Caffeine and Pregnancy

Caffeine and Pregnancy

July 25th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Caffeine is the most commonly used stimulant in the country, and a good number of us enjoy a cup of something hot and caffeinated every morning to start our day. The use of caffeine during pregnancy is a controversial topic; most health practitioners believe a small amount of caffeine is acceptable, while others will say avoiding it entirely is the best course of action. Whether you believe in the some or none approach, everyone is in agreement that large amounts of caffeine during pregnancy are dangerous.

What Does Caffeine Do to Your Body?

Caffeine is both a stimulant and a diuretic. This means that it causes you to feel alert, can slightly elevate blood pressure as well as heart rate, and also causes fluids to leave the body through increased urination. Caffeine can cause a jittery feeling and cause sleep disruptions, especially if used in large amounts. Some people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than others, and pregnant women are among them.

Caffeine and Miscarriage

A recent study showed that women who consume 200 mg or more of caffeine every day (about the amount in a large cup of coffee) carry a 50% higher risk of miscarriage than those who do not. Previous studies, however, have found no relationship between caffeine and miscarriage. Although the results of these studies have been conflicting, there is enough evidence to suggest that a risk of miscarriage may exist. This risk is especially high in the first trimester, so if you don’t wish to avoid caffeine through the entire pregnancy, it’s a good idea to at least skip it during those crucial early weeks. High amounts of caffeine in the diet have also been linked to stillbirth.

Effects of Caffeine on the Fetus

Caffeine does cross the placenta, and this means it reaches the baby. Research indicates that caffeine does restrict blood flow to the placenta, which could impact the baby. It has also been linked with lower birth weights, and a higher heart rate in the newborn baby.

What Foods Contain the Most Caffeine?

Caffeine occurs naturally in some foods and beverages, and is added to others. Coffee beans, tea leaves, and cocoa beans are all natural sources of caffeine. Coffee is by far the highest in caffeine content. The average 8 oz cup of coffee contains about 137 mg of caffeine, but this amount can vary widely depending on the type of coffee and how it was brewed. The same goes from tea, which contains about 48 mg of caffeine in an 8 oz cup. Generally, the stronger your cup of coffee or tea, the higher the caffeine content.

Soft drinks that have been caffeinated contain 37 mg of caffeine per 12 oz serving on average. Some of these beverages may contain higher or lower amounts. Chocolate contains caffeine in varying amounts depending on how dark the chocolate is (the percentage of cocoa solids).

The general consensus on caffeine in pregnancy is that it is probably safe in small amounts. Stick to one cup of coffee a day or the equivalent amount of caffeine from other sources. It’s best to avoid caffeine in the first trimester if you can, but after that you are probably safe to continue moderate consumption. Still, if you prefer to be cautious, skip the caffeine altogether. If you do choose to consume caffeine, remember to drink extra water as well, to make up for the diuretic effect of the caffeine on your system.

Surviving the First Trimester of Pregnancy

Surviving the First Trimester of Pregnancy

June 23rd, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

You know that there’s something special going on inside of you the minute that you get the results of that pregnancy test. Though you may have gone several weeks without even knowing that you were pregnant, everything seems to change once you find out that you are. Your whole mindset may change, and you may have already been experiencing symptoms that you didn’t recognize as such.

Pregnancy is such a special time for a woman. The first trimester, however, can be not only a bit scary, but also full of all sorts of symptoms, emotions, and questions. If this is your first pregnancy, then you may feel like you are in completely unknown territory. Even if it’s not your first trimester, you may feel as though you are completely overwhelmed. You may feel like the symptoms are too much or you may feel as if you are in constant fear of a miscarriage. Whatever the case, you need to know what it takes to survive the first trimester of pregnancy.

Focus On and Take Care of Yourself

The first thing that comes as a bit of a surprise to many pregnant women is that they can’t necessarily get a doctor’s appointment right away. Though they may be itching to get in to see their doctor as soon as they take the pregnancy test, they may be diverted for a couple of weeks. Many doctors don’t even want to see a pregnant woman until she is around eight weeks pregnant. So while this may seem like an eternity, it’s a reality in many instances. If however you have any questions or concerns, you can always call in the meantime.

Many women are also surprised by just how quickly or intensely the symptoms may hit them. Some women skate through their first trimester without a care in the world, feeling great the whole time. Others may feel sick from the moment they find out that they are pregnant. Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, tender breasts, and extreme fatigue are quite common in the first trimester. They can come out of nowhere and leave you feeling like you just got hit by a truck! This is a sign that the hormones are hard at work, and that your body is doing everything it needs to in order to provide for that little baby. The good news for many pregnant women is that these symptoms will subside in the second trimester, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Gaining Perspective on Things

Many women are concerned about the potential risk for miscarriage, and this can be a legitimate fear. If there is a history of miscarriage or if a woman has seen a friend or family member suffer through one, then it makes sense as to why they would be concerned. Though it is a real fear, it isn’t something that you should become obsessed with. All that you can do is take the very best care of yourself and your baby possible, and then leave the rest up to nature.

If you see any symptoms that are of concern such as bleeding or cramping, then call your doctor. However if you feel fine, then just keep going along and take good care of yourself. It’s always wise to get extra rest whenever possible, particularly in the first trimester. Don’t worry too much about what or how much you can eat, as that will even out as you enter the second trimester of pregnancy. Try to put perspective on things and know that there are better days ahead. In the meantime, enjoy the news of your pregnancy and know that taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for that baby.

The Danger of Smoking During Pregnancy

The Danger of Smoking During Pregnancy

June 21st, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

We know that it’s a bad habit, but yet many of us pick it up somewhere along the way. There’s nothing cute or glamorous about smoking, but yet many women still can’t kick the habit. It may have been something that you picked up when you were much younger, and have inevitably become addicted to. It may be something that you turn to when you’re stressed or when you’re in a social situation.

The smoking pattern of everyone is quite different, but yet the results are the same. Though we hear it time and time again, we somehow ignore the warnings that smoking is bad for us. We know that there is long term potential risks and danger to our health, but we have such a difficult time in quitting. When it comes to pregnancy however, there has never been a greater reason to quit the bad habit. Though we know that smoking is bad enough for us, it takes things to an exponential high when it comes to smoking during pregnancy. Quitting smoking is what you should do for the baby, and there are many reasons why.

Consider the Risks to Your Pregnancy

Though common sense can tell you what you already know, smoking is inherently bad for you and your baby. If the risks to you alone weren’t enough to get you to quit before, consider what smoking can do to your baby and to your pregnancy. The risks as you can see on a chart like this are numerous and therefore this is something to stand up and take notice of.

During pregnancy, there are a great number of risks that can come about as a result of smoking. If you are worried about maintaining a healthy pregnancy, then smoking is the first thing to cut out. When you smoke, it cuts off oxygen and nutrients that your baby and your placenta need to thrive and survive. When this happens, your baby isn’t getting what it needs. Additionally the placenta will spread out in search of oxygen for the baby and this can lead to placenta previa. In this condition, the placenta can cover up the cervix and this is a huge danger. You contribute to the risks of an ectopic pregnancy, vaginal bleeding, and a displacement of the placenta. These are only the risks present to and during your pregnancy – it does get worse!

Consider the Risks to Your Baby

As if the risks to your pregnancy aren’t enough, consider the actual risks to your unborn child. When a woman is pregnant, she will usually put nothing before the health and safety of her baby. She lives for her baby and does whatever she can to nurture and care for her baby in the womb. When you smoke however, this nurturing isn’t exactly happening.

Smoking can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, and many of these unthinkable consequences of pregnancy which lead to the unthinkable with your baby. You are contributing to possible birth defects such as a cleft lip and may even cause actual breathing problems in your newborn once they are born. Down the road, smoking during pregnancy may even contribute to your child developing asthma. So you can see that the risks far outweigh the necessity to light up. If you ever needed a reason to quit smoking, let the health of your baby be the incentive that you needed.

Do Pregnancy and Cats Mix?

Do Pregnancy and Cats Mix?

March 10th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

You are absolutely ecstatic! You have just found out that you are pregnant and what better cause for celebration and jubilation. You want to shout it from the roof tops and share it with everyone you know, including your beloved pet. However, you have been told by someone who was told by someone that cats can carry a disease that can harm your baby. Is it true? Do you have to give up your precious cat?

Well, you will be relieved to know that the answer to this question is NO. Just having a cat during your pregnancy is harmless. However, you will have to make one major change, because there is a risk of disease. This change, unless you are already very fortunate not to have this job as part of your chores, is that you must stop cleaning the litter box.

“Woohoo”, you shout. No more litter box scooping. Yes, this is a nice side bonus of being pregnant. If you are on your own for any reason and need to clean the litter box, then wear rubber gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after you are finished. So why all the fuss? The name of the disease that can be transmitted is called toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis is generally transmitted to outdoor cats from a parasite that they pick up from prey that they eat or from contaminated soil. Indoor cats rarely have a chance of infection. If you work outdoors in your garden, then you should also wear gloves. Humans can also contract the disease from coming into contact with or eating raw or undercooked meat.

This means that if you eat meat, then you also need to take precautions. Of course, safe handling of meat is always a concern, but when pregnant you need to be even more diligent. Ensuring you do not cut meat and other food on the same cutting board and that you clean up thoroughly after handling and cutting raw meat is essential.

Of course, you might already carry immunity to toxoplasmosis. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that more than 60 million people in the US carry the parasite that causes the disease, but few show the symptoms of it because the human immune system generally keeps the parasite under control.

The symptoms of toxoplasmosis are often not present, but when they are present they are usually flu-like symptoms that last for a few weeks. Once gone, the parasite lies dormant and will remain that way unless the immune system becomes compromised. However, in the unborn child there can be severe consequences if infection occurs. The child’s neurological and ocular development can be compromised. Miscarriage is also possible.

Of course, if the pregnant woman already has immunity to toxoplasmosis, then the baby will also have that immunity. It is only when the mother contracts the disease for the first time while pregnant that the unborn child is in danger. If you take the precautions mentioned above and avoid cleaning the litter box or handling raw meat, you should be able to safely go through your pregnancy without concern. You can enjoy the feeling of being pregnant and you can still enjoy your first baby – your cat. After all, we do love our pets and you will want your child to grow up with the joys of having a cat in the house. Rest assured that you can do so safely.

The Safety of Computer Use During Pregnancy

The Safety of Computer Use During Pregnancy

March 9th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

There has been a fear around using computers while pregnant that has been with us since the 1970s. If you use computers for a large part of your day, either for work or for school, then you might be concerned. The good news is, you have nothing to worry about. While there was once a concern that computer use could harm the unborn baby, causing miscarriage or birth defects, this is now not considered to be the case.

So what caused these concerns in the first place. In the 1970s there were clusters of miscarriages in the US, Canada, and in the UK. An article on babycenter.com cites a UK study of women working for the Civil Service. Women who worked with computers had a higher rate of miscarriage than those women who didn’t. However, this study just didn’t hold up to repeated research. There simply was no correlation to be found between computer use and miscarriages.

The potential danger in computer use during pregnancy was considered to come from the monitor. The monitor does put out electromagnetic radiation and this was the concern. It has been determined, after many years of study, that women and their unborn babies are safe when it comes to sitting in front of a computer screen. The electromagnetic radiation is non-ionizing and this means that it does not affect the body in the same way that x-rays and CT scans do.

The real concern these days when it comes to pregnant women using the computer for long periods of time is that they get little or no movement, which is crucial while pregnant. Sitting at a desk in front of a computer for hours is not recommended. If you must be at your computer for hours, then it is advisable to take frequent breaks during which time you get up and walk around. The general rule of thumb for the average person is 10 minutes per hour of sitting, but you will need to lengthen that while pregnant. Stretching will also help. Movement causes your circulation to get moving faster and it will help if you have any conditions such as sciatica.

It is also more important than ever to ensure that you have good ergonomics when you are pregnant. Make sure your chair and computer monitor are both at a good height so that your eyes are level with the top of the screen, your forearms are horizontal, and your wrists are straight. Your feet should be flat on the floor and your back should have good support. It is also a good idea to get your eyes checked and make sure that your vision is good.

Knowing that it is safe to work with a computer for long periods of time is a relief for those women who have to use a computer for many hours each day. Knowing that your baby is safe while you earn a living is important because the stress it would cause if you were to have to give up your job or have to find some way around using a computer would be monumental. In today’s world the computer is so much more important and integrated into society than it was in the 1970s. People use them at work and then come home and use computers for banking, paying bills, shopping, finding information, and keeping in touch with family and friends. Computers simply cannot be avoided. There is peace of mind in knowing you can use yours risk-free.