No need to worry when indulging in your morning cup of coffee, expectant moms.
A new study claims that a moderate intake of coffee will not harm or negatively affect your unborn baby’s IQ or behavior.
For years, many have been fearing that caffeine will affect iron absorption in utero; iron is a mineral essential to development.
The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, offers reassurance for many pregnant women who don’t want to give up their love for coffee.
photo courtesy of TIM HORTONS
Though tea, soda, and coffee are usually prohibited for moms, the researchers behind the study are quick to emphasize that coffee should still be consumed in moderation: about one to two cups per day.
How did they arrive at this conclusion?
By analzying the blood samples of over 2,000 pregnant women collected over a 15-year period, researchers found that caffeine consumption during pregnancy had no negative effects on both IQ and behavior.
These samples were part of a larger study called the Collaborative Perinatal Project which explored the links between pregnancy and children’s health over the course of 25 years
Previous studies strengthen these findings
This is not the first study that supports caffeine intake during pregnancy as acceptable.
In 2012, a study suggested that moms’ caffeine intake had no bearing on their baby’s sleep habits.
Furthermore, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists confirms that moderate caffeine consumption (about one or two cups of coffee) is safe during pregnancy. They are quick to clarify, however, that the effects of excessive caffeine intake while pregnant remains uncertain.
READ: Potato-rich diet before pregnancy may increase the chances of gestational diabetes, says study
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