The LifeCo Blog

Chocolate and coffee are two of life’s pleasures as far as I’m concerned. They also have numerous health benefits. But many people have told me they should be avoided at all cost during pregnancy. I beg to differ.

I love my coffee - actually savor more than indulge. So when my doctor told me I should avoid coffee and black tea, I mentally blocked out the coffee part.

Then a new study came out which said that coffee consumption is linked to miscarriages. When discussing with friends, some felt I should stick to the new recommendations. But another friend who has had a couple miscarriages shed some personal light on the subject. She tried to conceive under a variety of circumstances - with caffeine, without caffeine; in her home country, overseas; with a great diet, with a poor diet. Her point is that, while it’s good to err on the side of caution, there are so many factors that play into whether a baby will make it to term or not, that it’s unrealistic to single out just one.

Chocolate is another thing that I haven’t given up (I tell myself junior is the one who wants it, but really I know better). Chocolate also falls under the list of caffeinated no-no’s. But a friend in Switzerland was told she should eat chocolate every day during her pregnancy. According to Swiss doctors, a couple squares of dark chocolate every day make for a happy baby. Maybe it’s just propaganda to get people to keep eating chocolate, but she does have one of the happiest babies I know.

So, while I don’t plan to over do it with these treats, I will definitely consume them in moderation. Pregnancy is not an easy time in one’s life, and I think we should be allowed to have a little indulgence every now and then.

- Lisa Johnson

Filed under: pregnancy, coffee, chocolate on February 21st, 2008