At exceptionally high levels, it will damage chromosomes, but what's of more concern is that even moderate consumption may reduce fertility by damaging sperm. In normal semen, you always get a proportion of mal-functioning sperm, abnormal ones or adverse shapes. But the percentage of these goes up proportional to the amount of caffeine consumed. Dr Pollard's advice to any couple planning a family is to cut back on caffeine, preferably to no more than four cups a day. At Sydney's Royal Hospital for Women, a study is confirming what many pregnant women have long suspected.
Caffeine gives the baby a kick as well.
Using ultra-sound imaging, Dr Leo Leader has been monitoring the activity of the foetus before and after the mother has had a cup of coffee. The difference is dramatic. It's not that we've observed more activity, rather the baby seems to spend less time resting, and that seems to last about 30 or 40 minutes after a cup of coffee. As a result, they may turn out to be a little more active than one would like. With that in mind, it's amazing that a hospital in Perth is feeding caffeine to pre-term babies.