The use of caffeine causes some changes in the body - it improves attention, slightly speeds up heartbeats and raises blood pressure. Also, caffeine can be used as a diuretic. To the negative sides can be attributed possible stomach pain, increased nervousness and insomnia. Due to its properties, caffeine has found wide application in medicine, it can be found in many medications - various painkillers, remedies for migraines and colds, etc. The concentration of caffeine in various medications and galenic preparations can vary significantly.
Caffeine during pregnancy.
The degree of effect of caffeine on the body directly depends on its dose. The opinions of most experts agree that caffeine in small amounts is harmless during pregnancy, so that a couple of small cups of coffee per day will not cause harm.
However, exceeding this standard can have serious consequences. Upon ingestion of the mother, caffeine through the placenta reaches the fetus and is able to affect its cardiac and respiratory rhythms. In 2003, Danish scientists carried out studies that suggest that excessive consumption of caffeine doubles the risk of miscarriage and the birth of underweight children. Excessive can be called drinking more than three cups of coffee per day.
Convincing evidence of such a harmful effect of caffeine on pregnancy at the moment does not exist, but in order not to risk, pregnant women are recommended to limit the use of caffeine. For the same reasons, expectant mothers should refrain from taking medications and galenic preparations, which contain caffeine. It should be borne in mind that during pregnancy, caffeine detains longer in the body.
Caffeine and conception.
There is no reliable information about the effect of caffeine on the chances of conception. Some studies have shown that eating more than 300 mg of caffeine a day can lead to difficulties with conception, but these results are not proven. Most experts believe that a small amount of caffeine does not affect the likelihood of becoming pregnant.
Caffeine and breastfeeding.
The American Academy of Pediatrics conducted a series of studies and found that caffeine, consumed by the mother during breastfeeding, does not pose a threat to the health of women and children. However, a small amount of it, obtained by an infant through mother's milk, can cause a child to have insomnia and capriciousness.
In summary, caffeine in small doses can be considered conditionally safe for both expectant mothers and infants during the period of feeding. However, before obtaining more reliable results of scientific research, women should be careful when using products containing caffeine.