The Effects of Caffeine on the Unborn Baby (Research Paper Sample)

The Effects of Caffeine on the Unborn Baby
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The Effects of Caffeine on the Unborn Baby
Caffeine may be among the most loved stimulants across the world. However, pregnant mothers need to pay attention to the amount of caffeine they are ingesting on a daily basis. As much as the mother may be able to handle any amounts of the stimulant she consumes, her unborn baby cannot. This is because the baby’s metabolism is still maturing and therefore unable to fully metabolize the caffeine. This essay looks at the effects of caffeine on the unborn baby.
Caffeine is a stimulant and an addictive drug that can easily pass to a developing fetus via the placenta. It can also be transferred via breast milk. In unborn babies, the stimulant’s half-life is extended, meaning that it stays in the baby longer. A developing fetus does not have the ability to detoxify the drug. According to Jahanfar & Jaafar (2013), consuming caffeine during pregnancy can lead to a wide variety of problems both for the mother and the baby. They include an increased risk of miscarriage, birth defects, low birth weight, a higher risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), and reduced levels of calcium and iron in the mother.
Research is still being carried out to determine the exact effects of caffeine on a pregnancy and the unborn baby. Mild consumption of coffee of less than 200mg is not considered to be a likely cause of premature birth or miscarriage. However, mothers who consume over 300 mg of caffeine per day are more likely to give birth to children who are much smaller for their gestational age. Also, a single dose of caffeine, which is equivalent to two cups of coffee, consumed during pregnancy may be sufficient to affect fetal heart development while reducing heart function over the child’s entire lifespan (Jahanfar & Jaafar, 2013).
One thing is for sure: a pregnant woman would feel much better if she does not consume a lot of caffeine. Given that it is a stimulant, it can raise her heart rate as well as blood pressure. In addition, it can cause insomnia and make someone feel jittery. Caffeine can also trigger production of stomach acid, leading to heartburn. These effects become more pronounced as the pregnancy progresses. This is because the ability of a pregnant woman’s body to break down caffeine slows down, and she ends up with higher levels of the stimulant in her bloodstream. In the course of the second trimester, clearing caffeine from the body takes almost twice as long as would be the case if the woman was not pregnant.
Inability to clear caffeine from the body can mean that more amounts of it crosses the placenta and into the unborn baby that cannot efficiently process it. The same case applies to newborn babies too; highlighting the importance of limiting caffeine intake when breastfeeding, particularly for the initial few months. There is another reason for cutting back on beverages that contain caffeine, such as coffee and tea. These beverages, whether caffeinated or not, contain compounds that make it more difficult for a pregnant woman’s body to absorb iron. Cutting back on caffeine is important because most expectant women usually have low amounts of iron. If such women have to consume coffee or tea, it is advisable to take them in between meals as it will have less effect on iron’s absorption.
Some women would like to cut back on caffeine consumption during pregnancy but have no idea how to go about it. They may find their taste buds naturally cutting back for them. Many pregnant women’s craving for caffeine evaporates in the course of the first trimester, once morning sickness strikes. For those who still crave for a caffeine beverage in the morning, it is advisable to switch to decaf. While decaffeinated drinks may still contain traces of caffeine, it is usually in much less amounts.
For pregnant mothers who are used to taking caffeine beverages in high amounts may find caffeine withdrawal to be quite difficult. To lessen the withdrawal symptoms that can include irritability, lethargy and headaches, easing off gradually is advisable. Some people suffering from migraines find that even a tiny amount of caffeine is capable of relieving their headaches. Such people should gradually wean themselves from caffeine-containing beverages by taking smaller amounts throughout the day. This involves mix decafs with one’s regular coffee and then gradually raising the ratio of decaf to caffeinated. Alternatively, the expectant woman can use less coffee and more milk. While at home, it is advisable to smaller amounts of ground tea leaves or coffee, or brewing the drink for a lesser time. Allowing a teabag to steep for just a minute rather than for five minutes reduces the amount of caffeine as almost a half. Consuming smaller amounts on frequent occasions can lessen the abrupt addictive jolt of high caffeine levels in a person’s bloodstream. In addition, it is advisable to seep the beverage slowly rather than gulping it all at once (Jahanfar & Jaafar, 2013).
Often, herbal teas do not contain caffeine. All in all, it is advisable for a pregnant woman to go through the list of ingredients and check with her h...