Caffeine and Miscarriage

Too much caffeine can increase the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. In fact pregnant women who consume 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day may double their risk of miscarriage.

Expectant mothers should stay away from caffeine in the first three or four months of pregnancy, said the lead author of the study, Dr. De-Kun Li, a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California. If they can't, they should just have one cup, or take decaffeinated coffee. Then they should limit their caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams.

The study covered 1,063 pregnant women who were interviewed once about their caffeine intake. Of 264 women who said they had used no caffeine, 12.5 per cent had miscarriages. But the miscarriage rate was 24.5 per cent in the 164 women who consumed 200 milligrams or more per day.

Dr Li's study also found that women who have morning sickness are less likely to miscarry than those who do not. This may be because the same hormonal changes that cause nausea and vomiting contribute to a healthy pregnancy.