As a pregnant woman, monitoring your health whilst growing a child can be a difficult but necessary task. One of the potential tests you may be asked to undertake is a glucose test, which determines your body’s ability to process sugar. But could drinking coffee prior to your glucose test pregnancy negatively affect the results?
Consuming moderate levels of coffee (up to two cups per day) is considered safe during pregnancy 1. However, drinking coffee before the glucose test for pregnant women is not recommended, as caffeine has been found to potentially interfere with the test results. For instance, Swiss research found that caffeine could influence the body’s glucose-regulating mechanisms 2. Moreover, according to the American Pregnancy Association, caffeine affects the stomach and gut, reducing the absorption of the glucose solution needed during the screening 3. Therefore, it is best to not drink coffee prior to taking a glucose test during pregnancy.
Though it can be hard to go without coffee for a period of time, the results of the test are invaluable in understanding your health. While having a pregnant body means changes, knowing your health will help you to prepare for the upcoming needs. Seeking advice from a medical professional, who can also provide a personalised dietary plan, can be beneficial, enabling you to understand which foods and beverages are best for you and your baby.
Increasing evidence supports that a balanced diet is important for pregnant women. Eating regular meals, including fruits and vegetables in your diet, and avoiding consumption of sugary snacks and drinks, is the best way to ensure the glucose tests results are accurate. Recommendations from nutritionists suggest that 8 or more glasses of water should be consumed daily in order to be well hydrated and that this could help to regulate sugar levels 4.
Furthermore, blood sugar tests are not the only indicator of a healthy pregnancy. Regular exercise and sleep can also influence your tests’ results. Studies have shown that staying physically active and complying with 8 hours of sleep can help to reduce anxiety levels and support mental wellbeing, as well as help regulate your glucose levels 5.
It is important to remember that supplements, teas and any other drinks, besides water, should be consumed in moderation or not at all. Pregnant women should not look to substitute their diets or opt for something else instead of a glucose test. Medically prescribed pregnant diets are there for a reason, and fully understanding the process and benefits of a glucose test for pregnant women is key to giving a healthy and safe birth.
Vitamins and Nutrients
In order to ensure a healthy and balanced diet, especially during pregnancy, consuming a wide variety of fruits and vegetables can ensure a sufficient intake of vitamins and minerals. The United States National Institutes of Health recommends pregnant women to consume six-eight portions daily, such as a portion of fruit juice and two servings of dark leafy greens 6.
The NHS also adds that having an understanding of which micronutrients are important for pregnant women is key, as vitamins, such as Vitamin D, can be particularly important for pregnant women 7. Vitamin D is important for many physiological processes and can be obtained through food sources and exposure to sunlight. Calcium and Iron are also essential for pregnant women, as calcium supports healthy teeth and bones development, whilst Iron support organs and cells health 8.
Herbs for Pregnant Women
Herbal remedies have been around for many centuries and are still used today as an alternative treatment for many illnesses. Despite the potential of many herbs being beneficial to pregnant women, there remains potential risks when using them during pregnancy. The FDA recommends to completely avoid any herbs during the first trimester and limit intake throughout the remainder of the pregnancy, as purity of herbal supplements cannot accurate be assessed 9.
Some more specific herbs such as raspberry leaves, have been found to have potential benefits for pregnant women, such as running a reduction in labour pains, as well as reducing the risk of bleeding during the postpartum period 10. The University of Maryland Medical Centre also concludes that ginger may be beneficial as an alternative treatment for nausea during pregnancy 11.
Weight Gain
Weight gain is one of the most common changes that happens during pregnancy. The Institute of Medicine recommends an average gain of 25-35 pounds for pregnant women with a BMI of 19-24 12. Weight gain for those women with a BMI over 25 is recommended to be 15-20 pounds, and 11-20 pounds for those women underweight. The Health Promotion Board of Singapore recommends pregnant women should consume additional calories from healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy 13.
Pregnant women seeking to gain an appropriate amount of weight should continue to feed their body with healthy foods that provide enough nutrition without over consuming. If a large amount of gain is met in an unhealthy way, this could potentially cause side-effects such as aches and pains, indigestion, and constipation 14. Seeking advice from dieticians and health professionals can help during pregnancy to ensure you are gaining the necessary amount of weight in a healthy way.
Caffeine Intake
Consumption of caffeine is one of the most discussed topics in pregnancy, with conflicting evidence as to how much pregnant women should be consuming. However, caffeine is a stimulant and negatively affects the mental state and energy levels of pregnant women. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommends pregnant women to limit caffeine intake to fewer than 200 milligrams per day 15.
Fructose, corn syrup, and sugar should also be avoided or limited, as the glucose test for pregnant women measures the body’s response to sugar. Excessive consumption of sweets and drinks can lead to an altered reading, making it harder to accurately assess the body’s response and potential health risks. Eating plenty of antioxidant-rich foods, such as fruits, dark chocolate, and leafy green vegetables, can naturally help to reduce sugar cravings and provide your body with essential vitamins and minerals 16.
In conclusion, it is important to have accurate and reliable glucose tests during your pregnancy journey. Drinking coffee before the glucose test pregnancy is recommended to be avoided, as the caffeine content could interfere with the test’s accuracy. Following a balanced diet, exercising and getting enough sleep can help to regulate your glucose levels and prepare for a healthy pregnancy and birth.
1https://kellymom.com/nutrition/mothers-diet/caffeine/
2Pirulli, T., Vogel, F.J., Thürmann, P.A., Holst, J.J., Roden, M. and Lüthje, P., 2016. Caffeine inhalation decreases glucose tolerance in humans-implications for glucose homeostasis and type 2 diabetes. Journal of diabetes, 8(4), pp.533-540.
3https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/glucose-testing-gestational-diabetes/
4https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5918239/#R21
5Yong, E., 2017. Role Of Exercise and Sleep In Controlling Glucose Levels and Type 2 Diabetes. International journal of environmental research and public health, 14(6), p.622.
6https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547637/
7https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/what-you-need-vitamins-minerals/
8https://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/vitamins-minerals-needed-during-pregnancy/
9https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/pregnant-and-thinking-about-using-herbal-supplements
10https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5801050/
11https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6175532/
12https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/71/5/1245S/4728905
13https://www.hpb.gov.sg/health-article/understanding-weight-gain-pregnancy#:~:text=Total%20weight%20gain%20for%20a%20healthy%20mother%20with%20a,%2C%20Iron%20and%20Calcium
14https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy-diet/art-20043844
15https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/caffeine-in-pregnancy
16https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-diabetes
