Internally Peer Reviewed Many pregnant women must make difficult decisions during pregnancy, but deciding whether to drink a cup of coffee or can of soda pop is not one of them, says a University of Iowa researcher and physician. Some earlier studies of caffeine's effects on pregnancy did not consider smoking or weight gain. Niebyl says most women cut down their caffeine intake naturally because of nausea experienced during pregnancy.
Nausea is a good sign during pregnancy.
Caffeine is a stimulant and some people are sensitive to the natural drug, Niebyl says. It affects the central nervous system and the heart, dilates blood vessels, and in some people, it can affect heart rhythm. Niebyl says it is not clear if the stimulant has any effect on the fetus. Niebyl says chocolate lovers don't need to worry, because most chocolate contains only a small amount of caffeine that has no discernible effect on the body. If you have questions concerning caffeine use during pregnancy, talk with your physician.