeks, the danger passes, but you should still not abuse the drink at this time. In the third trimester, coffee is also harmful: it can cause constriction of placental vessels and, as a result, provoke fetal hypoxia (oxygen starvation).
There are research results confirming that caffeine in later stages also affects the baby’s nervous system: he becomes easily excitable and remains so even after birth. Sweet coffee increases the risk of developing diabetes mellitus in future babies.
Is it possible to replace and how?
“I love coffee!”, “I’m so used to it that I can’t give it up,” “How to get rid of a bad habit?” — from time to time such messages slip through the Internet. Answering them, the doctors themselves give specific practical advice:
- Give up coffee in favor of cocoa. By the way, you can safely drink it in the early mornings due to its low caffeine content. They say the effect will be the same. Another possible substitute is chicory, but you should consult your doctor before using it.
- Come up with a useful and interesting activity for yourself, and then “immerse yourself” in it literally every time you want coffee. Moreover, the latter often helps many of us pass the time.
- Maintain blood sugar levels: eat protein- and carbohydrate-rich foods in small portions, take prenatal vitamins. Shown and White chocolate(black also has caffeine). By the way, this substance is also contained in tea, especially green tea, so when asked how much it can be consumed during pregnancy, doctors give the same numbers - 1 - 2 cups.
Coffee is a tasty and healthy drink if you drink it in moderation. Therefore, indulge yourself with it if you cannot refuse it. But most importantly, choose and prepare correctly.
Coffee is an aromatic drink, without which some people cannot imagine their morning. It makes it easier to wake up, and the drink also promotes the production of serotonin, which helps lift your mood. Not only men, but also women love coffee. However, there comes a time in the life of the fair sex when the diet changes. After all, while expecting a child, she is responsible for the health of the fetus and her own. Can pregnant women drink coffee?
How does caffeine affect humans?
The basis of coffee is caffeine. It is included in both natural and instant drinks. Even in decaffeinated coffee it is present in small quantities. Once in the stomach, it quickly spreads throughout the body and easily penetrates into the brain cells. Even a small concentration of caffeine in the blood is enough to have an effect on the nervous system.
What effects are observed in the human body:
- Due to the effect of caffeine on blood vessels, blood pressure increases.
- The pulse quickens, which can lead to tachycardia and disruption of the heart rhythm.
- The respiratory center of the brain is activated. This promotes increased breathing.
- Has a diuretic effect.
- Thanks to caffeine, performance increases and drowsiness disappears. The duration of this effect depends on individual sensitivity to caffeine.
Can pregnant women drink coffee? Having similar properties, the drink can negatively affect a woman’s body. Therefore, the effect of the drink should be considered taking into account the characteristics of her condition.
The effect of coffee on a woman's body
The drink has been known since ancient times for its special properties. First of all, it has a tonic effect. For many people, it allows them to cheer up and finally wake up in the morning thanks to the serotonin it contains. Experts are confident that if a woman consumed the drink in large doses before conception, she should not give it up completely; it is best to reduce the number of cups per day.
The drink increases blood pressure, which can be harmful to patients who suffer from hypertension. And its high levels lead to the development of such a dangerous disease as gestosis in a pregnant woman. Therefore, if such a problem occurs, you should give up coffee. For hypotensive people, this property of the drink is not dangerous, but they also experience pressure surges, which negatively affects the heart and blood vessels.
Drinking during pregnancy can cause nervous overstimulation. This condition usually disrupts sleep.
Another negative effect of coffee is its diuretic effect. At the same time, the growing uterus is already putting pressure on the bladder. The drink increases the number of urinations in a pregnant woman, which causes an imbalance in the water-salt balance.
Can pregnant women have coffee in the morning? It increases stomach acidity. In general, drinking it on an empty stomach is not recommended; you should have breakfast first. When drinking the drink, digestive processes may be disrupted and gastric ulcers may appear. In pregnant women, drinking a cup of coffee causes heartburn and increased toxicosis.
Harm of coffee to the fetus
The drink has Negative influence not only on the body of a pregnant woman, but also on her child. After all, the fetus receives all its nutrition from its mother. When caffeine enters a woman’s body, it instantly spreads through the blood and her internal organs, including the placenta. This substance can cause constriction of placental vessels, therefore unborn child will lack oxygen and nutrients.
Can pregnant women drink coffee? The amount of drink is strictly limited, and its abuse can cause developmental delays in the child.
Recent studies have confirmed that drinking large quantities of coffee causes weight loss of 100-200 g. This is due to a lack of intrauterine nutrition caused by the effect of caffeine on the placenta.
The drink has a negative effect on the nervous system of not only the mother, but also the unborn child.
The dangers of coffee in the 1st trimester
Special attention Experts pay attention to taking the drink at the beginning of pregnancy. At this time, the formation of fetal systems and organs occurs. Caffeine can increase the contraction of the heart muscle, which can lead not only to a delay in the development of the unborn child, but also to its death.
Why shouldn't pregnant women drink coffee? A seemingly harmless drink can increase the tone of the uterus, which increases the likelihood of miscarriage by 60%. Even with a favorable outcome of pregnancy, coffee has the following harm:
- insufficient amount of calcium during the formation of the child’s skeletal system;
- possible development of diabetes mellitus;
- tendency to develop nervous excitement;
- violation heart rate in the fetus;
- lack of nutrients.
Modern research has found that drinking coffee is harmful during the period of preparation for conception. According to statistics, among women who cannot get pregnant for a long time, there are a large number of lovers of this aromatic drink.
Despite all the negative effects of coffee on the body, there is no clear point of view among doctors. After all, the harm of a drink largely depends on the quantity and quality of the drink.
Dose of coffee in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy
Scientists are constantly conducting research on this issue. Therefore, they prove that in moderate quantities (2-3 cups), natural coffee will not harm the body of a woman and an unborn child. This does not apply to the first months of pregnancy. Experts have come to the conclusion that you can drink no more than 150-200 ml of the drink per day.
Can pregnant women drink coffee with milk? It is best to resolve this issue with a gynecologist who is observing the woman during this period of time. This largely depends on the characteristics of the body and the condition expectant mother. In case of severe hypertension, coffee is strictly prohibited, because the pressure can rise to critical values.
If you have problems associated with a lack of calcium in the body (headache, dizziness), drinking coffee is not recommended. After all, it flushes it out of the body, and reserves of the mineral are necessary for both the mother and her unborn baby. The drink can negatively affect the stomach and increase its acidity. But even with a woman’s absolute health, she must strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations.
How much coffee per day is acceptable?
How much coffee can pregnant women drink? It can be consumed in the following quantities:
- The ideal amount is 1-2 cups (150 ml) of natural coffee per day.
- It is best to add milk or cream to the drink. This will mitigate the loss of calcium from the body.
- After drinking coffee, you should drink a glass of water to avoid dehydration.
How much natural coffee can pregnant women drink? It depends on many factors.
The amount of caffeine varies greatly depending on the type of coffee and its preparation process. Therefore, you won’t be able to definitely limit yourself to 2 cups.
Black coffee contains more caffeine, which also depends on its type. Arabica contains 45-60 mg of the substance, and Robusta contains 170-200 mg.
Instant coffee? Women are not recommended to drink it at all. The amount of caffeine in it is 60-80 mg, but the acidity and concentration are exceeded, which negatively affects the woman’s digestive organs. Among other things, low-quality beans are used to prepare instant coffee, and the manufacturer adds synthetic flavors to enhance the taste.
Green coffee can be an excellent alternative. Due to the lack of processing, many useful substances are retained in it. When preparing coffee beans, you can independently adjust the degree of roasting and the appropriate amount of caffeine.
To figure out the permissible amount of invigorating drinks, you need to limit yourself to the following:
- 94 ml espresso;
- liter of black tea;
- 200 ml cappuccino;
- 2 servings of Americano.
A pregnant woman must take into account the amount of coffee different varieties per day and try not to exceed them so as not to harm the body.
Can pregnant women drink coffee with milk?
To reduce the strength of the drink, various additives should be added to it. You can drink coffee with milk. These components go well together. After all, milk is a source of calcium, which the body of a woman and child needs. Coffee helps digest lactose. Therefore, this drink is allowed to be consumed in reasonable quantities during pregnancy.
Decaffeinated coffee
Some women try to drink a caffeine-free drink during pregnancy. However, this is a marketing ploy. This drink also contains caffeine in the amount of 9-12 mg.
Why shouldn't pregnant women drink coffee? On the one hand, a caffeine-free drink is preferable for women expecting a child, but chemical compounds are used to extract this substance from it. And they can negatively affect a woman’s health.
What drink should a pregnant woman drink?
The desire to drink coffee is not accidental. Indeed, in this case, the woman’s body lacks iron, phosphorus or sulfur.
Can pregnant women drink coffee? To replace a coffee drink, you can use alternatives:
- Chicory. A drink that most closely resembles coffee in color and smell. It is not harmful, and even beneficial for a woman during pregnancy. It increases hemoglobin levels, cleanses blood vessels and the liver, and also calms the nervous system.
- Herbal teas that can be combined with honey and lemon. Lingonberries, mint, raspberry flowers and rose hips are suitable for its preparation.
- Cocoa. The drink contains minimal amounts of caffeine. It perfectly restores strength, improves mood and has a positive effect on the digestive system.
Is coffee harmful for pregnant women? Of course, it can have a negative effect on a woman’s body if the dosage of the drink is not followed.
The basic rules for drinking the drink include:
- A woman should limit the amount of coffee as much as possible during pregnancy, which proceeds without complications.
- Use only high-quality drink with minimum quantity caffeine
- You should only drink coffee in the first half of the day and avoid drinking it at night.
- Monitor blood pressure and pulse rate.
Only in this case, coffee will not harm the woman’s body and her child.
Finally
Coffee is an aromatic drink that has excellent taste properties. If used incorrectly, it can cause harm to a pregnant woman and her baby. Therefore, you should drink coffee in limited quantities and with the permission of a specialist.
Pregnancy is a very difficult process. This is a real natural mystery, the period of birth and development of a new little life. Nature itself has thought out everything down to the smallest detail. Therefore, the woman’s task is to do no harm and allow the great miracle of birth to happen. Should you give up coffee if you are used to drinking it every morning? Will this invigorating drink bring benefit or harm? Let's try to figure it out.
How does coffee affect pregnancy?
Caffeine affects the central nervous system. Due to excessive excitability, problems with normal sleep may occur, and frequent mood swings are possible.
Drinking coffee speeds up kidney function, which causes increased urine output. This can also result in dehydration. In addition, drinking coffee increases gastric secretion of hydrochloric acid and secretion of the salivary glands, irritates the gastrointestinal mucosa, increases heart rate and increases blood pressure. Coffee depletes the body. Removes calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and potassium from it. Moreover, the drink not only removes them, but interferes with their absorption.
A woman carrying a child does not need such influence. In addition, experts have proven the ability of caffeine not in the best possible way influence reproduction. Drinking the aromatic drink in increased quantities causes difficulties in conceiving.
If a woman drinks more than 3 cups of coffee in one day, then the drink acts as a real contraceptive. Therefore, couples planning a pregnancy are advised to avoid drinking strong coffee. If a woman is already pregnant, then she should know that regular consumption of this drink provokes uterine tone, which increases the risk of miscarriage.
The main benefits of caffeine
- increases physical activity, relieves fatigue and stimulates performance;
- has a stimulating effect on cardiac activity, increases heart rate and vascular tone;
- helps reduce blood viscosity, which prevents excessive platelet clumping;
- has a diuretic effect and reduces the risk of constipation.
What do experts think about drinking coffee during pregnancy?
Many experts believe that drinking coffee during pregnancy does not cause any harm to the mother and her child. But giving up your usual drink can cause serious stress with dire consequences. Therefore, in this case, the main advice is to observe moderation and not drink coffee in huge doses. You can drink 1-2 cups of a not very strong drink per day. Doctors also recommend drinking coffee not from large mugs, but from coffee cups.
The above information was fully confirmed by clinical trials conducted by Danish scientists. During the experiment, it turned out that caffeine in moderation will not harm a small organism. He is unable to provide significant influence to reduce fetal weight and cannot cause premature birth.
If a young mother does not have any special health problems, then a small amount of coffee will not harm her. Moreover, a number of experts recommend this drink to those who suffer from edema during pregnancy. Coffee, as we have already indicated, has a pronounced diuretic effect, and therefore can serve as a way to prevent this problem. If a young mother is very afraid side effect, then its formula is 1 cup of coffee = 1 week.
But, in any case, a woman should ask her doctor whether she should drink an invigorating drink or should she still give it up. The doctor will give an answer, taking into account the characteristics of the body and the specifics of pregnancy.
Is it possible to drink coffee during early pregnancy?
There is an opinion that in the early stages, we are talking about the first 3-5 months, caffeine can provoke a miscarriage. Researchers from Kaiser Permanente Medical Center (California) have proven bad influence caffeine on the body of a woman carrying a child. Therefore, in order to protect themselves and their baby, women in the first, most vulnerable, trimester should completely abandon all drinks containing caffeine. 
Scientists have found that three cups of coffee a day increases the risk of miscarriage. Curiously, scientists believe that abortion is caused not so much by caffeine, but by other elements that drinks containing this substance are rich in. Since scientists have discovered that negative consequences leads to the consumption of not only coffee, but also tea and hot chocolate.
What are the dangers of instant coffee?
In the first trimester of pregnancy, instant coffee also poses a threat to the normal development of the child. Plus, according to the study, it can provoke an attack of toxicosis in a pregnant woman. Extracted coffee can be even more harmful than natural coffee. It contains specially processed caffeine. And this is a rather aggressive environment. Why does the baby need all these preservatives and reagents? On early It’s better to give up caffeine altogether! This will keep the baby healthy and alleviate the mother’s condition.
Let us note once again that everything should be consumed in moderation. Do not neglect the advice of experienced specialists. This will help avoid unnecessary problems.
How drinking coffee can affect fetal development
It is quite difficult to identify the most undesirable periods of pregnancy for drinking coffee. Some scientists are sure, and we have already said this, that you should not drink this drink in the first trimester. However, after drinking a cup, nausea and heartburn may occur. And frequent consumption of this drink often leads to exacerbation of gastritis and cardiovascular diseases. The body of a pregnant woman is already working to the limit, doing double work. Therefore, if you feel even the slightest discomfort after drinking coffee, you should give it up in favor of another drink.
In the second trimester, caffeine is also undesirable due to calcium leaching, and during this period the baby’s skeleton is already forming. Some doctors are confident that the most dangerous periods in this case are after the 20th week. 
Other experts believe that consuming caffeine during the third trimester is especially dangerous because, nervous system The baby becomes sensitive to this substance. In any case, the expectant mother should know that the child receives this drink, like any other, through the placenta. In this case, narrowing of the placental vessels occurs. Consequently, this prevents the supply of oxygen to the fetus, and hence hypoxia can occur.
There are suggestions that coffee during pregnancy can lead to the development of diabetes mellitus in the baby. Let us pay attention to another property of caffeine that is undesirable for pregnant women - it suppresses appetite. Coffee is a fairly satisfying drink, especially if you drink it with sugar and cream. But this drink is not nutritious at all. And a woman in a special situation should not refuse the necessary balanced meals.
Benefits of coffee for pregnant women:
- a cup of good coffee invigorates, especially at the beginning of pregnancy, when expectant mothers are overcome by blues and constant drowsiness;
- morning coffee improves appetite and ensures normal bowel function;
- natural coffee contains antioxidants that prevent the oxidation of lipids in body cells, and this has a great effect on the beauty of the skin and health;
- a cup of coffee slightly raises blood pressure, which is very useful for pregnant women with hypotension;
- The aroma of coffee promotes the production of endorphins - better known as “hormones of joy”, and a small piece of happiness will always be useful for both the mother and the unborn child.
- Coffee with milk replenishes the amount of calcium in the body, this is especially true for those who do not like to drink regular milk.
How can you replace coffee during pregnancy?
So, judging from the above, it follows that caffeine must be treated very carefully. What could serve as a substitute for such beloved and aromatic coffee? Would tea be okay? Yes, it also improves your mood and invigorates. BUT! All this happens due to the fact that it also contains caffeine.
And green tea contains a lot of this substance. Therefore, a cup of freshly brewed coffee with milk is better than a cup of rich green tea. In addition, milk is a source of calcium, which is also beneficial for pregnant women.
You can drink white tea, not very strong black tea, and remember that the main thing is to maintain balance. In addition, let's not forget about ground chicory. A wonderful aromatic drink. It's also invigorating. Chicory decoctions also have tonic properties and are safe. However, be careful - there are a number of contraindications. To slightly improve the taste of chicory decoction, you can add a little coffee to it.
And also don’t forget that you can drink cocoa, yoghurts and natural juices. And rest assured that your future baby will also appreciate them! You may be able to change your habits and even after your pregnancy ends, you will no longer want to drink coffee, but will have completely different preferences. Walk more, enjoy the good weather and free time! After the baby is born there will be very little of it. Good luck and happy pregnancy!