Should moms avoid caffeine while pregnant or nursing?

This topic seems to be one linked with lots of opinions either direction. I’ve known nurses to tell moms they were not “allowed” soda in the hospital, and moms who never altered their intake a bit and felt their children were unaffected. The experts are torn, so how are you to make up your mind?

If you are looking for some data to decide what you should do, check these out…

The March of Dimes says women should limit their caffeine to 200 mg a day, and quotes several conflicting studies:

http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/nutrition_caffeine.html

The Cochrane Review says there is no benefit to avoiding caffeine:

http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab006965.html

This study found no convincing evidence of link to fetal harm:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21254365

Here is info on a study that takes the “other side”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/health/21caffeine.html

This study said there is no link to miscarriage risk:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18091004

And here is one more recommending limiting intake:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/womens-health/articles/2010/07/21/moderate-caffeine-intake-safe-during-pregnancy-experts-say

So what do you think? Follow your instincts. If you are a person who is sensitive to caffeine, baby very well may be, too. If you nurse your baby after a cup of coffee and find her sleep patterns altered, you may want to review your personal intakes.