Caffeine
content of Food and Beverages
| Item
|
mg
of coffee |
Average
Range |
| Coffee
(8 oz cup) |
| Instant
|
104 |
48-112 |
| Decaf
instant |
2 |
1-5 |
| Tea
(8 oz cup) |
| Brewed
|
96 |
40-176 |
| Instant |
48 |
40-80 |
| Iced
(12 oz glass) |
70 |
67-76 |
| Some
soft drinks (12 oz) |
36 |
30-60 |
| Cocoa
|
4
|
2-20
|
| Chocolate
milk |
5 |
2-7 |
| Milk
chocolate (1 oz) |
6 |
1-15 |
| Dark
chocolate (semi sweet 1oz) |
20 |
5-35 |
| Chocolate
flavored syrup (1 oz) |
4 |
4 |
Caffeine can also be found in over
the counter drugs, including medicines
for headaches, cold and so it is important
to avoid such medications unless absolutely
necessary.
Do I need to avoid over-the-counter
(OTC) medications at all cost now
that I am pregnant?
The period of greatest risk is the
early weeks of pregnancy. About 4-10
weeks from the first day of your last
menstrual period (LMP) is the most
vulnerable (when baby's major organs
are being formed). Exposure to any
harmful substances can result in birth
defects or miscarriages. Harmful substances
consumed in the first 2 weeks following
conception may cause the cells to
die and result in the termination
of pregnancy. Medications taken during
the 2nd and 3rd trimesters may affect
growth, physiological and biochemical
function of the growing fetus. Depending
on the fetus age, potency of the drug
and the dosage taken, the medication
taken
• may prove toxic to baby
• may cause birth defects
• affect the placenta, thereby
affecting the flow of oxygen and nutrients
to baby
• change the
mother's biochemistry which will in
turn affect the baby
OTC drugs are not necessarily safe
during pregnancy; a commonplace drug
such as aspirin is considered unsafe.
It is very important to involve your
doctor in your choice of medicines.
Apart from that, you ought to weigh
the importance of taking the medicines
such as the necessity, the dose, the
timing, & method of administration.
Having said that, it is best to stick
to tried formula instead of venturing
into the untried where medicines are
concerned. Pregnancy is not the time
to dabble with something new with
no proven record of success. Sometimes
prescription drugs can work out to
be harmful as well especially those
required for serious medical conditions
such as epilepsy, heart disease and
cancer. It is important to check with
your doctor on the importance of continuing
with such medications. Because the
risks to the baby outweigh the benefits,
you may have to discontinue with the
treatment. In some instances however,
the condition is more risky than the
medicines so it is best to continue
with the medication.
Are herbal products safe to
use?
Since there is very little hard facts
supporting the disuse of herbal medicines
during pregnancy and at the same time
no full proof guarantee of its safety,
doctors advise pregnant ladies to
steer clear of herbal products. The
following guidelines will help you
decide on whether to stick on or heed
your doctors advice.
• Discuss and inform your
doctor on what you have been using so
far: dose, duration, type and form (i.e.
infusion, capsule, tincture etc)
• Avoid using them in the
first trimester. This is the time when
baby's organs and tissues form so exposure
to harmful substances may have devastating
outcome
• If any of these
products are known to stimulate the
uterus, caution is warranted
• Be sure of the product you are
using and not confuse it with a similar
sounding name item and thereby causing
more complications
•
Avoid products with many herbs as it
can be confusing to diagnose the cause
to a particular reaction
•
Do not blindly follow prescription on
advice of a novice. Make sure the recommendation
is coming from someone with the correct
training and background
•
Do not exceed the recommended dose as
you will be placing you and your baby
at risk
• Be aware of
how these products interact with any
other medications you are taking. Some
combinations are injurious. |
