Pregnancy is always a joyful event for a woman. A child is the most beautiful thing that nature can give us, therefore, only after learning that she will become a mother, a woman simply glows with happiness. Very often, even those who work diligently and for a long time to prepare for pregnancy treat themselves to a drink like coffee.

Coffee is a traditional drink that people drink all over the world.

Many people love him so much that they cannot imagine their life without him. This certainly applies to women as well. Therefore, when the test shows two cherished sticks, many pregnant women have a question whether pregnant women can drink coffee.

For some pregnant women, drinking coffee is not only possible, but necessary. For example, those who suffer from constant low blood pressure simply cannot do without this drink. Also, those who cannot wake up for a long time in the morning and force themselves to get out of bed will not be able to live without this invigorating drink. A natural question arises whether pregnant women can drink the same coffee as before.

COFFEE and pregnancy!! To drink or not to drink? Harm or benefit?

Is it possible to drink coffee during pregnancy? Can pregnant women drink coffee?

The effect of COFFEE ON PREGNANCY!

Is it possible to drink coffee during pregnancy?

Coffee and pregnancy

Can pregnant women drink coffee?

What is harmful during pregnancy

Can pregnant women drink coffee?

Can pregnant women eat rose hips?

1. First, you should understand that you need to choose coffee that has a small amount of caffeine. These are mainly instant and granulated coffee.
2. Secondly, you should significantly reduce the number of cups you drink per day. It is advisable to reduce the volume to one cup in the morning.
3. Thirdly, you should never drink coffee on an empty stomach. If earlier you could afford this, now it is highly not recommended, since your liver suffers greatly from this.

Can pregnant women drink coffee with milk?

As you know, coffee and tea promote rapid removal of calcium from the body. During pregnancy, a woman shares all the vitamins and minerals with her baby, so if she doesn’t get enough of the elements she needs, this will significantly affect her health during or after childbirth.

By adding regular milk to coffee, a pregnant woman will be able to compensate for the amount of calcium that this cup of drink will take away. Also, with the help of milk, the concentration of caffeine in the drink becomes less.

What you need to know about coffee?

There are several important facts about coffee that every expectant mother should know in order to avoid trouble when drinking it:

• You can't drink coffee at night.
• You can drink a maximum of three cups in one day.
• Coffee increases blood pressure. Women who suffer from high blood pressure should completely exclude the aromatic drink from their diet during pregnancy.
• It is not advisable to drink coffee for those who suffer from frequent nausea, headaches and cramps.
• Pregnant women suffering from gastritis or stomach ulcers should never drink coffee, as it increases the acidity of gastric juice.
• Drinking more than 5 cups of coffee per day increases blood cholesterol levels.

Negative effects on the body

Despite the great popularity of this drink, there are a number of negative effects on the body that make themselves felt after drinking a coffee drink.

• The first and most common disadvantage is the large amount of caffeine. If there is an overdose of this substance, it can lead not only to permanent addiction, but also to death. Coffee is loved due to the fact that it improves a person’s general condition and gives energy. Usually this effect occurs an hour after taking the drink. But it is worth noting that there is also a negative side to the coin. Along with such good health, blood pressure also increases significantly. It is extremely dangerous for people who suffer from this disease to drink this drink with a large amount of caffeine, and even more so for pregnant women.
• The second negative quality that coffee has is its strong diuretic effect. A pregnant woman goes to the toilet more and more often with each week of her pregnancy, as the baby puts more and more pressure on the bladder. Towards the end of pregnancy, trips to the toilet will become very frequent. If you also drink a lot of coffee, these trips will become much more frequent. In addition, doctors say that if a pregnant woman drinks only it, she may have problems with dehydration, and coffee itself removes all the beneficial elements from the woman’s body.
• The third negative factor is that very often drinking a coffee drink leads to heartburn. Pregnant women often suffer from this ailment in the third trimester. Drinks contain substances that cause heartburn.

Is it possible for pregnant women to drink coffee in the early stages?

There are different opinions regarding the use of coffee by a pregnant woman in the first trimester. Some say that it is not dangerous at all, while others claim that it contributes to miscarriage. Doctors conducted a number of studies that showed that consumption of large amounts of caffeine by an expectant mother provokes a miscarriage. They provided a list of reasons why this happens:

• A sharp rise in pressure.
• It promotes contraction of the uterus. During this process, the child does not receive the proper amount of nutrients. In the worst case scenario, this can result in the death of the baby or hypoxia.
• It significantly increases the tone of the uterus.
• Violation of the normal water-salt balance.

Can pregnant women have coffee with milk in the early stages?

Of course, milk slightly reduces the negative impact on a woman’s body, but it is unable to completely eliminate it. Many doctors advise, if possible, to reduce the amount of coffee a pregnant woman drinks, and it is best to completely eliminate it during pregnancy.

For those who cannot imagine their life without this drink, many experts suggest replacing it with chicory or cocoa. These two drinks have a large amount of protein and calcium in their composition, but do not contain caffeine. Of course, if you really want to, you can sometimes treat yourself to small cups of the aromatic drink.

This article discusses coffee during pregnancy. We tell you whether you can drink it in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester, how it affects the fetus. You will learn about the benefits and harms of the product, reviews from doctors and those who drank coffee while pregnant, and what you can replace it with.

Coffee is a tonic drink that can quickly drive away sleep and energize you. It contains a large amount of aromatic substances that give the drink a unique aroma.

You can drink no more than 4 cups of coffee per day

The composition also contains alkaloids - tonic compounds that provide a surge of energy after each cup of coffee. An important place among them is caffeine, the concentration of which depends on the type of coffee. On average, one coffee spoon of ground coffee contains approximately 0.2 g of caffeine.

The aromatic product also contains many vitamins, mineral salts and carbohydrates. It is worth noting that the chemical composition of coffee beans is not fully understood, for this reason most of the components have not yet been identified.

Interesting fact: 100 g of coffee can provide 50% of a person’s daily needs for riboflavin, phosphorus, iron and vitamin D; up to 20% - carbohydrates, amino acids, calcium and sodium; up to 132% of the daily value of nicotinic acid.

Such a rich chemical composition has both benefits and harm to the human body. Its effect on a woman directly depends on the volume of drink consumed and the personal characteristics of the body.

The benefits of coffee when consumed in moderation (no more than 3 cups per day) are due to the fact that the product:

• improves mood;
• charges with positive energy;
• enhances concentration and performance;
• prevents the development of caries;
• activates intestinal function;
• normalizes the condition of vegetative-vascular dystonia, hypotension;
• exhibits antioxidant effects;
• minimizes the likelihood of the formation of malignant tumors and cardiovascular pathologies;
• improves the condition during exacerbation of bronchial asthma.

Sometimes coffee becomes the safest product from pregnancy, especially in the early stages of pregnancy.

Benefits and harms

In the absence of health problems and moderate consumption of the drink, it does not cause harm to health, but only brings benefits. Expectant mothers suffering from hypotension and vegetative-vascular dystonia can drink weak coffee only in the morning after breakfast.

It is useful to drink the drink in the 2nd trimester, especially if the pregnant woman experiences swelling. Coffee beans have a good diuretic effect, which removes excess fluid from the body, eliminating swelling. This technique is acceptable in the absence of gestosis, anemia, etc.

This is where the beneficial qualities of coffee for pregnant women end. Harm from the drink can occur at any stage of pregnancy, including the 3rd trimester, and is expressed in the following:

1. Due to the diuretic effect, calcium, phosphorus and potassium are washed out of the body. This is fraught with problems with skeletal development in the fetus and osteoporosis in the pregnant woman.
2. If you drink more than 4 cups of coffee per day in the second trimester, this can lead to low birth weight of the baby.
3. Caffeine promotes, which causes the blood vessels and vascular cells of the placenta to narrow. All this leads to fetal hypoxia and fetoplacental insufficiency.
4. All substances contained in coffee are able to penetrate the placental barrier, causing a change in the child’s heart rate.
5. If you drink coffee while drinking, it can cause a miscarriage.
6. An overdose of caffeine provokes nervous tension in a pregnant woman, as well as aggressiveness, anxiety and irritability.

Why pregnant women have different attitudes towards coffee

In the case when a woman was indifferent to coffee before conception, then, as a rule, nothing changes during the period of bearing a child. And in some cases, its intolerance may even be observed, especially during toxicosis. The smell of coffee can cause loss of consciousness, slight malaise and even vomiting.

German scientists have conducted studies according to which women who drink coffee often have problems conceiving. It is for this reason that at the planning stage of pregnancy it is better to remove this drink from your diet.

But why are some women unable to deny themselves coffee, consuming it in large quantities? This is due to several reasons:

1. The desire to regularly receive energy “recharging”. It may not seem true to you that coffee is just as addictive as cigarettes and energy drinks. After caffeine enters the body, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and reaches the brain, stimulating the synthesis of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that causes a feeling of joy and cheerfulness. This effect lasts only a couple of hours, after which the body requires an additional portion of caffeine.
2. Lack of iron in the body - this condition provokes hypoxia in the pregnant woman and fetus, loss of strength and deterioration in well-being. In such a case, you should consult a doctor, if the diagnosis is confirmed, undergo the necessary treatment, and not improve your well-being with a coffee drink.

Coffee is an invigorating drink that has contraindications

How much coffee can I have?

Pregnancy is a period when you need to be careful about your diet and health. If before conception a woman could afford to lead an unhealthy lifestyle and eat unhealthy, now she cannot do this. Experts recommend avoiding coffee during pregnancy, as it has a negative effect on the pregnant woman’s body and the condition of the fetus.

According to studies, excessive consumption of an aromatic drink in the early stages of pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, and in later stages it can cause premature birth. But such consequences arise only when the pregnant woman drinks a really lot of coffee. For example, a cup of coffee drunk because of low blood pressure will not lead to such complications.

To answer the question of whether pregnant women can drink coffee, scientists from Denmark conducted an experiment. According to the results obtained, a pregnant woman can drink up to 150 mg of coffee without harm to her health. This volume of product will improve your well-being, give you energy, raise your blood pressure and will not affect the baby in the womb in any way.

Similar studies were carried out with the joint participation of European, American and Australian scientists. Based on the results, in 2010 they made recommendations according to which you can consume up to 200 g of caffeine per day, which is equivalent to 2 cups of coffee.

It should be noted that this dosage is applicable only to women whose pregnancy proceeds without complications. If you have kidney and liver pathologies, as well as anemia, it is better not to drink coffee at all. The drink is especially dangerous in the 3rd trimester in the presence of highly progressive gestosis.

How to drink coffee

There are certain rules for drinking a drink made from coffee beans during pregnancy. Here they are:

1. Drink the drink only after meals, as drinking on an empty stomach causes irritation of the stomach lining, which will lead to nausea, heartburn and pain in this organ.
2. It is advisable to dilute coffee with natural cream or milk. This procedure will reduce the strength of the drink and replenish calcium reserves.
3. If you drink coffee, be aware of the caffeine content of other foods you eat.
4. Because coffee dehydrates, after each cup of drink you need to drink 3 glasses of mineral water to normalize your water balance.

Types of coffee

Since stores offer a wide range of coffee, you should figure out which variety is best to drink during pregnancy. Experts advise drinking only natural coffee beans because there are no additives in it.

Below we will look at the main types of coffee to understand what you can and cannot drink.

Natural coffe

Coffee beans or ground coffee are available for sale, with varying degrees of grinding, as a mixture or a specific variety. You can choose the one you like the most. At the same time, take into account the fact that the strength of the drink is affected by the degree of roasting of the beans.

Prolonged roasting increases the volume of alkaloids. For this reason, you should buy lightly roasted coffee. You should also take into account the fact that the smaller the grind, the richer the taste of the drink.

All coffee has several types: Robusta and Arabica. Robusta contains a lot of caffeine and does not taste good. Arabica has a lower strength, but has a delicate taste and aroma.

Decaffeinated coffee

You can find coffee on sale labeled “decaffeinated,” but this is pure deception. Although the beans are processed to reduce caffeine levels, it cannot be completely removed.

In addition, most experts agree that such a product poses a danger to humans, since various solvents are used to eliminate caffeine. Based on research, if you drink coffee that has undergone decaffeination, this leads to the formation of atherosclerosis.

This product has poor taste, it is bland and odorless. For this reason, it is better not to use such a product, but to pay attention to natural varieties that contain a little caffeine.

Instant coffee

Some people believe that instant coffee is a harmless drink because it contains some caffeine. This is completely false, since this type of coffee is made from sorted Robusta beans. In this case, the concentration of caffeine may exceed that of regular brewed coffee.

Also, the disadvantages of this type of product include its unclear composition. According to experts, this type of coffee contains no more than 25% coffee extract, the rest is a chemical additive. Such a product cannot exactly be called natural.

The same applies to everyone’s favorite “3 in 1” drinks, which contain flavoring additives, preservatives and vegetable fats.

If there are contraindications to drinking coffee, you can replace it with an analogue

What to replace

If for some reason you are forbidden to drink coffee, but treat yourself to something aromatic and invigorating, then you should pay attention to plant-based coffee drinks. They can be manufactured in the form of crushed raw materials or soluble powder.

“Kurzeme”

The product contains crushed and fried chicory, as well as oats, rye and barley. This product is often used in maternity hospitals and perinatal centers as a general tonic that protects the cardiovascular system, improves appetite and kidney function.

The drink goes well with milk, juice, hot chocolate and cocoa.

Barley drink

This product does not contain caffeine, but it is rich in vitamins and minerals. Yes, its taste is not similar to coffee, but it is quite pleasant, as is the aroma. There are no contraindications for its use.

Barley drink is prepared according to the same principles as coffee. It can be without impurities or combined (with berry powder, chicory, rose hips and medicinal herbs).

Chicory

The simplest, but not the worst, coffee substitute is chicory root. Once prepared, this drink has properties similar to coffee. Chicory is allowed during pregnancy and also has the following beneficial properties:

• normalizes the amount of sugar in the blood;
• increases hemoglobin and appetite;
• has a diuretic effect;
• has a sedative effect;
• has a cleansing effect.

You can drink no more than 4 cups of drink per day. The product should be prepared according to the instructions indicated on the packaging. As a rule, it comes in powder form, which should be mixed with sugar and poured with boiling water. If desired, you can add milk, cream or condensed milk to the drink.

It is forbidden to take chicory for varicose veins and gastric pathologies.

Contraindications

It is forbidden to drink coffee if you have the following pathologies:

• gestosis;
• hypertension;
• lack of appetite;
• insomnia;
• diseases of the digestive organs;
• anemia;
• toxicosis;
• fetoplacental insufficiency.

In all other cases, consultation with a doctor is required. Remember, if you have the listed diseases, even weak coffee can cause a severe deterioration in your health.

Consequences

If you overuse coffee, it can lead to a number of complications, including:

• hypokalemia;
• hypertension;
• exacerbation of migraine attacks;
• urolithiasis disease;
• dehydration;
• hypercholesterolemia.

Caffeine belongs to the class of light narcotic compounds. This is due to the fact that most lovers of the aromatic drink are dependent on it both physically and psychologically.

Pregnancy is not a disease! This is why doctors recommend sticking to your usual habits, only making occasional adjustments. For example, prohibited! Otherwise, there are almost no dietary restrictions associated with pregnancy. Coffee is a controversial issue. Some experts recommend it in small quantities, others categorically prohibit it. To understand, let's talk in detail about coffee during early pregnancy: after all, it is in the first trimester that the foundation for the health of the unborn baby is laid. Starting from the fourth month, you will be able to relax a little and allow yourself a little more. And now?

To decide whether you can drink coffee in the early stages of pregnancy, take a short test by answering the following questions:

• You have been diagnosed with (hypertension).
• Your blood vessels are in a depressing condition: they are narrowed, their patency is reduced.
• Cottage cheese, milk, and fermented milk products rarely appear on your table.
• You regularly (more than once a year) go to the dentist to have your teeth treated.
• You suffer from headaches; before pregnancy you also suffered from migraines.
• You have a history of gastritis, pancreatitis, gastroduodenitis, ulcers, regular ulcers, and other diseases of the stomach and pancreas.
• You are taking diuretics as prescribed by your doctor.
• You are very scrupulous, suspicious and afraid of even a hint of harming your unborn child.

If you answered yes to at least 1 question, it is recommended to completely give up coffee in the early stages of pregnancy. Just three months - is this a big sacrifice for the sake of the child’s health? Starting from the second trimester, you can treat yourself to one cup of natural (preferably ground and diluted with milk) coffee a day.

If you do not suffer from any of the above problems, your consumption will still have to be reduced to 1 cup every 2-3 days.

Reasons why it is better to give up your favorite drink:

• What you drink and eat now affects more than just you. In the first trimester, the skeleton and internal organs of the baby are formed. The more nutrients a child receives, the better. It's hard to overdo it here.
• The fetus is not yet mature enough to remove caffeine on its own. And he is not harmless. In particular, it increases the baby's heart rate. Are you sure you want this? Maybe it's better not to drink coffee during early pregnancy?

In addition to reducing the amount, try to consume only grain, ground, coffee in the first half of the day, after meals. And always monitor your blood pressure.

Myths about drinking coffee during pregnancy:

Myth 1. It is believed that if the drink is diluted with milk and cream, its “harmfulness” will decrease. In fact, in this way you only compensate for the calcium that coffee “takes” with it. And other properties (for example, as a diuretic, increasing blood pressure, increasing the heart rate of the fetus, irritating the gastric mucosa) will not go away, even if you dilute it with milk in a 3:1 ratio.

Myth 2. Coffee is the only way to wake up in the morning and feel at ease. This was the case before your pregnancy, and only because you didn’t try other remedies: herbal tea, gymnastics, contrast showers, invigorating music, walks in the fresh air, yoga and other methods. Pregnancy is the time for change. Just consult your doctor first.

Myth 3. If you are hypotensive, then caffeine is useful and necessary; you can safely drink coffee in the early stages of pregnancy. Cognac also increases blood pressure, but doesn’t it occur to you to drink a glass every day? Because there is more harm than good. This also applies to coffee. As with getting up early in the morning, there are many other ways to bring your blood pressure back to normal: diet, exercise, taking vitamins, massages and physical therapy. Your doctor will prescribe the method that is most suitable for you.

Worthy replacement

Good news for people who are accustomed to drinking coffee and do not want to give up its aroma and taste even during pregnancy and even in the early stages: you can “trick” your body by giving it a similar but harmless drink. It could be:

• Chicory. Heat the milk and dissolve a spoonful of chicory in it. If bitter, add sugar. The taste and aroma are very similar to coffee, it also invigorates, gives strength, and has no side effects.
• Barley coffee. It contains no caffeine, but useful substances, on the contrary, are contained in large quantities.
• Cocoa. Preferably not soluble, but intended for cooking. Dilute with milk or consume pure.
• Herb tea. It is clear that it tastes a little like coffee. But take comfort in the fact that by drinking herbal tea (not in tea bags), you are bringing tangible benefits to yourself and your baby.

Drinking a decaffeinated drink is not a solution. Decaffeinated coffee is chemically processed. Why do you need extra chemicals in your body? Such a drink cannot be called healthy; it can provoke the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Watch this video about whether you can drink coffee during pregnancy:

Opinions of pregnant women

Alena, 23 years old, Moscow:“I’ve never been a fan of coffee, but during pregnancy I really wanted it, I couldn’t stand it! I just couldn’t look at water, juices, teas. As a result, I drank two sips from my husband and lost the desire. Then the doctor said that when you really, really, really want it, you can have a little, weakly brewed, natural…”

Diana, 30 years old, Rostov-on-Don: “Before pregnancy I drank 5-6 cups a day, I simply couldn’t live without it. The doctor forbade me to drink coffee in the early stages. Nothing, I survived, I drank glasses of chicory, then I found a substitute - barley coffee.”

Rita, 32 years old, Kazan: “I limited coffee to a cup a day, but did not cancel it. There must be little joys in life! And doctors always play it safe. She gave birth to a healthy baby, now he is 3 years and 2 months old.”

Anastasia, 26 years old, Khimki: “As soon as I read about the effects of coffee on the body of mother and baby, I immediately quit. Coffee is such a small thing! Why do so many people even ask the question: “To drink or not to drink”? Are your own comfort and whims more important than the baby’s health?”

During the period of bearing a child, women face many restrictions that also affect their usual diet. It is easier for an expectant mother to give up some foods and drinks, while it is sometimes very difficult to find replacements for others. What to do if, for example, before pregnancy a woman was accustomed to finally waking up only after a mug of aromatic strong coffee? Is it worth giving up this drink for the entire nine months or is it enough to just reduce its consumption?

How coffee affects the body

One cup of brewed coffee without sweeteners contains just under 1,200 natural substances, a good half of which belong to the class of aromatic compounds that give the unique taste and aroma of this drink. The main component of coffee, which determines its tonic effect, is caffeine, an alkaloid that can excite receptors in the central nervous system. In order for the drink to successfully cope with increasing mental and physical performance, a teaspoon of freshly ground natural coffee must contain 0.2 grams of caffeine.

Coffee contains about 1,200 different substances

Coffee beans also contain substances such as:

• trigonelline alkaloid, which gives roasted coffee a special aroma. When fried, it is destroyed, forming niacin. It is this that stimulates the activity of the nervous system;
• vitamin D, which improves the absorption of minerals in the intestines;
• carbohydrates that nourish the nerve cells of the brain;
• minerals that make up bones and regulate the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

Thanks to such a rich chemical composition, coffee has both positive and negative effects on human well-being and health. It all depends on the characteristics of the body and the volume of drink consumed.

So, drinking coffee in small quantities can:

• relieve asthmatic symptoms;
• activate intestinal function;
• prevent caries;
• improve mood;
• increase attention;
• reduce the risk of diseases such as Parkinson's syndrome, Alzheimer's, and breast cancer.

The negative properties of coffee include the possibility of:

• dehydration of the body due to the diuretic effect;
• increased pressure;
• development of urolithiasis.

In addition, caffeine is considered a type of recreational drug. When this substance is used too often, physical and psychological dependence occurs, which forces a person to drink coffee more and more often.

Can pregnant women drink coffee and how much?

Many modern women drink coffee, quite often and in large quantities. However, an interesting situation forces them to radically change their habits and lifestyle.

According to medical research, drinking coffee by a pregnant woman can negatively affect her well-being and the health of her child. Thus, in the first trimester, termination of pregnancy is possible, and in the later stages the risk of premature birth and placental abruption increases. However, such undesirable consequences await not those women who occasionally drink coffee, but those who love the strong drink, absorbing it in large quantities throughout the day.

The results of recent surveys conducted by Danish scientists showed that a small amount of coffee cannot significantly harm maternal and child health. Recommended daily dose - 150 ml of aromatic drink. This amount should be enough to get a charge of good mood and begin fruitful activities.

You can have up to three cups of (small) coffee. Of course, the “strength” of coffee is difficult to determine. Almost all Latin American women drink coffee as a traditional beverage, but usually no more than 1-2 cups per day.<…>The latest recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which guide doctors not only in North America but also in Europe and Australia, were adopted in July 2010, and they state that 200 mg of caffeine per day does not increase the rate of miscarriages and premature births. This amount of caffeine is equivalent to 2 cups of strong black coffee...

Doctor Komarovsky's opinion

Popular pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky has his own point of view on the nutrition of the expectant mother. Many women treat his recommendations with special confidence. So, regarding coffee during pregnancy, the doctor’s position is visible in the statement: “Avoid everything that your great-great-grandmother did not eat. You will be healthier."

The protein components of foods such as citrus fruits, coffee or cocoa cannot be completely digested in our body, and put a strain on the liver, which is forced to neutralize them. While carrying a baby, the load on a woman’s liver is already heavy. In addition, there is a high probability that the child will develop an allergy to “exotic” foods consumed by the expectant mother.

...It is the liver that is the main fighter against toxicosis, a neutralizer of fetal secretions, etc. Let's take care of it. If you want your child not to suffer from the fact that he cannot eat a tangerine or a chocolate bar, then you should not, while pregnant, consume these same tangerines and chocolate bars (underdigested particles, before being neutralized by the liver, will pass through the fetus and cause responses , and the child will then be allergic to these products).

E. O. Komarovsky
http://www.komarovskiy.net/knigi/chto-est-i-pit.html

Why do some pregnant women often crave coffee, while others feel nauseous from it?

The main factor that forces a woman to constantly brew an aromatic drink is the caffeine content in it. This substance quickly enters the brain through the blood, stimulating the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Increased levels of this biological compound in the body cause a feeling of satisfaction, improve mood and performance. But the effect does not last long (maximum 2 hours), and you have to brew more and more new portions of coffee.

However, physiological dependence is not the only reason that expectant mothers dream of a mug of coffee. A constant desire for this drink may indicate a lack of iron in the blood. This is also evidenced by the suddenly developed love for strong tea.

Iron performs an important function in the female body - it transports oxygen from the lungs to tissues and organs, including the placenta. With a deficiency of this microelement, mother and child suffer from a lack of oxygen. You can compensate for iron deficiency with a balanced diet, including foods such as:

• animal liver;
• red meat;
• buckwheat grain;
• fruits (apples, persimmons);
• beans and peas.

Pregnant women should not succumb to the “provocations” of the body, which requires more and more portions of the black drink. The best option is to consult with your doctor and donate blood to check your hemoglobin level. If iron deficiency is confirmed, the doctor will prescribe an appropriate complex of vitamins and minerals and give advice on changing your diet.

Some women report intolerance even to the smell of coffee during pregnancy, even to the point of nausea and vomiting. Often the cause of this is toxicosis, as the body reacts to a dangerous product, which increases unpleasant symptoms.

Possible harm, including in the early stages

Many doctors recommend giving up coffee early in pregnancy or significantly limiting its consumption. In the first weeks, all the baby’s major organs and systems are developing, so even a previously harmless drink can negatively affect the development of the fetus.

Drinking coffee by pregnant women can lead to the following undesirable consequences for the mother and child, occurring at different stages of gestation:

1. Due to the diuretic effect of coffee, the mother’s body intensively loses fluid, and along with it, calcium is washed out, which the fetus needs for the full formation of bones at the beginning of pregnancy.
2. Caffeine constricts the blood vessels of the placenta, which can lead to poor oxygen supply to the baby and a lack of nutrients.
   

   In especially severe cases, miscarriage or premature birth is possible if a woman has increased uterine tone.

3. Penetrating through the umbilical cord, the active substances in coffee increase the baby’s heart rate.
4. Abuse of aromatic drink can negatively affect the growth of the fetus. Norwegian scientists calculated that women who drank several cups of coffee per day had children born weighing less than the average.
   

   Studies in which 60 thousand pregnant women took part showed that if a woman drinks more than 150 ml of coffee per day, then each extra mug ultimately leads to about 30 grams of weight loss in the newborn.

5. The high content of tonic substances in coffee leads to stimulation of the nervous system. Pregnant women become irritable, anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia appear.

At the beginning of pregnancy, some women suffer from toxicosis, and drinking coffee only increases nausea. This is due to the ability of the drink to irritate the gastric mucosa, as well as due to the narrowing of blood vessels. Strongly brewed coffee causes especially strong vomiting.

Who should not: contraindications

Thus, coffee is considered a rather dangerous product for an expectant mother. If a woman has chronic diseases, she should consult a doctor before drinking the drink. The main contraindications to drinking coffee are conditions and diseases such as:

• high blood pressure;
• tachycardia;
• gastritis and stomach ulcers;
• early toxicosis and gestosis (complications in the second half of pregnancy);
• sleep disorders;
• fetoplacental insufficiency;
• anemia.

In such situations, even one cup of coffee can worsen the condition of the mother and fetus.

The benefits of a cup of coffee a day for an expectant mother

However, lovers of this product should not be discouraged. Scientists are confident that pregnant women who have no contraindications can treat themselves to a cup of aromatic coffee. In some situations, the drink can bring tangible benefits to the expectant mother.

Weak coffee is recommended for pregnant women suffering from low blood pressure. It is not easy for such women to get out of bed without a mug of an invigorating drink. The main condition is not to use it on an empty stomach; you must first have breakfast.

The drink will also benefit those expectant mothers who develop edema in the later stages.. Due to its diuretic properties, coffee removes excess fluid from the body, therefore, with the permission of a doctor, it can be used in conjunction with decongestants.

How to make coffee correctly

To ensure that the invigorating drink remains beneficial for the pregnant woman and does not harm the baby, doctors recommend following several important rules:

Table: caffeine content in drinks

You should not uncontrollably drink tea, both black and green varieties, since it also contains caffeine. However, green tea contains many substances that are beneficial for the expectant mother, for example, provitamin A, vitamins P and C, so you can drink it, but in reasonable quantities.

Natural grain, instant or decaffeinated?

The quality of instant coffee depends on the manufacturer and, accordingly, the cost. Cheap products contain a minimum concentration of natural coffee and a maximum percentage of various reagents remaining after processing. But even expensive varieties of instant coffee should be consumed as rarely as possible.

Another question of interest to expectant mothers: what is hidden in the bag under the intriguing name “3 in 1”? This product contains numerous flavorings, emulsifiers, and dyes, but sometimes it is simply impossible to find natural coffee there. This drink is strictly prohibited for pregnant women!

The best option is a natural grain drink in limited quantities. One small mug of weak coffee with milk or cream per day will not harm the baby or the expectant mother (of course, provided she is in full health), but will help her feel more energetic and happier.

A level teaspoon contains approximately 3–4 g of coffee. However, the exact weight of the powder depends on the grind: the finer it is, the more coffee will fit in a spoon.

Table: adjusting the strength of the drink

Important nuances to consider when choosing:

1. Experts recommend that expectant mothers carefully choose types of coffee. Robusta is considered the strongest, its beans contain from 2 to 4% caffeine.. In Arabica, for example, the amount of this alkaloid is 2 times less.
2. In addition, the caffeine content in beans depends on the type of roasting. The more the beans are roasted, the more alkaloids they contain, which means the taste of the drink becomes richer and stronger. Strongly roasted coffee is not suitable for pregnant women.

Some pregnant women, not wanting to give up an invigorating drink, buy decaffeinated coffee, and it’s completely in vain. It turns out that even after processing, some caffeine remains in the product. In addition, chemicals are used in the process of its production.

There has been little research on decaffeinated coffee, but interesting data from a study by the State Department of Health, Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and UCSF, which involved 5,144 women, found that drinking 3 or more cups of decaffeinated coffee per day increases the risk of spontaneous early pregnancy loss 2.4 times compared to those pregnant women who do not drink this type of coffee. Also, another large study showed that it is decaffeinated coffee, and not natural coffee, that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. It is important to understand that decaffeinated coffee is chemically processed coffee and is not a healthy drink.

How to replace coffee during the first trimester or throughout pregnancy

Of course, in the first trimester it is best to give up coffee gatherings altogether or drink one cup of coffee 2-3 times a week. But what to do if you want to pamper yourself with something warm and warming? Other herbal drinks will help replace aromatic coffee.

Properly selected plants, for example, fireweed, currant leaves, raspberries, rose hips, will strengthen the nervous system, give a boost of energy and protect a woman from colds. Before using herbal remedies, you should consult a doctor to avoid possible negative consequences. In addition, you should not get too carried away with herbal tea - 1-2 mugs per day will be enough.

Barley coffee drink

A useful replacement option is a drink made from barley. It does not contain caffeine, so it has a completely different aroma and taste from coffee. However, the barley substitute contains many vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and fiber, which distinguishes it from the original. Barley coffee will help the expectant mother with problems with the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. There are no contraindications to it, with the exception of individual intolerance.

The barley drink is not very similar to coffee in taste and aroma, but is very healthy

Methods for preparing barley coffee:

1. Pour 1-2 teaspoons of the prepared instant drink into a mug, pour boiling water over it and stir until completely dissolved. Add milk and sugar to taste.
2. Fry large, good quality barley grains in a dry frying pan and grind them in a coffee grinder. To prepare one serving of the drink, you need to pour 200 ml of boiling water over a tablespoon of ground barley. Let the drink brew for 3 minutes and add cream and sugar to taste.

Chicory

The most popular coffee substitute is chicory. And this is not surprising, since the natural product has the following positive qualities:

• maintains normal blood sugar levels;
• cleanses the blood of harmful substances;
• increases the amount of hemoglobin;
• has a calming effect.

However, chicory also has certain contraindications. So, this aromatic drink should not be drunk if you have peptic ulcers of the digestive system, gastritis, or varicose veins.

Chicory is a good alternative to regular coffee during pregnancy

Doctors warn that chicory has a diuretic effect. To prevent dehydration, you should not consume it too often. The optimal amount of chicory is 2–3 cups per day. You need to prepare it like instant coffee: pour a small amount of boiling water over the amount of chicory recommended on the package, add sugar and stir until smooth, and then add hot water.

You can add milk, milk froth or cream to this drink, in general, use all your favorite coffee recipes with it.

Chocolate chicory recipe:

1. You will need half a teaspoon of dry instant drink and cocoa powder, a glass of milk and sugar to taste.
2. Mix chicory and cocoa in a mug, boil the milk and pour it over the dry mixture. Don't forget to stir well and let sit for 5 minutes.

Video: how to make delicious coffee from chicory

Coffee recipes with milk

The most important condition for harmless coffee for an expectant mother is the presence of milk or cream in it. These additives reduce the strength of the drink and also compensate for the inevitable loss of calcium and other trace elements. We offer two simple and delicious coffee recipes suitable for pregnant women.

Cappuccino with cinnamon

This coffee and milk drink has a pleasant smell and taste. To make it you will need the following ingredients:

• a teaspoon of good coffee;
• 150 ml water;
• 70 ml cold milk;
• a pinch of cinnamon.

Cappuccino with cinnamon is a traditional coffee recipe for dessert, popular all over the world.

Preparation:

1. Brew a portion of coffee in the usual way for you: on the stove in a Turk or using a French press, coffee maker or coffee machine. When brewing a drink in a Turk, you must follow the following procedure:
   • heat the ground coffee in the Turk for a few seconds and only then fill it with cold water;
   • put the coffee on the lowest heat, the longer it simmers on the stove, the better;
   • The drink should not boil; as soon as you notice bubbles and sharply rising foam, immediately remove the Turk from the heat.
2. Heat the milk without bringing it to a boil.
3. Beat hot milk with a blender or French press until fluffy.
4. Fill a large mug a third full with coffee, pour in the frothed milk, carefully spoon out the foam and sprinkle with cinnamon.

New Orleans-style coffee has a rich dark color and can be prepared in a variety of ways, either in a pot or by slowly pouring boiling water in portions through a mixture of ground coffee and chicory.

Try reducing the amount of coffee in the recipe so there is less caffeine.

Preparation:

1. First, you should brew coffee together with chicory in a Turk, throwing in a pinch of salt in the middle of the heating process to better reveal the aroma of the drink.
2. Then you need to add cream to soften its taste. The drink should be drunk without sweeteners.

Video: how to easily make a latte with lush foam at home

First, let's figure out exactly how caffeine threatens the health of a pregnant woman. The stimulating effect of coffee is widely known; it is not without reason that people drink it to cheer up and wake up. The main danger of such an effect on the nervous system is the occurrence of uterine tone, which increases the risk of miscarriage. Due to the effect of excitement, drinking coffee in the evening is not advisable for anyone; it can lead to problems with sleep. And the expectant mother all the more needs proper rest for good health and recuperation.

The second disadvantage of drinking coffee is the increase in blood pressure. Blood pressure during pregnancy must be kept under strict control. And its increase may be a sign of gestosis - an extremely dangerous complication of pregnancy. If a pregnant woman has low blood pressure, then this is not a problem. It's worse when you have hypertension.

Coffee has a diuretic effect, enhancing kidney function. But during pregnancy, this organ is already under a lot of stress; it’s not for nothing that women undergo a urine test throughout the entire nine months to monitor its functioning. In addition, frequent trips to the toilet can cause dehydration.

Coffee has an irritating effect on the digestive system and interferes with the absorption of microelements beneficial for mother and child. Particularly harmful is the leaching of calcium from the body, which is involved in the formation of the bones and skeleton of the fetus. And replacing a healthy snack with a cup of coffee has a bad effect on appetite. Thus, a pregnant woman will not receive additional vitamins and nutrients.

How and how much coffee you can drink

The listed negative consequences can be minimized by stopping at 1-2 small cups (about 150 ml in volume) per day. It is better to prepare weak coffee, preferring ground beans. There are too many unnecessary chemicals in an instant drink, which is responsible for the convenience of its preparation. Also, do not replace regular coffee with its decaffeinated counterpart. Chemical treatment of grains, depriving them of their invigorating effect, can result in other unpleasant consequences for a pregnant woman.

Expectant mothers must add milk to their coffee. This will make the drink less rich, and the milk will compensate for the leaching of calcium. You can try replacing coffee with chicory, their tastes are somewhat similar. This plant-based drink is absolutely harmless unless you are allergic to it.

It is worth noting that the safest time to drink coffee is the second trimester of pregnancy. In the first and third trimester, the risk of unwanted consequences is much higher.

When thinking about the dangers of coffee and limiting herself to it, the expectant mother should not forget that it is not only this drink that is dangerous. Tea, cocoa, Coca-Cola, and chocolate are also sources of caffeine. Their use should be kept under no less control.