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Caffeine linked to miscarriages
Filed under: Your Pregnancy, Health & Safety: Babies, Going Green
A new study links caffeine consumption with increased rate of miscarriage. Just two cups of coffee--or 200 milligrams--per day was found to double the rate of miscarriage. In addition to that, the study found that women who consumed less than 200 milligrams had a 40% increase in the rate of miscarriage.
This new evidence flies in the face of what many of us have been told. When I was pregnant, ALL of my OBGYNs told me it was OK to have a cup of coffee, just not during the first trimester (I think). My friends who were recently pregnant (and still are) were told they could have coffee. Two cups a day.
If you know me you know I didn't drink any caffeine anyway--I was too afraid. It just wasn't a risk I was willing to take. I'd heard you could and could not have caffeine during pregnancy, and since there didn't seem to be one general opinion I decided to stay out of the debate all together by not drinking any coffee.
So what's a gal to do? Hard to say. Depends on what day it is and what study has recently come out. Remember when our mothers were pregnant with us it was completely acceptable to drink alcoholic beverages. Heck--my mom's doc told her it was OK to have a drink a week, And she did. And I turned out OK (well, mostly OK!). Folks in Europe drink still.
With regard to the caffeine issue, one person cited in the article noted something that should provide comfort. Caffeine consumption is a controllable factor in miscarriage. So many things about biology, our bodies, and what causes a miscarriage. As many as one in three (and I've read one in four as well) pregnancies end in a miscarriage. If the possibility of miscarriage is strong in your case, or if it's something you worry about in general, perhaps you should avoid caffeine during pregnancy.
If you've ever suffered a miscarriage--or even if you haven't--you can be sure it's just horrible, and something no one should have to go through. If there's anything that can be done to circumvent that awful experience I say take it. And, if that means giving up your cup (or cups) of joe for the duration of your pregnancy then do it. Nine (ten) months isn't that long in the great scheme of things to go without caffeine.
That said, just because someone doesn't consume caffeine does not mean she won't have a miscarriage. Unfortunately there is no golden rule to avoid them all together.
Caffeine pic by Lee Jordan.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
1-21-2008 @ 2:56PM
Crystal said...With my first pregnancy I refused any and all caffeine. With my second pregnancy I was drinking quite a bit of ice tea, before I knew I was pregnant. I had a miscarriage at 8 weeks.
My final pregnancy I did partake in Dunkin Donuts in my 3rd trimester. She turned out beautifully.
So, who knows?? We'll have to wait and see what they say about it next week.
Reply
1-22-2008 @ 8:52PM
Cynthia said...When I was pregnant (2005) my OB told me coffee drinking was only associated with miscarriage with women having in excess of five cups a day, so it was perfectly fine to have a cup or two daily. So I did.
Of course if I were to be pregnant again, I'd abstain to be on the safe side. That said, one study does not a fact make. We cannot be sure all factors were controlled for. Were the coffee drinkers under more stress? Did they have poorer diets? Did they drink? Smoke? Live in an area with a lot of pollution? We just don't know. This study does not mean coffee = miscarriage. In fact, reading the rest of that article raised a lot of questions for me. Which studies do we put our faith in?
The doctor's remark about coffee being "toxic" seemed a bit of hyperbole to me. Excepting pregnancy, coffee has been shown to be high in antioxidants, a source of fiber, and has been linked to lowered risk of diabetes, colon cancer and Parkinson's disease. Coffee may or may not have any place in pregnancy, but saying it is "toxic" makes it sound akin to drain cleaner.
All we can do is the best we can taking into consideration the best information at our disposal. There are a multitude of studies we can research and medical professionals to consult. One study summarized on a website shouldn't convince a woman that previous miscarriages were due to coffee intake. No one can ever say that.
I worry people will see this headline and think they are responsible for their miscarriages. Women have enough to feel guilty about.
Reply
1-21-2008 @ 4:49PM
Ethel said...Remember the study indicated two or more cups of coffee. Have you wanted more then one cup when pregnant? I found it nauseating initially, and then one cup was more then enough later on. Coffee rocks, for all the reasons Cynthia outlined, but apparently we need to be careful about it too. I guess if you're pregnant it's the most boringest diet ever from now on because it will be chocolate next due to the theobromines.
Reply
1-21-2008 @ 9:35PM
Williams said...Ya! The study is so significant for those pregnant moms. I think miscarriages would be avoided if they know all the do's and don'ts of things they can and can't eat/drink/do during pregnancy. But it seems that is a little difficult. This book I got to know -- "The Panic-Free Pregnancy" really helps:
http://dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?deal_id=79567&ru=279
Reply
1-22-2008 @ 2:32AM
Jan said...I cut out all coffee with my first child, but then couldn't go without a couple cups/day with my second (having a toddler and full-time career exhausting me)and both turned out great. But just recently had a miscarriage with #3 at 11 weeks and now strongly worry it was the coffee (2 large cups and yes, strong) and not my age, genetic risk background, etc. I cannot go back 3 months or try again and my guilt has now gone through the roof. I would say to anyone that while the link may not be tried and true, this is one that you don't want to take your chances on and start drinking sanka.
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1-22-2008 @ 12:49PM
Anne said...Jan - and all other pregnant moms - don't beat yourself up!
1. The paper is not yet published, only announced, so we don't know how good the data are.
2. This is a cross-sectional, interview study, asking moms who were pregnant to remember how much coffee they had drunk.
3. As such, this study is going to be majorly influenced by recall bias.
4. At most, this study is going to be hypothesis provoking, not the be all and end all!!!
Everything in moderation, especially reactions to unpublished studies!
- Anne (Doctor, and mom who drank coffe throughout pregnancy)
Reply
1-22-2008 @ 8:55PM
J Jordan said...Hi, Cynthia. I agree with your comment about the word "toxic." I think it's tough for women to make concerned, educated choices about what they're doing for their children and their bodies. Many studies have been done on the link to caffeine and pregnancy so this is not an isolated study, but perhaps one of the more recent ones. I do think use of the word "toxic" might be taking things a little far, and get some people stirred up over the issue, so it's important to consider more than just one article and one person's opinion. I think the thing to do would be to talk to the doc, read more on the matter and use those resources to make an informed decision.
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