Keli Hawthorne dietitian
Yes, but hold the refills. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests limiting your caffeine usage to less than 200 milligrams (mg) daily. That’s about what you ‘d receive from drinking one 10-ounce cup of Starbucks coffee.
Is It Safe to Drink Coffee During Pregnancy?
Reviewing that quantity might be risky. Some studies have connected drinking more than 200 mg of caffeine a day with an increased risk of miscarriage and low birth weight. And drinking large quantities of caffeine (eight cups of coffee or more a day) has been linked with stillbirth. More research needs to be done to verify these links, however it’s a smart idea to err on the side of caution when you’re pregnant.
Understand that the quantity of caffeine in your cup of coffee will differ depending on the type of coffee and how it’s brewed. The coffee at a restaurant or coffeehouse, for instance, can vary from about 100 mg for a small (8-ounce) cup to over 400 mg for a big (16-ounce) cup, depending upon the brand and the brew.
And keep in mind, decaffeinated does not indicate caffeine-free. A 16-ounce cup of brewed decaffeinated coffee typically contains about 12 to 25 mg of caffeine.
If you need a caffeine boost but are concerned about your intake, you may pick a latte (about 75 mg of caffeine). From the milk in a latte you’ll get a little additional calcium and protein– nutrients you need during pregnancy anyhow.
Sarah Schenker Dietitian and public health nutritionist
Yes, you can still take pleasure in a mug of coffee from time to time during your pregnancy. Simply make sure that you do not have more than 200mg of caffeine in a day. That’s two mugs of immediate coffee or one mug of brewed coffee.
If you frequently have more than 200mg of caffeine a day while you’re pregnant, you’ll have a higher risk of miscarriage or having a baby with a low birth weight. Children born with a low birth weight are at increased risk of health issue when they age.
This 200mg limitation consists of all sources of caffeine, so in addition to coffee you’ll have to count teas (suching as green tea), cola, energy beverages and chocolate.
Remember that the caffeine content of espressos, and coffees based upon espressos, such as coffees and lattes, can depend upon the outlet. One research study discovered that caffeine levels can range from 50mg per espresso at one chain to as much as 300mg per espresso in another.
If you have to reduce caffeine, switch from brewed coffee to immediate coffee as it’s slightly lower in caffeine. You could also make it weaker by using just half a teaspoon of coffee per mug.
Decaffeinated coffee is likewise a good choice, and it tastes practically the same as typical coffee. You may be able to trick yourself that you’re getting a caffeine struck!
If you’re worried about your caffeine consumption, speak to your midwife or doctor.
What are the Concerns About Caffeine Usage During Pregnancy?
When you drink a cup of coffee, caffeine crosses the placenta into the amniotic fluid and your baby’s blood stream. While your body mosts likely to work metabolizing and getting rid of the caffeine, your baby’s body is still developing and takes a much longer time to process the caffeine. As a result, your baby is exposed to the impacts of caffeine for a lot longer than you are.
Scientists continue to attempt to determine the precise impact of caffeine on your baby and your pregnancy. ACOG says that so far, mild caffeine consumption (less than 200 mg) isn’t really considered to be a major cause of miscarriage or premature birth. One large study, however, found that moms who consumed more than 300 mg of caffeine a day were more likely to give birth to infants who were small for their gestational age.
Something’s for sure: You’ll feel better if you don’t get a lot of caffeine. It’s a stimulant, so it can raise your heart rate and blood pressure. Plus, it can make you feel tense and cause sleeping disorders. Caffeine can also result in heartburn by causing the production of stomach acid.
These results may be more obvious as your pregnancy progresses. That’s due to the fact that your body’s capability to break down caffeine slows, so you wind up with a higher level of it in your blood stream. During the 2nd trimester, it takes almost two times as long to clear caffeine from your body as when you’re not pregnant. During the 3rd trimester, it takes nearly 3 times as long.
This can suggest that more caffeine crosses the placenta and reaches your baby, who can’t process it effectively. (This is true for newborn babies too, which is why it’s likewise a great idea to restrict caffeine if you’re breastfeeding, specifically for the first few months.).
Lastly, there’s another need to cut back on coffee and tea, whether it’s caffeinated or not. These drinks consist of compounds that make it harder for your body to absorb iron. This is necessary since lots of pregnant women are already low on iron. If you have coffee or tea, drink it between meals so it’ll have less of a result on your iron absorption.
Which Foods and Drinks Contain Caffeine?
Coffee is one, naturally. The quantity of caffeine in a serving of coffee varies extensively, depending upon the type of bean, how it’s roasted, how it’s brewed– and, undoubtedly, on the size of the coffee cup. (Although espresso includes more caffeine per ounce, it’s served in a small cup. So a complete cup of brewed coffee will actually deliver more caffeine.).
To handle your caffeine consumption, you’ll need to know other sources, like tea, soft drinks, energy beverages, chocolate, and coffee ice cream. Caffeine likewise shows up in herbal products and non-prescription drugs, consisting of some headache, cold, and allergy remedies. Check out labels carefully.
