Can You Have Caffeine If You Are A Surrogate?

Kim Kardashian West has broken the internet again with the news that she's hired a surrogate for her third baby, and she has, understandably, given her surrogate a huge list of rules to follow. TMZ reported that the surrogate is restricted to one caffeinated beverage per day, but can you have caffeine if you are a surrogate, or is Kardashian just being extra cautious?

According to TMZ, Kardashians's list of dos and don'ts for her surrogate also include no sex for three weeks after the embryo is implanted, no hair dye, no hot tubs or saunas, no raw fish, and no smoking, drugs, or alcohol. It’s understandable that Kardashian would want to make sure her surrogate is following the healthiest regimen possible to ensure her baby is growing and developing in a healthy body, but does caffeine have any impact on pregnancy or fertility?

When it comes to fertility, The National Infertility Association explained that studies have shown caffeine can affect fertility by lowering your chances of conception, and in in-vitro fertilization patients, even a small amount of caffeine could lead to decreased live birth rates. The NIA mentioned that while there is no known reason why caffeine affects fertility in this way, a study done on monkeys and mice points to caffeine decreasing the quality and development of oocytes (eggs).

For a pregnant person, whether you’re a surrogate for Kardashian or not, caffeine in very low amounts is OK. According to the American Pregnancy Association, high amounts of caffeine during pregnancy can increase your chances of miscarriage and birth defects, and will go through the placenta to the baby, who is not capable of metabolizing caffeine. The APA suggested pregnant women limit their intake of caffeine to 150 milligrams to 300 milligrams a day.

It's completely warranted for Kardashian to ask her surrogate to limit caffeine. She is, after all, putting her baby's life in this woman's hands, and asking her to make it the healthiest possible experience it can be. (Even if it means she only gets one cup of coffee.)