Why is it bad to drink caffeine when your pregnant

Is it bad to drink Diet Soda while pregnant even if its caffeine …?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080803155825AA3h9H3

yea, u only want real sugar. And caffeine is to be cut down but its not crazy bad. i drink pop all the time and the doctor said it wont affect my baby one bit, maybe make it a wild one but, its only for precaution

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What are the side effects of having Caffine when pregnant??

Q: Now I don’t have any caffeine while I am pregnant, due to personal preference. But you often hear people saying don’t drink coffee or have coke when your pregnant.Why is it so bad??What are the side effects of having caffeine to your unborn child??Any website would be welcome!! :DThanks xxx

A: In moderate amounts, caffeine should not cause harm to the fetus. It is recommended that pregnant women consume no more than 300 mg of caffeine per day. The March of Dimes website has a great webpage with information about caffeine and pregnancy:”How does caffeine affect the body?Caffeine is a stimulant that increases alertness. It slightly increases blood pressure and heart rate and increases urine production.Some individuals are more sensitive to caffeine than others. Pregnant women may be especially sensitive to it because they take longer to clear caffeine from the body than individuals who are not pregnant. Caffeine may cause some individuals to feel jittery, have indigestion or have trouble sleeping.During pregnancy, caffeine crosses the placenta and reaches the fetus. Studies suggest that caffeine may affect the fetal heart rate and breathing patterns, though these changes are not believed to be harmful.””Some studies suggest that high caffeine intake (equal to about 3 or more cups of coffee a day) may increase the risk of miscarriage and of having a low-birthweight baby (less than 5½ pounds). However, there is no solid proof that caffeine causes these problems. Until more is known, women should limit their caffeine intake during pregnancy. Most experts believe that consuming less than about 300 mg of caffeine (the amount in about two 8-oz. cups of brewed coffee or about seven 12-ounce sodas) per day appears safe in pregnancy.”Best wishes and take care!