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Questions and Answers

Q. Does having caffeine during your pregnancy harm the baby in any way?

A. Caffiene is legally a drug. It produces Central Nervous System stimulation. It can raise your blood pressure and cause your heart rate to speed up. It can interfere with your ability to sleep or rest well and and can make you feel nervous and jittery. Most of these symptoms are caused by drinking too much caffiene and there are guidelines regarding what is "too much," however there are no US recommendaed daily allowances because this is not a substance you need in your diet. Also, you have to remember that people react differently to all medications. It is generally recommended to avoid caffiene altogether during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Some studies have linked caffiene intake in pregnancy to miscarriage.

If you drink caffienated beverages then you would want to greatly decrease you intake and limit it on a daily basis. For instance, only one cup of coffee or tea or one soda per day. There are always decaffienated choices out there too. Take care.

Cyndi Klausing, RN, ACCE, has been a childbirth educator and breastfeeding counselor for over 18 years. She currently works as a newborn nursery nurse and is the mother of four sons.

Cyndi will answer your questions on fertility, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and babies. Her advice does not take the place of your practitioner. Personal answers will not always be possible.