There’s nothing like the invigorating taste of a cup’o’joe. Especially when it’s the first thing that hits your lips in the morning – ABSOLUTE HEAVEN. There’s just something about coffee that causes your day to naturally start off on the right foot. And yes, that something is probably the caffeine. But unfortunately, coffee and pregnancy don’t always go hand-in-hand. In fact, experts say that drinking caffeine while pregnant is quite dangerous.
The Importance of Avoiding Caffeine while Pregnant.
It totally sucks to know that it’s not a good idea to drink coffee while pregnant – especially if you’re a coffee lover like me. However, some moms might not fully understand the gravity of why this is crucial to stay away from. Doctors say that drinking large amounts of coffee or caffeine can cause severe harm to your baby, and result in things like:
- Increased risk of miscarriage
- Low birth weight
- Stillbirth
These risks are possible due to the caffeine that is present in coffee, especially when consumed in larger amounts (200mg or more per day). And because it’s hard to tell exactly how much caffeine is in your favorite coffee brand of choice, some gynecologists recommend that pregnant moms err to the side of caution, and encourage them to just avoid caffeinated coffee altogether.
So, What About Decaf?
Drinking decaf coffee should be safer, right? That should put pregnant moms in the clear, right? Well, in a way, yes. But, what most people don’t know, is that the word “decaf” doesn’t always mean “100% caffeine-free.” Even your favorite decaf brand can still contain 12-25mg of caffeine when brewed. And if you drink enough cups of that, unfortunately, the dangerous risks we mentioned above could still be a possibility for your baby.
On top of that, conventional coffee beans are known to be one of the most heavily chemically treated foods in the entire world. If the coffee you’re drinking isn’t organic, you’re more than likely consuming things like pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, fungicides, and insecticides. All kinds of “cides” that you don’t want in your “insides.” Especially when you’re carrying a baby!
Is There A Trustworthy Decaf Option for Pregnant Moms?
YES! Knowing that many pregnant moms out there struggle with missing the crisp taste of coffee while pregnant, we’ve luckily found a brand that we feel is not only perfect for pregnant moms, but also for all you coffee connoisseurs out there, too!
Blue Spruce Decaf is a brand of coffee that is organic, decaffeinated, and the way they craft their coffee beans makes them one of the healthiest options on the market – especially for those who are with child.
They use what’s called a “swiss water process,” which is a chemical-free way to gently remove the caffeine. This process allows the coffee to become 99.9% caffeine-free. The United States only requires decaf coffee companies to have 97% caffeine-free coffee beans, so Blue Spruce Decaf is as close to 100% caffeine-free as you can possibly get.
How Does the “Swiss Water Process” Work?
The way this decaffeination process works is with two steps – involving two batches of green coffee beans. The process begins by soaking the first batch of green coffee beans in water to dissolve the caffeine. Then, the water is then passed through a carbon filter. The result is that the caffeine from the first batch of coffee beans is left behind in the filter. The filtered water now contains the full coffee flavor, but without the caffeine!
The first batch of beans is then discarded, and the flavor-enhanced water is used to remove the caffeine from the second batch of green coffee beans. The second time, since the water is already saturated with coffee flavor, the caffeine is removed, but the beans retain the flavor and aroma. How cool is that?!
The coffee beans come whole, so you’ll want to grind it before brewing. But in doing that, it also makes the coffee taste richer, bolder, and more delicious!
After tasting the coffee ourselves, we can easily say that we’ve become 100% obsessed with this new coffee. We’ve tried their Mexican, Thai, and Espresso flavors, and all of them are outstanding!
So Never Fear, You Coffee-Loving Preggo Mama. Blue Spruce Decaf Has Your Back.
If you’re a pregnant mom who has been having major coffee cravings, or if you have friends who only drink decaf, Blue Spruce Decaf is definitely the brand to go with. It’s safe, clean, quality, and yummy – all in one tasty bag of beans!
Of course, we always recommend you consulting your doctor about your specific health situation. Everyone’s body, and pregnancy, is different – and your doctor will know what is best for you specifically. So if you have any questions or concerns about drinking decaf coffee, feel free to consult your OBGYN.
