Is It Safe to Drink Coffee While Pregnant?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

Moderate coffee consumption (up to 1-2 cups per day) is generally considered safe during pregnancy. However, higher levels of coffee intake (3 or more cups per day) may be associated with increased risks of miscarriage and low birth weight, although the evidence is not conclusive. The findings on the relationship between coffee consumption and adverse pregnancy outcomes are inconsistent, and further research is needed to provide more definitive guidance. Pregnant women are advised to limit their caffeine intake to avoid potential risks.

The safety of coffee consumption during pregnancy is a topic of significant interest due to the widespread consumption of coffee and the potential implications for fetal development and pregnancy outcomes. This synthesis aims to provide a cohesive understanding of the current research on whether it is safe to drink coffee while pregnant.

Key Insights

• Moderate Coffee Consumption (1-2 cups/day) Generally Considered Safe:
  • Most experts agree that consuming small amounts of caffeine, equivalent to about one to two 8-ounce cups of coffee per day, appears to be safe during pregnancy3 8.
• High Coffee Consumption (3+ cups/day) and Potential Risks:
  • High caffeine intake, defined as three or more cups of coffee per day, may be associated with an increased risk of miscarriage and low birth weight, although there is no solid proof that caffeine directly causes these problems1 3 7.
  • Some studies suggest that high coffee consumption may modestly lower infant birth weight1.
• Inconsistent Findings on Pregnancy Loss and Birth Outcomes:
  • Studies on the relationship between coffee consumption and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as spontaneous abortion and delayed time to conception are inconsistent, and no definitive conclusions can be drawn1 4 5.
  • A meta-analysis indicated a significantly higher risk of pregnancy loss with coffee consumption before and during pregnancy, with a dose-response relationship suggesting increased risk with higher coffee intake2.
• No Strong Evidence Linking Coffee to Major Birth Defects:
  • Research does not implicate coffee as a likely human teratogen, and there is no excess of malformations among coffee drinkers1 4.
• Need for Further Research:
  • There is insufficient evidence to confirm or refute the effectiveness of caffeine avoidance on birth weight or other pregnancy outcomes, highlighting the need for high-quality, double-blinded randomized controlled trials (RCTs)5.

Is it safe to drink coffee while pregnant?

Kesha Baptiste-Roberts has answered Likely

An expert from Morgan State University in Epidemiology, Women’s Health

Overall, low levels of coffee consumption are not convincingly or consistently associated with any adverse pregnancy outcomes or outcomes during childhood. As such one should adhere to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommendation of <200 mg of caffeine per day.

Is it safe to drink coffee while pregnant?

Ian Musgrave has answered Likely

An expert from University of Adelaide in Pharmacology, Toxicology

Yes, but cut back on the double espressos and don’t binge on chocolate.

Caffeine is one of the most popular and safest stimulants we consume. It’s found in many foods and drinks, with coffee and chocolate perhaps the most popular. Modest coffee consumption is associated with health benefits such as reduced risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Moderate caffeine consumption is generally safe but studies have found caffeine consumption by pregnant women might present a risk of pregnancy loss or adversely affect the development of their baby. Earlier studies suggested that consumption of less than 300mg caffeine was safe but the data in this study is limited.

A recent massive review of caffeine intake in pregnancy confirms previous advice that intakes of less than 300mg caffeine per day in pregnant women is safe. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has a more stringent recommendation of no more than 200mg per day. Adhering to the EFSA guide, you can “enjoy” three cups of instant coffee a day. Bear in mind brewed coffee is higher in caffeine, containing 95-165mg of caffeine per medium cup, so you may want to consume this less liberally.

I have adapted this answer from my original answer in The Conversation  

Is it safe to drink coffee while pregnant?

Clare Collins has answered Unlikely

An expert from University of Newcastle in Nutrition

I think “no” is the safest answer to this question, as I can only say yes conditionally.

A major 2017 review found high coffee intake, compared to low or no intake, was associated with an increased chance of low birth weight, pre-term birth and pregnancy loss.

But a separate review focusing on caffeine intake, which included caffeine from all foods and drinks, found daily caffeine intakes by healthy pregnant women of up to 300 milligrams (mg) per day were not associated with adverse pregnancy, birth or infant development outcomes.

So while the key message is to keep total caffeine to less than 300mg per day, the challenge is that it is almost impossible to monitor your intake accurately.

For example, one barista-style coffee can contain up to 250mg of caffeine, depending on the size and how it is made. Instant coffee varies from 50-100mg per cup, while brewed or drip coffee has 100-150mg per cup. It’s also important to take the caffeine content of tea (10-90mg caffeine per cup), cola (40-50mg caffeine per can), chocolate (30-40mg caffeine per 50 grams) and energy drinks (80-130mg caffeine per serve) into account when estimating your daily intake.

This answer was originally published in The Conversation under creative commons license.

Is it safe to drink coffee while pregnant?

Treasure McGuire has answered Likely

An expert from University of Queensland in Pharmacology

Yes… in moderation.

The World Health Organisation and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists both advise pregnant women to limit caffeine consumption to 200-300mg a day.

A woman’s ability to metabolise caffeine slows during pregnancy. What’s more, caffeine readily passes from the placenta to the growing baby, who hasn’t developed enough to inactivate it. So the drug can accumulate in the baby’s body and brain. However, we can’t confidently claim caffeine consumption adversely affects a baby’s development, as most pharmacological studies in pregnancy are “observational”. This means researchers simply follow women who fall pregnant to assess positive and negative outcomes for the mother and baby. Observational studies can identify an association but cannot, with certainty, prove that the factors being examined have a cause-and-effect relationship.

While less than 200mg of caffeine consumption per day does not appear to be a major contributing factor in preterm birth, a 2014 study found an association between daily caffeine consumption above 200mg and low birth weight. There is conflicting evidence over whether caffeine is linked to a higher risk of losing a pregnancy, although one study suggests the risk rises by 19% for every 150mg increase in daily caffeine intake.

Until further quality evidence resolves the safe consumption threshold, the maximum daily caffeine dose for pregnant women should ideally be 200mg.

This answer was originally published in The Conversation under creative commons license.

Is it safe to drink coffee while pregnant?

Hannah Dahlen has answered Likely

An expert from University of Western Sydney in Women’s Health, Nursing

Yes, although coffee should be consumed in moderation during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Before travel was restricted as a result of COVID-19, I visited Scandinavia. In Scandinavia drinking coffee is a national sport and my sleep suffered due to partaking. I wondered if the advice given to pregnant women was different around the world, but midwives in Sweden assured me it was not. The guidelines say pretty much the same thing as Australian guidelines : caffeine is a stimulant, it is present in other foods and drinks besides coffee, and there is conflicting evidence on exactly what level is safe.

A maximum of 150-300mg per day is recommended, with most guidelines settling on 200mg (around one to two cups of coffee) just to be safe.

Nature is pretty smart though, often leading women to have an aversion to coffee in the early weeks of pregnancy when their miscarriage risk is higher. But if you’re still craving your daily cup, decaffeinated coffee and tea may help you get your fix by giving you the taste without the side effects.

This answer was originally published in The Conversation under creative commons license.