Caffeine during pregnancy is a concern for many expecting women. Caffeine can be found in coffee, tea, soda and energy drinks. The amount of caffeine in each of these beverages varies, so it’s important to keep track of how much you consume.
Caffeine has been consumed during pregnancy for centuries as it (supposedly) helps pregnant women get through their busy days. But what provides the necessary energy, and is caffeine safe during pregnancy?
The National Health Service (NHS) and many other organisations state that consuming 200mg of caffeine (or less) in a day should not pose any significant risk in terms of a miscarriage or growth of the baby while in the womb.
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Is Caffeine During Pregnancy Safe
The short answer is yes, but it depends on what you’re using it for.
Caffeine is a stimulant, and we all know that when you’re pregnant, your body is definitely in need of a boost! But caffeine can also be used as a diuretic, making you pee more than normal, leading to dehydration. So, limiting yourself to one cup or twelve ounces of coffee (or other caffeinated drinks) is best if you’re drinking coffee or soda to stay awake during the day.
If you’re using caffeine medicinally, like an over-the-counter painkiller or cold medicine, make sure you read the label carefully. Some medications contain more than 200 mg per tablet or capsule—which means that even if one medicine contains this amount, taking two could give your baby an overdose.
There’s no way to sugarcoat it: caffeine during pregnancy is a controversial topic. Some experts say there’s no risk to your baby, while others believe that even the smallest amount of caffeine can put your baby at risk for developmental problems.
Image source: Stock
Caffeine During Pregnancy in First Trimester
Caffeine during pregnancy in the first trimester can be a contentious topic. On the one hand, we’ve all heard caffeine is bad for you and your baby. On the other hand, you probably know people who drank coffee throughout their pregnancies and had healthy babies. So how do you know what to believe?
The truth is that there isn’t a lot of research on this subject—and when there is, it’s often conflicting. Some studies say caffeine can harm your baby; others say it’s safe. There are even some studies that found no effect at all!
So what does this mean for you? If you’re unsure whether or not to drink caffeine during pregnancy, we recommend talking with your doctor about your specific situation.
Caffeine is just one of many factors that could affect your health during pregnancy—and whether or not it’s right for you depends on factors like your health history, how much caffeine you used to drink before getting pregnant, and how much caffeine you used to drink before getting pregnant caffeine affects your own body.
Caffeine During Pregnancy: Controversial Research Paper Says It is Harmful
Comments from these experts come after a new research paper published in BMJ suggests that pregnant women have no safe caffeine ingestion level.
Looking at 48 studies on the topic links caffeine consumption with harm, stating that “maternal caffeine consumption is reliably associated with miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight and/or small for gestational age, acute childhood leukaemia and childhood overweight and obesity.”
There was no association with preterm birth, however.
This led the author of the controversial paper, Professor Jack James, a psychologist at Reykjavik University in Iceland to give his “best advice” that mums-to-be and women should avoid drinks like tea and coffee entirely.
While experts typically recommend mums-to-be and women trying to get pregnant to limit their caffeine intake, there has been no mention of eliminating caffeine consumption.
You don’t have to cut out caffeine during pregnancy entirely. | Image source: iStock
How Caffeine Affects Pregnancy
Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed substances in the world. It is found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate, and many over-the-counter medications. No matter how much caffeine you consume, it cannot harm your baby.
However, if you are pregnant and consume too much caffeine, it can cause health problems for your unborn baby.
Coffee and other caffeinated drinks may cause your body to retain water, leading to swelling in your ankles and feet (oedema). This can also cause headaches or worsen when you already have a headache.
You may also feel nausea or vomiting, which can lead to dehydration. If you are sensitive to caffeine or drink too much of it during pregnancy, you may experience these symptoms:
- Diarrhoea
- Insomnia or trouble sleeping
- Nervousness
- Irritability
How Much Caffeine Is Allowed During Pregnancy
Experts referred to the paper as “overly alarmist” as it contradicts current guidelines whereby ‘moderate’ caffeine consumption of less than 200mg, equivalent to two cups of instant coffee during pregnancy, is safe.
James acknowledged that the study was only observational and thus could not establish any cause and effect of caffeine being harmful in pregnancy.
“There are so many dos and don’ts associated with pregnancy, and the last thing we need is to cause unnecessary anxiety. Women should be reassured that caffeine can be consumed in moderation during pregnancy,” states Dr Luke Grzeskowiak, a pharmacist at the University of Adelaide, Australia.
And apart from caffeine intake, experts highlight that other risk factors, such as cigarette smoking, could have contributed to negative implications during pregnancy.
“Like many substances found in a normal diet, harms in pregnancy can be found with high doses,” said Professor Andrew Shennan, professor of obstetrics at Kings College London.
How Much Caffeine is Too Much?
According to the World Health Organization, the body slowly removes caffeine from the mother’s blood during pregnancy.
And based on observational studies, excessive caffeine intake in pregnant mums is linked to growth restriction, reduced birth weight, preterm birth or stillbirth.
As mentioned, current NHS guidelines recommend pregnant mums limit caffeine consumption to 200mg caffeine or less in a day.
More than just coffee and tea, caffeine can also be present in diets, including chocolate, energy drinks, cold and flu remedies, as well as certain soft drinks such as cola.
You will almost reach your 200mg caffeine limit in a day if you have:
- 2 mugs of tea and 1 can of cola
- 1 mug of instant coffee and 1 can (250ml) of energy drink
Here is the amount of caffeine found in some foods and drinks as follows:
- Instant coffee: 100mg (1 mug)
- Filter coffee: 140mg (1 mug)
- Tea: 75mg (1 mug)
- Cola: 40mg (1 can)
- Energy drink: up to 80mg – larger cans may contain up to 160mg (1 can, 250ml)
- Plain chocolate (1 bar, 50g)
- Milk chocolate (1 bar, 50g)
Is Coffee During Pregnancy Safe
Is coffee during pregnancy safe?
The short answer: yes, but probably not in the amounts you’re used to drinking. Here’s why:
Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant that can cross the placenta and enter your baby’s bloodstream.
Because of this, your doctor may advise you to reduce caffeine intake during pregnancy. But how much is too much? And what about decaf coffee? Does it still have caffeine in it? Let’s break it down:
How Much Coffee Is Safe During Pregnancy?
In general, your doctor will recommend limiting yourself to one cup of coffee daily (about 200mg of caffeine). However, some factors can influence how much caffeine is safe for you and your baby during pregnancy.
For example, suppose you’re sensitive to caffeine or have had trouble getting pregnant in the past. In that case, your doctor may recommend cutting back even more—to half of what they would normally recommend for other women who aren’t pregnant yet (i.e., 100mg).
Remember that these amounts are just recommendations and don’t apply universally; every woman’s body is different! Your doctor can tell you how much is safe for you specifically.
Is Decaf Coffee Safe During Pregnancy
Decaf coffee is safe to drink during pregnancy and has the same health benefits as regular coffee. So if you’re worried about caffeine intake or cutting back on caffeine, decaf coffee is a great option!
The key thing to remember with decaf is that it’s not 100% caffeine-free—it still contains small amounts of caffeine, so you shouldn’t consume too much of it.
The amount of caffeine in decaf varies depending on the bean used, but it’s usually around 5 milligrams per 8 ounces of coffee. That’s about half the amount found in regular coffee, which comes in at 10-30 mg per 8 oz. cup
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What Are the Risks of Drinking Caffeine During Pregnancy
- Miscarriage – drinking too much coffee can cause miscarriage in the first three months of pregnancy.
- Birth defects – caffeine can increase the risk of birth defects, especially heart defects, by as much as 50%.
- Low birth weight – drinking more than two cups of coffee daily may lead to low birth weight babies.
- Preterm labour – women who drink more than one cup of coffee daily are more likely to experience preterm labour and premature delivery.
- Low Apgar score – this is a score that measures the health of your newborn.
Updates by Pheona Ilagan
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