Guest Author - Sunniej Jackson

Physicians have listed caffeine as a substance for women to limit while pregnant. Recent studies link caffeine to miscarriages. It is highly suggested that caffeine be eliminated as much as possible from the diet of pregnant women. A small amount of caffeine consumption by a pregnant woman can increase the chance of a miscarriage by 40 percent.

In looking at this startling statistic it makes it pretty clear that caffeine should be one of the small sacrifices a mother must make for the sake of her unborn child’s health and viability. The study does not make any distinction between coffee or caffeinated sodas, etc. It seems that a very small amount of caffeine makes a huge difference in the chances of reaching a full term pregnancy and even more so it you are already considered “high risk”.

Women that are considering becoming pregnant should begin to decrease caffeine intake immediately and implement substitutes for any caffeinated drinks that are a regular part of their everyday diet. There is a growing list of items to avoid during pregnancy and once you or your significant other become pregnant make sure to check with your physician for the most current list of foods and products to avoid, reduce or monitor usage.

The list of dos and don’ts is ever changing in relation to new and improved research methods as well as availability of new products or services on the market. All expectant mothers or women that are looking to become pregnant in the near future must maintain open discussions and communication with all of the physicians in charge of their well being and that of their unborn child to obtain relevant current information on an ongoing basis. I was just recently reading a list of the best cities to have a baby in so there is a lot of readily available information on the internet and in the library as well.

Just as there is a list of things to avoid, there is a list of things that an expectant mother should incorporate in her diet and activities. At the top of the list is getting plenty of rest, take vitamins, moderate exercise, drink plenty water, eat lots of vegetables and, of course, follow your doctor’s recommendations.

There was a time when pregnancy and child birth was considered “a natural thing” however, the products we use and foods we consume are not all natural and can contain harmful chemicals and ingredients that may be very dangerous to the developing fetus as well as the expectant mother. In this case knowledge is not only power but can save the life of your unborn child.