Is It Safe To Drink Coffee During Pregnancy? | EWmums.com
 

Is It Safe To Drink Coffee During Pregnancy?

The million dollar question

Posted on

10 July 2017

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Is It Safe To Drink Coffee During Pregnancy?

While the dangers of alcohol and cigarettes on a growing fetus are well-documented and talked about, the coffee debate continues even today - should you or should you not?

According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, "Because caffeine crosses the placenta and increases maternal catecholamine levels, concerns have been raised about a potential relationship between caffeine exposure and the incidence of spontaneous miscarriage".

Moreover, studies have also shown that drinking huge amounts of coffee is linked to stillbirth. So, does a mommy-to-be have to give up her cup of joe?

Well, not really, but going for refills is probably not the best idea. As long as your collective caffeine intake is below 200mg (this includes tea, chocolates, cola etc as they all contain caffeine), you should be fine.

200mg is usually equivalent to two cups of instant coffee or a 10-ounce cup of coffee at Starbucks. If you are drinking coffee outside, beware as restaurants brew their coffee differently and you might be consuming more caffeine than you think you are.

Another point to remember is that decaffeinated does not mean caffeine-free. A 16-ounce cup of brewed decaffeinated coffee typically contains about 12 to 25 mg of caffeine.

It is best to opt for a latte as they typically contain 75mg of caffeine on an average and have milk that gives you calcium.