Drinking coffee has now become part of the Indonesian lifestyle. If coffee used to be synonymous with men's drinks, nowadays coffee is also favored by women. Many women start their day with a cup of hot coffee. Then, what about women during pregnancy? Do can they drink coffee?

Can pregnant women drink coffee?

Coffee contains caffeine,, which can lead to dependency. This is why coffee enthusiasts may feel something is lacking if they don't consume coffee daily. Pregnant individuals who are avid coffee drinkers often wonder about the risks of coffee consumption during pregnancy. While they are permitted to consume coffee, certain limitations must be taken into account.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), they can consume a maximum of 200 mg of coffee per day or the equivalent of 1 8-ounce cup of coffee.

dangers of pregnant women drinking too much coffee

If they do not reduce their daily coffee, intake, this condition can be dangerous for both mother and fetus. Some of the dangers if they consume too much coffee include:

1. Coffee triggers dehydration

Coffee contains caffeine, which has diuretic properties so that it can increase urine production, which makes pregnant women urinate frequently. If not balanced with adequate fluid intake, this can lead to dehydration in them. Dehydration during pregnancy can cause a lack of amniotic fluid, triggering false contractions and pregnancy complications such as disorders of the nervous system, premature labor, and the risk of hypovolemic shock, which can harm the pregnant mother and fetus.

2. Caffeine may cause LBW

In a study, it was stated that pregnant women who consume more than 200 mg of coffee per day tend to give birth to babies with low birth weight. The researchers suspect this is due to the effect of caffeine, which causes blood vessels to shrink, reducing the intake of blood and nutrients to the fetus. As a result, the weight of the fetus is below average.

3. Caffeine may cause miscarriage

Caffeine is often considered one of the triggers of miscarriage in pregnant women, but this is still a matter of debate. Reporting from the American Pregnancy page, a study revealed that excessive coffee consumption in pregnant women can increase the risk of miscarriage. However, another study states that pregnant women who consume more than 200 mg of coffee per day have no increased risk of miscarriage. Seeing the difference in the results of these studies, as long as there is no new research on coffee and pregnancy risk, experts advise pregnant women to continue to consume no more than 200 mg of coffee per day.

4. Caffeine makes pregnant women sleepless

Some of the side effects of caffeine are heart palpitations, anxiety, and insomnia. This condition can exacerbate sleep disturbances that generally occur in the final trimester of pregnancy. In addition, some of them tend to be more sensitive to caffeine during pregnancy so it takes longer for their body to process the caffeine.

In addition to its much-loved taste, drinking coffee can also help a person to be calmer, more focused, and more energized. But for pregnant women, drinking excessive coffee can cause harm to them and the fetus. Keep in mind that what you should be aware of is the amount of caffeine you consume every day. Besides coffee, you also need to pay attention to other drinks that contain caffeine, such as tea or chocolate.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.