There are some people who are
incapable of relaxing. Coffee drinkers are adrenalin junkies, they
find it difficult to sit still for five minutes let alone relax and
become tension free for a whole labour. Caffeine is a psychoactive
stimulant which acts on the central nervous system by promoting the
release of catecholamines such as adrenalin.
Caffeine can also cause dehydration
which is not a good idea in pregnancy as the blood needs to remain
quite dilute in order to get in and out of the placenta easily. Your
baby gets all his nourishment and oxygen from you, if your blood is
too thick by you being dehydrated then your baby will suffer.
Research has also shown that caffeine intake during early pregnancy
can contribute to miscarriages.
Caffeine is not only found in coffee.
It is also in black tea, green tea, cola and some energy drinks. If you stop your
caffeine intake suddenly you may experience withdrawal symptoms,
which include headache and nausea. There is a reduction in serotonin
levels when caffeine input is stopped which can cause anxiety,
irritability, inability to concentrate and lethargy. It would
therefore be a good idea to cut down slowly on caffeine intake before
becoming pregnant.
It is not only the fact that caffeine
makes it difficult for people to relax and so relaxation techniques
become ineffective. It is the fact that caffeine causes the body to
release adrenalin. As you have seen previously,
adrenalin causes all kinds of problems in labour and is to be avoided
at all cost. If you are unable to kick the caffeine habit before
pregnancy then try stopping caffeine intake well before labour
begins. This will leave you in a calmer state of mind, ready to
respond to your chosen relaxation technique in labour.
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