Drinking caffeine

Long considered to be safe, having two cups of coffee a day during pregnancy may actually double the risk of miscarriage, according to a new study.

About 15 to 18 previous research studies have shown that there is a link between use of caffeine during pregnancy and the chances of miscarriage. It was not clear though whether the findings were skewed upward because of the fact that many pregnant women who suffer morning sickness decide to forego caffeine.

Thus, although there was an association between caffeine use and miscarriage, the relationship was not clear whether it was due to caffeine itself or some other cause.

The study team devised a research methodology that would control for those possibilities. The study covered 1,603 pregnant women in the early stages of pregnancy from October 1996 through October 1998. The women were asked detailed questions about their coffee drinking habits.

Of the 1,603 women, 164 of them consumed 200 mg caffeine or more per day, 635 drank less than 200 mg, while the 264 others did not drink any caffeine.

The finding was that women who consumed at least 200 mg of caffeine a day — the equivalent of two 5-ounce cups of regular coffee, or five 12-ounce cans of caffeinated soda, or six 5-ounce cups of tea — had double the chances of suffering a miscarriage. The researchers are due to report these findings Monday, Jan. 21, on the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Previous studies showed miscarriage risk increased due to daily consumption of about 150 to 300 mg caffeine.

The risk was positively correlated to caffeine, and not the other chemicals to be found in coffee. This conclusion was reached because the team observed increased risk when the caffeine was consumed in other beverages.

It is not yet known why caffeine seems to be harmful. One speculation is that caffeine puts severe stress on the immature metabolism of the fetus. Caffeine may also reduce blood flow in the placenta, which is harmful to the fetus.

It does not matter where the caffeine comes from. It should be remembered that a cup of coffee contains different amounts of caffeine, depending on how it is brewed. Some brands contain more caffeine than others.

To put perspective on it, caffeine is not a major cause of miscarriage which occurs in about 20 percent of known pregnancies. More than three-fifths of these are due to defects in the chromosomes, which are outside the mother’s control.

Safety Tips:
* Minimize caffeine consumption. If you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant, you should minimize caffeine intake.
* Consider switching to decaf coffee, or other decaffeinated beverages during your pregnancy. To perk up your day, avoid coffee and concentrate on natural ways to boost energy, like yoga, brisk walks, etc.