So, it might seem like the occasional morning espresso is harmless during the nine months of your pregnancy. And who knows, maybe you weren’t even aware you were pregnant for the first few months of it! And that’s okay.
A recent study shows that while the one-in-a-while coffee isn’t detrimental to your pregnancy, three or more cups of caffeine daily increases the likelihood of a miscarriage by an astounding 74%. Dear coffee lovers, it might be time to rethink your strategy if you’re trying to get pregnant.
The Study
Analysts at the National Institutes of Health documented 501 couples. Each of the couples were tracked on the their consumption of caffeine, liquor, fish, and even multivitamins.
An Entire 28% Of The Couples Experienced A Miscarriage
The researchers’ findings are seemingly simple—ladies who took a daily multivitamin while attempting to get pregnant were 55% less likely to have a premature delivery. Age also factored in: women over the age of 35 were almost twice as liable to have a miscarriage contrasted with more younger moms.
Women who consumed more than the advised three cups of coffee daily (that incorporates espresso, tea, pop, and caffeinated drinks) while attempting to get pregnant were 74% more likely to have a premature delivery, compared to their less-caffeinated counterparts.
Caffeine and Miscarriage: The Connection
Doctors have known for a while now that excessive consumption of caffeine, with the exception of the first few weeks of pregnancy, makes one more susceptible to an unsuccessful childbirth. The difference is that this National Institutes of Health Study focuses on the pre-origination consumption of caffeine.
The Hypothesis
It’s thought that caffeine intake can increase the danger of a premature delivery as veins begin to constrict which prevents nutrients from reaching the fetus, or the nutrients are being drained from the mother. Expert Dr. Julie Levitt notes that further evidence and research is needed in order to accept or reject this possibility, and states that the nature of the man’s sperm and caffeine consumption has a relationship remaining un-investigated.
Source: Thinkstock/ EmiliaU
Causation or correlation?
Dr. Levitt also emphasises that indeed caffeine and poor birth outcomes are connected, but this does not necessarily imply that caffeine causes poor birth outcomes. There are other factors, or confounding variables that could also be at work. She provides an example where women drink more caffeine due to lack of being well-rested, had to be very focused on a task, or had another, unrelated health complication bringing about weakness that caused the miscarriage. Notably, it is possible that the sample used in the study did not accurately represent the wellbeing of the larger population at hand, and had significantly poorer health to begin with, reflecting their inability to have a successful pregnancy.
If you feel that you are at risk for an miscarriage, it is important to seek professional medical help immediately. There are also various forms of support (medical, spiritual, emotional) available to help and guide you through this challenging time. Following are four common signs of miscarriage, although many of these can be mistaken for pregnancy itself…
4 Early Miscarriage Signs:
- Cramps in pelvic area
In the beginning of a pregnancy, unusual cramping that is different than menstrual cramping occasionally occurs. If the cramping is steady and does not ease up after a few hours, you may be having an early miscarriage. Cramping miscarriage symptoms can occur any time in the first trimester.
- Lower back pain radiating from within, not from back muscles or backbone itself
It is the kind of lower back pain that a massage does not seem to touch or change. This means that the uterus is pressing on the lower back and that possible spasms from the uterus are being felt there.
- Vaginal spotting miscarriage
You may only notice a pinkish stain on your underwear – not really obvious that it is blood. Sometimes instead of pink it is brownish because it is old blood.
- Passing of vaginal blood clots
If your period is late, then followed by a very heavy menstrual flow or large clots, it is possible you are having a baby miscarriage. Unless you have a history of heavy periods, passing of blood clots and very heavy flow most often are miscarriage symptoms.
- Nausea and weakness lasting days
These signs of miscarriage first trimester are often confused with general pregnancy symptoms. Hormonal changes in the beginning of pregnancy make you feel very tired. Usually after the first two months the tired feeling is less frequent. If you have not been nauseous recently or tired, you may be having an early miscarriage.
Sourced from: Time
Featured Image: Thinkstock/ kjekol