Maternal caffeine intake and its effect on pregnancy outcomes

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Perinatal Health
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy is a common concern.
• Understanding the effects of caffeine on pregnancy outcomes is crucial for prenatal care.
• Previous research has yielded mixed results regarding caffeine's impact on fetal development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate maternal caffeine intake levels during pregnancy.
• To investigate the association between caffeine consumption and pregnancy duration.
• To determine the influence of caffeine intake on newborn birthweight and Apgar scores.

Main Methods:

• Study conducted on 509 women with unifetal pregnancies without underlying diseases.
• Data collected via direct questionnaires and patient records.
• Statistical analysis included multivariate logistic regression and Spearman's rank correlation.

Main Results:

• 98.4% of participants consumed ≤300 mg of caffeine daily.
• Smokers and older pregnant women reported higher caffeine intake.
• No significant association found between maternal caffeine intake and premature birth, birthweight, or Apgar scores.

Conclusions:

• Daily caffeine intake up to 300 mg during pregnancy is not linked to adverse effects on pregnancy length.
• Moderate caffeine consumption does not negatively influence newborn condition at birth.
• Findings support current recommendations for moderate caffeine intake during gestation.