Pregnancy is a time of many questions and concerns, and one of the most common is whether or not coffee can induce labor. Many pregnant women stay away from coffee, soft drinks, and other caffeinated beverages due to the belief that it can cause preterm birth. But is there any truth to this?The short answer is no. 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. Herbalists believe that if you consume caffeine early in pregnancy, you're at risk of preterm birth. However, there is no evidence to suggest that inducing labor with caffeine actually works, so you should avoid trying. Talk to your obstetrician and gynecologist to talk about possible alternatives. 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.
According to The Nutrition Society, women who drink coffee during pregnancy are at greater risk of losing their pregnancy than women who don't.In large doses, quinine can act as a labor inducing drug, but is used in the medical world as an abortive drug. 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). 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. If you have sex, do it just because you and your partner feel like it, not because you think it will induce labor. The caffeine in coffee crosses the placenta into the amniotic fluid and thus passes into the baby's bloodstream.
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. Coffee seems to be the most popular caffeinated beverage, but tea, chocolate and soft drinks also contain levels of caffeine. For some pregnant women, like me, nausea and vomiting caused me to lose my taste for coffee and artificial sweeteners. 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). 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. In conclusion, while there is no evidence that consuming caffeine in late pregnancy can induce labor, it is still important to be mindful of your caffeine intake during pregnancy.
Talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have regarding caffeine consumption during pregnancy.
