Caffeine is absorbed rapidly in the blood and can stimulate your brain. It can also increase loss of fluids from your body by causing frequent urination.
What are the Effects of Caffeine?
Watch out for your intake of decaffeinated coffee, as even these contains some amount of caffeine (7 mg per 240 mL).
- Caffeine may cause undesirable effects such as increased heart rate, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and sleeplessness.
- Caffeine can reduce the flow of blood to the placenta
- Caffeine can also increase your heart rate and metabolism, which can affect your growing baby.
- Some studies have shown that women consuming higher amounts of caffeine are at an increased risk for miscarriage.
- Caffeine intake can also affect your nutritional status by hindering calcium absorption from foods. It can also limit your food intake by reducing appetite. If you are suffering from constipation and swelling in face, hands and ankles during pregnancy, you should avoid caffeine intake.
So, What’s the Limit?
It has been suggested that pregnant women should limit their daily caffeine intake to less than 200 mg. As caffeine has no nutritional value, it is better if you can avoid it in your diet.
You might find it difficult to stop or reduce your caffeine intake abruptly as it may cause drowsiness, headache and irritability. Therefore, it may help if you reduce the intake gradually to avoid the withdrawal symptoms.
| Foods | Average amount of caffeine (mg) |
| Brewed coffee (240 mL) | 137 |
| Instant coffee (240 mL) | 76 |
| Brewed tea (240 mL) | 48 |
| Instant tea (240 mL) | 26–36 |
| Decaffeinated coffee (240 ml) | 7 |
| Carbonated beverages (350 mL) | 37 |
| Hot cocoa (3 tbsp) | 8–12 |
| Chocolate milk (240 mL) | 5–8 |
| Dark chocolate (40 g) | 30 |
| Chocolate syrup (2 tbsp) | 3 |
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