- Coffee can make the baby restless
- Foods containing caffeine
- Caffeine-containing remedies
- What to do if you consume more caffeine than you should
Throughout pregnancy it is recommended that the woman does not drink too much coffee, nor consume foods high in caffeine daily, because in excess caffeine can cause serious changes such as decreased growth of the baby and even prematurity, because the baby may be born before the date Preview.
The maximum amount of caffeine that pregnant women can consume daily is only 200 mg, which corresponds to 3 cups of espresso or 4 cups of black tea, for example. In addition, it is very important not to overdo the amounts of coffee, as caffeine can cause an overdose. Know more in Coffee and drinks with Caffeine can cause Overdose.
But if you like coffee a lot and can't give up that drink, a good strategy may be to adopt decaffeinated coffee, which despite not having 0% caffeine, contains a minimal amount of this substance, which does not harm the baby.
Coffee is a drink with several benefits, as it has antioxidants that help protect cells and helps to be more alert, as it stimulates the brain, so it is not contraindicated in pregnancy, there is only a consumption limit that should not be exceeded not to harm the baby's health.
Coffee can make the baby restless
After the baby is born, while breastfeeding lasts, it is also recommended not to drink more than 3 cups of coffee a day because caffeine passes through breast milk. About 2 hours after you drink coffee or a caffeinated drink, it will reach your milk and when the baby sucks it may be agitated.
So it may not be a good idea to consume anything with caffeine close to the baby's bedtime, but if you need it wide awake, for a photo shoot, for example, this may be a good strategy.
This effect is easier to see in women who do not drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks regularly.
Foods containing caffeine
In addition to coffee, there are more than 150 foods that contain caffeine, here are some examples of those that are most consumed in Brazil:
- Black tea, green tea and white tea; Chocolate and cocoa or chocolate drinks; Soft drinks, like coca-cola and pepsi; Industrialized tea, like ice tea.
To find out the amount of caffeine present in this and other foods see: Foods high in caffeine.
Caffeine-containing remedies
Caffeine is also present in some remedies for flu and headaches such as:
| Benegrip | Dorflex | Coristin D | Gripinew |
| Tylalgin Cafi | Dorona Cafi | Cafilizer | Neosaldina |
| Paracetamol + Caffeine | Resfriol | Mioflex | Tandrilax |
| Sodium Dipyrone + Caffeine | Ana-Flex | Torsilax | Sedalex |
In addition to these, caffeine is also present in many dietary supplements indicated for those who practice physical activity.
What to do if you consume more caffeine than you should
If you ended up consuming more caffeine than is recommended by the World Health Organization, don't worry and stay calm. Excessive caffeine is unlikely to cause harm to the baby, especially if you only 'slipped' once in a while.
However, if you drink a lot of coffee every day and only find out that you are pregnant now, talk to the obstetrician at your first prenatal visit. He will be able to assess the baby's health and check for any damage. The important thing is that, from now on, consume only the recommended amount.
