Q: Doc, I am an expectant mother in the last trimester. My Doc told me my baby is big and I decided to take tea daily. Is it safe?

A: Tea contains caffeine. There are conflicting reports as to whether some amount of caffeine is beneficial in pregnancy (less than 200mg) or whether increased amounts are a problem > or more than 500mg). One regular teabag steeped in a small teacup has about 55mg of caffeine. So, it may be a good idea to limit your consumption of tea. However, I think that tea is really one of the least of your problems right now. The focus should be on what caused the big baby and what can be done to ensure that you and baby come out okay.

Big babies are usually seen in women who

• Are diabetic.
• Have gestational Diabetes (Diabetes that is observed during pregnancy),
• Are obese
• Have had another big baby before
• Have had a lot of babies (from the 5^th pregnancy, the risk of big babies increase)
• Excessive weight gain during pregnancy
• Are older. From age 35 years, the risk of having a big baby increases
• Have pregnancies that are overdue. When a pregnancy is more than 2 weeks overdue, the chances of a big baby are increased.

For women with big babies (fetal macrosomia), a vaginal delivery may not be a complete no no! However, your OBGYN will weigh the risk of that against your medical history and other pre-existing medical conditions. Potential complications include having genital tract tears during delivery, prolonged labour and rupture of the uterus. The babies may be born with a higher than normal blood sugar level and be prone to childhood obesity.

However, none of this needs to happen if you are registered in a good center under the care of a qualified obstetrician. In these centres, all possible complications are anticipated during pregnancy and at the time of delivery.

To prevent this, remember that feeding for 2 is a fad. You don’t really need to eat like a horse 😀 …you and your baby don’t need that much (an average of 12kg weight gain for 9 months…little over 1kg/month!); include some exercise (gentle stretches and walks, with your doctor’s knowledge and advice) and be sure that Diabetes is controlled, if you have this before pregnancy.

The link to my post on weight gain during pregnancy is included here to provide more information. https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/12/02/daily-health-tips-eating-for-two/

So, for the remainder of your pregnancy, be sure to follow your doctor’s instruction on weight gain, medications etc. to the letter! Let’s share the good news when the baby is born.

All the best!

 Here’s to a healthier you!