Excessive coffee consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth.
Scientists found that women who drank eight or more cups of coffee daily faced over double the risk of stillbirth compared to non-coffee drinkers. Researchers analyzed 18,478 women who gave birth in hospitals between 1989 and 1996.These women completed two questionnaires detailing their medical history, smoking habits, and alcohol and coffee consumption.
Researchers found that higher coffee intake during pregnancy correlated with increased stillbirth risk. Compared to non-coffee drinkers, women consuming four to seven cups daily faced an 80% higher risk, while those drinking over eight cups daily saw a more than twofold increase.Researchers acknowledged that most women who drank large amounts of coffee also smoked and drank alcohol.
However, even after accounting for these factors, excessive coffee consumption was still associated with an increased risk of stillbirth. Women who drank more than eight cups of coffee daily faced a 2.2 times higher risk of stillbirth compared to those who abstained from coffee.
Researchers have yet to pinpoint the exact cause linking coffee consumption to stillbirth. One possibility is that caffeine constricts blood vessels connecting to the placenta, thereby reducing oxygen supply to the fetus.
Another potential mechanism involves caffeine directly damaging the fetal heart.
Experts emphasize that as long as daily coffee intake remains below four cups, it falls within a safe range, and there is no need for alarm.