Caffeine usually takes five hours to break down in the body but this process can take up to 30 hours in pregnant women. During this time the caffeine crosses the placenta to the unborn baby, whose liver is not yet fully developed and therefore unable to break down the caffeine. This can potentially interfere with foetal development. A high intake of caffeine also significantly increases the risk of miscarriage and the possibility of a baby being born with a low birth weight. Caffeine is also a diuretic, which means it pulls fluids and calcium from both you and your baby and also causes more frequent urination which can lead to an increase in blood pressure and dehydration. Caffeine has no nutritional value and it can affect your sleep, mood and inhibit the absorption of iron. For these reasons, most health-care professionals recommend limiting your intake during pregnancy.
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