It enters the mother’s central nervous system quickly, and slightly increases both blood pressure and heart rate (also affecting fetal heart rate and movement patterns). Although the negative effects of daily moderate intake of one eight-ounce cup of brewed coffee (typically less than 150 milligrams) on a pregnancy are debatable, there is strong evidence that larger daily amounts of caffeine (more than 150 milli­grams) during pregnancy may increase the risks of miscarriage, pre­term delivery, and low birth weight. For example, one study found that pregnant women who consumed large quantities of caffeine (five or more cups of coffee a day) were twice as likely to miscarry as those who consumed less.¹

As much as you might enjoy that morning cup of coffee, it’s quite clear that this is one opportunity you have each day to reduce your baby’s ex­posure to potentially harmful products. You might even choose pregnancy as a time to cleanse your body of caffeine. But if you do, don’t try to stop your caffeine intake all at once, cold turkey. Your body will miss its daily dose and may complain with a headache when it’s suddenly gone. Other symptoms of abrupt withdrawal can include drowsiness, irritability, and even nausea and vomiting. So I suggest that you cut down a little each day until you and your unborn baby are slowly weaned at least down below 150 milligrams of caffeine per day. (A detailed analysis of caffeine’s reported ef­fects on pregnancy outcome can be found at http://www.motherisk.org.)

Decaf Coffee and Pregnancy

One way to reduce caffeine is to drink decaffeinated coffee, but be aware that a five-ounce cup of decaf usually still contains from two to five milligrams of caffeine, and sometimes even more. Because many decaffeinated coffees are made from beans processed using methylene chloride (a dangerous chemical also used in paint strippers), it’s greener to choose a decaf bearing the “Swiss Water Process” logo. That’s your guarantee that the decaf you’re drinking was brewed with coffee beans that were decaffeinated using a certified organic chemical-free process. Lots of retailers sell coffees decaffeinated using the Swiss Water Process, including Starbucks (Komodo Dragon Blend), Seattle’s Best Coffee (Organic Twilight), and Sam’s Clubs (Marques de Paiva Gourmet Coffees). Check http://www.swisswater.com for other retailers in your area.

A cautionary note: you might come across other decaffeinated coffees described as “water processed” or “European processed,” but be sure to ask if they have the Swiss Water Process logo. If not, the beans may have been processed using something called the indirect method, which still uses the same harsh chemicals in combination with a water bath.

Alcohol and Pregnancy

Many couples enjoy relaxing together with a glass of wine, hanging out at a barbecue with a bottle of beer, or socializing with a round of margaritas. So it’s not unusual for moms-to-be to ask me how much alcohol they can safely drink while pregnant. The answer is direct and nonnegotiable: none.

Sorry, but no level of alcohol has been proven safe for an unborn child—and that means beer, wine, wine coolers, and hard liquor. All alcohol passes quickly through the placenta to the fetus, and the unborn baby’s immature metabolism breaks it down more slowly than an adult’s. This can cause a variety of mild to severe birth defects. In fact, alcohol is now recognized as the most destructive environmental agent influencing fetal development. It is the most common cause of mental retardation and is di­rectly responsible for 10 to 20 percent of the cases of mental retardation in the 50 to 80 IQ range, and it is the root cause of cerebral palsy in one in six cases. Fetal alcohol syndrome, one of the most severe outcomes of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, can be devastating.  ....read more