The Coffee Conundrum: Do you Really Have to Kick the Coffee Habit During Pregnancy?

Many women are unsure if they should forego their morning cup of coffee or skip their daily coffee break during pregnancy. The confusion regarding this topic is understandable as the recommendations on caffeine and coffee consumption during pregnancy are not as black and white as a cup of coffee with a side of cream!

Because caffeine crosses the placenta, large amounts could affect babies in the same way it does adults. These effects include a faster heart rate, tremors, increased breathingrate, and trouble sleeping- but this is only when the mother consumes more than 500mg of caffeine each day (the amount found in more than three cups of coffee). This has lead many pregnant women to think that caffeine should be avoided completelyduring pregnancy.

Thankfully, enough research has been conducted to make a safe recommendation that’s sure to send a little positive energy any coffee-lover’s way.

The research boils down to finding that moderate caffeine consumption is safe during pregnancy. “Moderate” is considered to be 200-300 mg/day, which is 1-3 cups of coffee.The amount of caffeine in different types of coffee ranges from 40-180 mg per five ounceserving. Most studies have shown that only very high amounts of caffeine- greater than the recommended 200-300 mg, can cause miscarriage or fetal death. When it comes to birth defects, human studies have shown that even very high amounts of caffeine havenot been shown to cause an increased risk.

If you have a cup of coffee in the morning, try not to let it replace other hydrating beverages such as milk, orange juice, or water. This is important because caffeine isalso a diuretic, which means it helps eliminate fluids from the body and can result in waterand calcium loss. If you drink coffee, keep in mind that you should still strive to includethe recommended daily 8-12 eight ounce servings of water in your diet to stay adequatelyhydrated.

The benefits of good hydration are many, including detoxifying your body of waste products and aiding in healthy liver and kidney function for both mom and baby. A pregnant woman also needs more water as her body expands during pregnancy and blood volume significantlyincreases. Not drinking enough water may contribute to fatigue as well as constipation.

So fill your most of your glasses with low calorie and low caffeine products, but don’t let the caffeine content of your morning cup of Joe stop you from enjoying this popular beverage. Coffee is actually a good source of health-promoting antioxidants and has been shown to improve cognitive function and reduce risk of some diseases. As it goes for most everything we eat or drink (except for the foods that should be avoided during pregnancy such as alcohol and high-mercury fish), moderation is key. So based on the research, during pregnancy youcan still wake up and smell (and drink) the coffee! 

More here: Organization of Teratology Information Specialists