Coffee: Should pregnant women need to give up caffeine?

Is it safe to drink coffee during pregnancy?

Yes, you can still enjoy cup of coffee during your pregnancy. But you’ll have to limit yourself to 200mg of caffeine a day, which is two cups of instant coffee or one cup of brewed coffee.

The main concern with coffee is its caffeine content. If you regularly have more than 200mg of caffeine while you’re pregnant, you are more at risk of miscarriage or having a baby with a low birth weight.

This 200mg limit includes all sources of caffeine, so as well as coffee you’ll need to count teas (including green tea), cola, energy drinks and chocolate.

Keep in mind that the caffeine content of espressos, and coffees based on espressos, such as cappuccinos and lattes, can depend on the outlet. One study found that caffeine levels can range from 50mg per espresso at one chain to as much as 300mg per espresso in another.

If you need to cut down on coffee, switch from brewed coffee to instant coffee as it’s slightly lower in caffeine. You could also make it weaker by using only use half a teaspoon of coffee.

Decaffeinated coffee is also a good option, and it tastes almost the same as normal coffee. And you may be able to trick yourself that you’re getting a caffeine hit caffeine while you’re pregnant!

 

If you’re worried about your caffeine intake, talk to your midwife or doctor. Read our article on caffeine during pregnancy for more information.

During pregnancy, women are encouraged to give up an array of tempting food and drinks they might normally enjoy, to help protect their growing babies. Think sushi, soft cheeses, cold seafood, soft-serve ice cream and alcohol. But does caffeine belong on the taboo list too?

Caffeine is the most commonly used drug in the world and is found in the leaves, seeds, pods and fruits of a range of plants, including tea leaves, coffee beans and cacao pods.

 

Most of us have some form of caffeine every day – be it in coffee, tea, chocolate, cola drinks or energy drinks. It has a stimulant effect which, in low doses, can give you an energy lift, making beverages like coffee the perfect morning pick-me-up or quick-fix when you run out of steam.

 

But is caffeine safe for pregnant women-to-be and their bubs?

Melanie McGrice, an Accredited Practising Dietitian and spokesperson for the Dietitians Association of Australia, says while you don’t need to cut out caffeine entirely it can be in the best interests of mum and bub to cut back.

 

“Australian guidelines recommend you limit your intake to less than 200 mg per day, so that’s about one to two instant coffees a day and two to three cups of tea,” explains McGrice, who has recently released a book called The Pregnancy Weight Plan to help guide expectant mums on healthy eating habits during pregnancy. Organo gold Healthy coffee has a caffeine level of 9mg per cup, thus mom should always check the level of caffeine when it come to pregnancy and caffeine

 

“The coffees you buy at a café tend to contain more caffeine than instant coffee, so you’re best sticking to just one cappuccino or latte a day. Interestingly though, a lot of women just don’t have that desire for caffeinated beverages during pregnancy.”
The caffeine effect

There are several reasons why women should limit their caffeine intake to less than 200 mg per day during pregnancy.

Caffeine is a stimulant that influences the sympathetic nervous system to give you a buzz, sending messages to and from your brain more rapidly. So while you sip your latte, your energy levels begin to surge along with your heart rate and blood pressure. But these are two functions that need to be kept within a healthy range during pregnancy.

An example of good healthy Decaffeinated coffee is Organo Gold Healthy Coffee Made with Ganoderman Lucidum with a caffeine level as low as 9mg per cup  caffeine while you’re pregnant.

 

Coffee: Should pregnant women need to give up caffeine?