New research finds caffeine consumed during pregnancy can change important brain pathways in baby. New research finds caffeine consumed during pregnancy can change important brain pathways that could lead to behavioral problems later in life.
Thus, maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy likely leads to accumulation of caffeine in the fetus's brain, which might affect early development and later childhood outcomes.
The researchers noted that caffeine is believed to cause blood vessels in the uterus and placenta to constrict, which could reduce the blood supply to the fetus and inhibit growth.
Every pregnancy starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a birth defect. This is called the background risk. Caffeine has not been shown to cause an increased chance for birth defects above the background risk.
Factors such as poor nutrition, stress and infection during pregnancy have all been associated with adverse effects on fetal neurodevelopment. One important consideration is that the long-term risks associated with exposure to an adverse intra-uterine environment are not evenly distributed across society.
While the cause is not always known, congenital brain malformations may result from inherited genetic defects, spontaneous mutations within the embryo's genes, or damage to the fetus caused by the mother's exposure to toxins, infection, trauma or drug use.
Infections pose perhaps the greatest risk to the developing fetus' brain. Many seemingly harmless infections can seriously interrupt fetal development, including the formation and wiring of brain cells.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women limit their caffeine consumption to less than 200 mg (about two, six-ounce cups) per day.
Studies show that getting more than 150–200 milligrams (about 1–2 cups of coffee) of caffeine a day during pregnancy may not be healthy. High amounts of caffeine during pregnancy has been linked to problems with a baby's growth and development.
Current guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and other experts say that it's safe for pregnant women to consume up to 200 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day (the equivalent of one 12-ounce cup of coffee).
Recommendations for pregnancy
The recommended limit in Australia is a maximum of 200mg caffeine per day. This would be equivalent to 1 cup of strong espresso style coffee, 3 cups of instant coffee, 4 cups of medium strength tea, 4 cups of cocoa or hot chocolate or 4 cans of cola.
Although caffeine does cross the placenta, it has been shown that caffeine does not cause a decrease in uterine blood flow or fetal oxygenation 8. Two studies have assessed the relationship between caffeine consumption and mean birth weight differences 6 7, and two others have recently reported on IUGR.
At high levels, caffeine intake may lead to low birth weight. And a low birth weight puts babies at risk for low blood sugar, low calcium levels, and a weakened immune system when they're first born. There's also some evidence that caffeine exposure can affect a child's brain development.
Our results suggest that a high caffeine intake in the third trimester may be a risk factor for fetal growth retardation, in particular if the fetus is a boy.
Caffeine is safe during pregnancy in moderation. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) reports that it is safe to consume less than 200mg of caffeine per day, without any notable side effects for mom or baby.
Decaf coffee contains only a very small amount of caffeine, with 2.4 mg in an average brewed cup (240 mL). Therefore, it's most likely fine to drink in moderation during pregnancy.
Babies of pregnant women who consume over 200 mg of caffeine per day are at an increased risk of fetal growth restriction which could result in low birth weight and/or miscarriage. “There is evidence that excessive caffeine intake is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage.
Younger babies are more sensitive to caffeine than older ones. Caffeine also stays in a newborn baby's system longer than an older baby's. In a 6-month-old baby, the half-life of caffeine is around 2.5 hours, but for a newborn, it is a few days. Drinking caffeine may affect the nutritional quality of your breast milk.
Eat healthy
Omega 3 fatty acids are absolutely essential for baby's brain development. Make certain you include foods that have a good content of omega 3, such as, fish, soybeans and spinach, in your diet. Also, iron found in leafy vegetables, like spinach, helps the flow of oxygen to the baby's brain cells.
Brain development in the third trimester is marked by the rapid development of neurons in the brain and explosive growth. Your baby's brain will triple in size during this time, growing from a little over 3 ounces to almost 11 ounces at birth.
Neonatal cranial ultrasound is considered the gold-standard screening method for neonatal brain injury, for the detection of major or significant abnormalities of the brain, most notably severe IVH or cystic periventricular leukomalacia in the preterm infant.
Abnormalities detected during the 20 week scan
Anencephaly – abnormal development of the brain and skull (98%)
The mid-pregnancy scan is an ultrasound scan given between 18 and 21 weeks of pregnancy to detect major physical abnormalities such as spina bifida, cleft lip, and heart and brain abnormalities.
Caffeine may cause you to feel jittery, have indigestion or have trouble sleeping. During pregnancy, you may be especially sensitive to caffeine because it may take you longer to clear it from your body than if you weren't pregnant. It may also make you feel nauseous or lightheaded.