Recent study shows caffeine potentially increases chance of miscarry

For those that didn’t see this recent report, including caffeine in your diet can double your chance of miscarriage.

The study undertaken by Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and appearing in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, provides strong evidence that high doses of caffeine during pregnancy – 200 milligrams or more per day or the equivalent of two cups of (regular) coffee or approx 5 cans of caffeine based soda – significantly increase the risk of miscarriage. They suggest this can effectively double the risk. It should be noted that this is not proven but does suggest that including caffeine could increase your risk. This is nothing new and has been an advisory for some time.

There are a ton of “what not to eat” pages out there, and this blog is not exempt 🙂

• Deli Meat – such as deli ham, turkey, bologna, and salami as they include a potential for listeria (which crosses the placenta and can cause a miscarriage). Also meat related products such as Pate and hot dogs.
• Fish with higher mercury levels : Grouper, Marlin, Orange roughy, Tilefish, Swordfish, Shark, Mackerel (king), Bass saltwater, Croaker, Halibut, Tuna (canned, white albacore), Tuna (fresh bluefin, ahi), Sea trout, Bluefish, Lobster (American/Maine). Read the American Pregnancy Page on Fish/Mercury for more info. Also avoid deli fish (smoked) and raw shellfish.
• Dairy – Soft cheeses and unpasteurized products.
• Caffeine and Alcohol
• Unwashed vegetables
• Too much vitamin A

 Things you SHOULD look to eat / take!

• Lots of fruit and vegetables
• Plenty of starchy foods such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes – try to choose wholegrain options
• Foods rich in protein such as lean meat and chicken, fish (aim for at least two servings of fish a week, including one of oily fish), eggs and pulses (such as beans and lentils). These foods are also good sources of iron (see ‘Do I need extra iron?’ below)
• Plenty of fibre. This helps prevent constipation and is found in wholegrain bread, pasta, rice, pulses and fruit and vegetables
• Dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yoghurt, which contain calcium
• Stock up on your vitamins – particularly folic acid, iron, vitamin D

Check out this page for more info

Chances of Miscarriage

• Studies suggest that anywhere from 10-25% of all clinically recognized pregnancies will end in miscarriage (more facts on that below). Chemical pregnancies may account for 50-75% of all miscarriages. This occurs when a pregnancy is lost shortly after implantation, resulting in bleeding that occurs around the time of an expected period.
• Most miscarriages occur during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
• Almost 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, with the majority occurring during the first 12 weeks.
• There is a 75% chance of miscarriage in weeks 1-2 of pregnancy, when you do not know you are pregnant.
• There is a 10% chance of miscarriage in weeks 3-6 and this number drops to 5% during weeks 6-12.
• During the second trimester the chance of miscarriage drops again to 3%.  After you’ve reached 20 weeks gestation, it is no longer considered a miscarriage.

For repeat miscarriage the statistic are as follows:

• If you have had a miscarriage during your first pregnancy, your chances of another miscarriage are 10-13%.
• If you have had one or more live births and one miscarriage your chance of another miscarriage is around 10%.
• There is a 40% chance of a repeat miscarriage if you have had two pregnancies and two miscarriages.
• The chance of multiple miscarriages is lower, at around 13%, if you have had one or more live births.
• If you have had three pregnancies and three miscarriages there is a 60% chance you will miscarry again.  If you have had four miscarriages with no live births your chances of a healthy pregnancy drop to 0-5%.