This is the first part of a multipart series that was introduced, here.

When you are pregnant, giving up caffeine means giving up a lot! Some of the things you will be giving up are chocolate, (chocolate milk, M&M’s, candy bars, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate icing, and chocolate covered raisins just to name a few), soda, tea, coffee, and some pain relieving medicines.

What effect does caffeine have on your unborn child? Just think about the way caffeine makes you feel, jittery, fast heart rate, anxious, and irritable just to name a few.  The effects of caffeine on the brain include an increase in dopamine levels, much like that caused by amphetamines or heroine (but without such a pronounced effect). Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which activates the pleasure centers of the brain. It is suspected that this is part of the reason caffeine can be so addicting.

Ok, so that may be a little over your head. To put it simply, think about caffeine and it’s addictive quality and it’s stimulating effects. As an adult you drink caffeinated drinks to get you going in the morning or when you are sleepy in the afternoon. Think about how much caffeine that is for you as an adult. Now, think about how much that is for your developing fetus. Their little bodies are hardly ready for such stimulation. As for the addictiveness, you think your headache is bad. Just imagine what your little guy is feeling when he doesn’t get the caffeine. I guess you could always take an aspirin to help him get rid of the headache… Ok, so that’s a story for another post!

There are many things that have been undetermined about caffeine during pregnancy, but why risk it. (low birth weight, birth defects, preterm labor… just to name a few possibilities)

Caffeine is also a diuretic. Diuretics make you lose more fluids and can dehydrate you.

When you make the switch, be sure to check labels on your drinks. You would be surprised how many sodas have caffeine in them. Be careful with root beer, some have it, some don’t. Be sure to drink things that are CAFFIENE FREE not decaffeinated. Decaf just means that the caffeine has been removed from the drink and there are still trace amounts of it in there.

The best thing you can drink while you are pregnant is water. Subscribe to this blog to find out more about water and other things that can help you give your baby the best that you can during your pregnancy.

Dee Stafford

~Dee Stafford is a freelance writer and the content contained here is her opinion from research.  Check her resources page for background data.