Can Coffee Induce Labor? An Expert's Perspective

This makes you wonder if consuming caffeine in late pregnancy can actually do it. Some people believe that if you consume caffeine early in pregnancy, you're at risk of preterm birth. Therefore, some pregnant women stay away from coffee, soft drinks, etc. This makes you wonder if consuming caffeine in late pregnancy can induce labor, but this is not the case. There's no evidence to suggest that inducing labor with caffeine actually works, so you should avoid trying.

Herbalists believe that if you consume caffeine early in pregnancy, you're at risk of preterm birth. There is no substantial evidence that caffeine consumption can induce labor. The connection between caffeine intake and uterine contractions is likely due to the effect of caffeine on the uterine muscle. In some cases, caffeine can cause preterm delivery, but the results weren't significant. I know this because I drink a lot, and quitting during pregnancy was like amputating a limb.

I know I like coffee with milk (see what I did there?), but I never thought of drinking it to induce labor, and I tried everything else. But can coffee induce labor? Or is it just a pipe dream of women who miss the cup of heaven every day? Can coffee cause labor? It's possible, but it's simply not a safe method to try.

Alternatives to Inducing Labor with Caffeine

Talk to your obstetrician and gynecologist to talk about possible alternatives, or even that three-hour torture with your nipples, but maybe wait until you find Dunkin. God knows you'll need it soon. Midwives have long recommended inducing labor naturally by drinking castor oil.

The idea is that the botanical laxative can stimulate the smooth muscle of the intestines, promote the release of prostaglandin and cause the nearby uterus to kick in. You can still drink your morning cup of coffee (about 12 ounces or less) (depending on the brand), but when it comes to enjoying coffee all day long, it's a habit you should give up. Make the most of your morning cup of coffee and enjoy it cold, in a smoothie, or even make your own pumpkin-spiced lattes with a couple of spoons of canned pumpkin, almond milk with hot vanilla, and pumpkin pie spices (and less coffee). If you have sex, do it just because you and your partner feel like it, not because you think it will induce labor.

The Reality About Coffee Inducing Labor

The thing about coffee is that it's not like eating spicy food, going for a walk or jumping your partner's bones several times a week to try to get this show out on the street. In another study published by Epidemiology, there was no increased risk in women who drank a minimum amount of coffee per day (between 200 and 350 mg per day).

In large doses, quinine can act as a labor inducing drug, but is used in the medical world as an abortive drug. If pregnancy becomes a risk for the mother or child, such as in the case of preeclampsia, there is no choice but to start labor. On the other hand, sex between the penis and the vagina can introduce semen into the vagina, which contains fats that soften the cervix called prostaglandins (also used in medical induction).

Coffee Consumption During Pregnancy

Coffee seems to be the most popular caffeinated beverage, but tea, chocolate and soft drinks also contain levels of caffeine. The caffeine in coffee crosses the placenta into the amniotic fluid and thus passes into the baby's bloodstream.

According to The Nutrition Society, women who drink coffee during pregnancy are at greater risk of losing their pregnancy than women who don't. For some pregnant women, like me, nausea and vomiting caused me to lose my taste for coffee and artificial sweeteners.

Benjamín Arrand
Benjamín Arrand

Avid beer maven. Passionate pop culture enthusiast. Passionate tv practitioner. Total zombie practitioner. Total tv evangelist. Hardcore bacon scholar.