When it comes to caffeine during pregnancy, most of the evidence comes from retrospective studies, according to Dr.
While the results of these retrospective studies are conflicting, most come to a similar conclusion: moderate caffeine consumption less than mg per day hasn't been linked to adverse effects like miscarriage or preterm labor.
To put it in perspective, mg of caffeine is about one ounce cup of coffee. But keep in mind that the super-caffeinated coffee at Starbucks is over the milligram limit, even at the smallest "tall" size. Some pregnant women drink much more than mg of caffeine with no consequences, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
That's because animal studies have shown harmful effects of excessive caffeine while pregnant. Although "there are no conclusive studies in humans, studies in animals do show decreased fertility, increases in birth defects and miscarriage rates , and low-birthweight babies," says Michele Hakakha, M.
It's also important to note that some studies, including an August review published in the journal BMJ , report that no amount of caffeine is safe during pregnancy. Hakahka says. Decaf coffee may seem like a great alternative, but it still contains trace amounts of caffeine. According to the Mayo Clinic, a single cup of decaf has between 2 and 12 milligrams of caffeine.
So if you like the taste and can do without that caffeine buzz, you can have lots more decaf coffee before you hit the milligram limit. Even small amounts of caffeine in so-called decaf products can add up if you're having multiple servings. But is decaf coffee bad for you? Certain products might be. An independent study by the national nonprofit organization Clean Label Project , published in January , found that some brands of decaf coffee contain methylene chloride also known as dichloromethane or DCM.
This solvent is in products like paint strippers, adhesives, and automotive cleaning products. It's used during the decaffeination process for coffee. Methylene chloride has been linked to "cancer, cognitive impairment, and asphyxiation," according to the organization's press release. It's also associated with liver, kidney, and reproductive toxicity. So how do you know if your preferred brand of decaf coffee is toxic?
The Clean Label Project tested 23 top-selling products for contaminants. Fifteen tested products had undetectable levels of methylene chloride less than 50 parts per billion. These products are safest for pregnant women, and they include:. Four products have detectable levels of methylene chloride at a rate of parts per billion. Tea tends to have less caffeine than brewed coffee which tends to have more caffeine than a latte or other specialty coffee drinks.
The chart below will give you a better idea of how much caffeine is in different drinks:. While one 8-ounce cup of coffee will put you at close to the mg limit, an 8-ounce cup of black tea only has 50 mg, meaning you can enjoy two without going over the recommended amount. Since it's always best to err on the side of caution when you're expecting, consider cutting back caffeine to one or two small cups a day at most.
If even that sounds daunting, here are some ways to make the process a little easier:. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.
This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Registry Builder New. Medically Reviewed by Eric Surrey, M. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals. Here's how much caffeine is safe during pregnancy and what to do to curb your intake if you drink more than a cup of coffee or tea a day. Back to Top. In This Article.
Caffeine is in a lot more things than just coffee, and the amount of caffeine varies widely among products, and even among brands.
Pay attention to the kinds of foods and drinks you're having throughout the day and how much of them so you can be aware of how much caffeine you're really consuming. To manage your caffeine intake, you'll need to be aware of all sources, like tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, chocolate, and coffee ice cream.
Caffeine also shows up in herbal products and over-the-counter medications , including some headache, cold, and allergy remedies. Read labels carefully. The amount of caffeine in a serving of coffee varies widely, depending on the type of bean, how it's roasted, how it's brewed — and, obviously, on the size of the cup. Although espresso contains more caffeine per ounce, it's served in a tiny cup.
So a full cup of brewed coffee will actually deliver more caffeine. While there are good reasons to cut back on caffeine during pregnancy, it's not always easy. Your desire for a morning cup of joe might evaporate during the first trimester when morning sickness strikes, only to return full-strength later in pregnancy. Or, you may always have a hankering for your usual caffeinated pick-me-ups. Consider some of these tips to help you have a low-caffeine pregnancy:.
Although herbal teas often have no caffeine, check with your healthcare provider before drinking them. A cup of peppermint or ginger tea is fine, but some herbal teas aren't safe for pregnancy. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals.
We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. Committee Opinion. Moderate Caffeine Consumption During Pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Center for Science in the Public Interest. Caffeine Chart. Hoyt, AT et al. Maternal caffeine consumption and small for gestational age births: Results from a population-based case-control study.
Maternal and Child Health Journal Aug;18 6 James, JE. Maternal caffeine consumption and pregnancy outcomes: a narrative review with implications for advice to mothers and mothers-to-be.
March of Dimes. Caffeine in Pregnancy. News Release. Moderate daily caffeine intake during pregnancy may lead to smaller birth size.
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