This article is for general information only and does not replace personalized prenatal medical advice. If you have questions about caffeine and your pregnancy, talk to your OB-GYN or midwife. Last reviewed May 11, 2026.
You’re pregnant. You drink coffee. Possibly you’ve been drinking coffee for years, possibly several cups a day, and now you’re staring at the kitchen and wondering whether this morning’s cup is going to harm your baby. Or you’ve switched to decaf to be safe, and now you’re wondering whether even that is OK.
The short answer is that most pregnant women can have some caffeine without measurable risk, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends staying under 200 mg per day, and decaf coffee is generally considered safe. The longer answer involves how caffeine behaves differently during pregnancy, what the research actually shows about miscarriage and birth weight, why decaf isn’t quite zero-caffeine, and when to talk to your doctor. This guide covers all of it.
Quick answer: how much coffee is safe during pregnancy?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women consume less than 200 mg of caffeine per day from all sources. That’s roughly one 12 oz (350 ml) cup of brewed coffee, or two 8 oz (240 ml) cups. Decaf coffee contains only 2 to 7 mg per cup and is considered safe in normal amounts. Caffeine from tea, soda, chocolate, and medications counts toward the daily total.
What this guide covers
- Is decaf coffee safe during pregnancy?
- How much decaf is OK?
- The decaffeination process and what’s in your cup
- How much regular coffee can I drink while pregnant?
- Why caffeine matters more during pregnancy
- What the research actually says about miscarriage and birth outcomes
- First trimester specifically
- Caffeine sources to track that aren’t coffee
- Trying to conceive
- Breastfeeding
- When to talk to your OB-GYN
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources and references
Is decaf coffee safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Decaf coffee is considered safe during pregnancy when consumed in moderation. ACOG and the American Pregnancy Association both treat decaf as a reasonable substitute for caffeinated coffee. An 8 oz (240 ml) cup of decaf brewed coffee contains roughly 2 to 7 mg of caffeine, which is a tiny fraction of the 200 mg daily limit. Even three to five cups of decaf adds up to less caffeine than a single regular cup.
That said, “decaf” is not “caffeine-free.” Federal regulations require decaffeinated coffee to have at least 97 percent of its caffeine removed, but that still leaves a trace amount. If you drink five 8 oz (240 ml) cups of decaf a day at the high end of typical caffeine content (7 mg per cup), you’ve had 35 mg of caffeine, which is still well within all guidelines. If you drink three regular cups thinking they’re decaf because you ordered them that way at a busy café, you might have unknowingly had 285 mg. The mistake matters more than the math.
How much decaf coffee is safe during pregnancy?
There’s no specific upper limit for decaf coffee during pregnancy because the caffeine content is too small to matter at any realistic consumption level. ACOG’s 200 mg daily ceiling refers to total caffeine from all sources, not to cups of any particular drink. If you wanted to hit 200 mg purely from decaf, you’d need to drink roughly 30 to 50 cups in a single day, which is far past what anyone reasonably consumes.
The practical guidance most providers give: one to four cups of decaf per day during pregnancy is fine for the vast majority of women. Some considerations are worth mentioning separately:
- If you’re combining decaf with other caffeine sources (tea, chocolate, soda), add it all together and stay under 200 mg total. Our caffeine calculator handles this in seconds – it tracks your daily total across every source and flags the 200 mg pregnancy threshold automatically.
- If decaf is replacing prenatal hydration, balance it with plenty of water. Coffee has a mild diuretic effect, and pregnancy increases hydration needs significantly.
- If you’re getting heartburn or reflux (common in later pregnancy), decaf still contains the same acids and oils as regular coffee and can trigger symptoms. Cutting back may help even though caffeine isn’t the cause.
The decaffeination process and what’s in your cup
How decaf is made comes up often in pregnancy-related questions, because some processes use chemical solvents. There are four main methods used commercially:
- Methylene chloride (MC) process. The most common commercial method historically. Methylene chloride is the solvent used to dissolve caffeine. The FDA limits residual methylene chloride in decaffeinated coffee to 10 parts per million (ppm), and the average residual after roasting is closer to 0.1 ppm. The amount that survives roasting and brewing is biologically negligible. That said, some pregnant women prefer to avoid it given the option.
- Ethyl acetate (EA) process. Sometimes labeled “naturally decaffeinated” because ethyl acetate occurs naturally in some fruits. Same general approach as methylene chloride but with a different solvent. Considered safe by the FDA.
- Swiss Water Process. Uses only water and carbon filtering, no chemical solvents. Often labeled explicitly (“Swiss Water Process” or “SWP”). The cleanest option if you want to avoid any chemical solvent question. Slightly more expensive.
- CO2 process. Uses supercritical carbon dioxide to extract caffeine. Also chemical-solvent-free. Higher-end specialty coffee often uses this method.
If the decaffeination process is something you want to avoid worrying about, look for “Swiss Water” or “CO2” on the label, or buy from roasters that specify their method. For most women, the FDA’s allowed levels of solvent residual aren’t a meaningful health concern, but it’s a reasonable preference to have.
How much regular coffee can I drink while pregnant?
ACOG recommends that pregnant women consume less than 200 mg of caffeine per day from all sources. For regular brewed coffee, that translates to:
| Coffee type | Serving | Caffeine | Cups under 200 mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brewed coffee | 8 oz (240 ml) | ~95 mg | Up to 2 cups |
| Brewed coffee | 12 oz (350 ml) | ~140 mg | 1 cup |
| Brewed coffee | 16 oz (480 ml) Grande | ~190 mg | Just under 1 cup |
| Espresso shot | 1 oz (30 ml) | ~64 mg | Up to 3 shots |
| Cold brew | 8 oz (240 ml) | ~200 mg | Less than 1 cup |
| Instant coffee | 8 oz (240 ml) | ~60 mg | Up to 3 cups |
A few practical points: a “cup” in standard medical guidelines means 8 oz (240 ml), not a Starbucks Grande or your favorite oversized mug. If your usual coffee is a 16 oz (480 ml) cup from a coffee shop, that’s a single serving for ACOG’s purposes, not two. Cold brew is notably higher in caffeine than drip and can put a single serving above the daily limit. Espresso looks intense but actually has less caffeine per serving than drip coffee because the serving is so much smaller.
For day-to-day tracking, our caffeine calculator can total your daily intake across coffee, tea, soda, and any other sources, with a safety indicator that flags the 200 mg pregnancy threshold specifically.
Why caffeine matters more during pregnancy
The 200 mg limit isn’t arbitrary. Pregnancy changes how your body processes caffeine in three specific ways that compound each other.
Your liver clears caffeine much more slowly
The half-life of caffeine in non-pregnant adults is about 5 hours, meaning half of the dose is cleared in 5 hours. During pregnancy, that stretches significantly. In the second trimester, the half-life roughly doubles. In the third trimester, it can reach 11 hours or more. The same morning cup of coffee that would be mostly gone by afternoon for a non-pregnant person is still circulating in a pregnant woman well into the evening.
Practically, this means caffeine hits harder and lasts longer. If you used to drink coffee in the afternoon without any sleep issues, you may find that the same habit during pregnancy disrupts sleep significantly.
Caffeine crosses the placenta
Caffeine is a small, fat-soluble molecule, and it passes through the placenta freely. Within an hour of your cup of coffee, your developing baby has caffeine in their bloodstream at roughly the same concentration as yours. The fetus has no special filter that keeps maternal caffeine out.
The fetal liver can’t process caffeine
The liver enzyme that breaks down caffeine (CYP1A2) isn’t fully developed in the fetus or in newborns. While the mother’s slowed metabolism means caffeine lasts 11 hours, in the fetus, it can persist much longer because there’s essentially no clearance from the fetal side. Caffeine accumulates and stays.
This is the underlying biology behind the 200 mg recommendation. It’s not that 250 mg is going to harm anyone specifically; it’s that the dose-response relationship gets more uncertain as caffeine accumulates in a developing system that can’t metabolize it.
What the research actually says about caffeine and pregnancy outcomes
The research on caffeine and pregnancy outcomes is genuinely mixed, which is why guidelines are conservative rather than absolute. Here’s what the evidence actually shows.
Miscarriage risk
ACOG’s current position, based on its 2010 committee opinion (reaffirmed in subsequent reviews), is that moderate caffeine consumption (less than 200 mg per day) does not appear to be a major contributing factor in miscarriage. Above 200 mg per day, the evidence becomes mixed. Some studies have found increased miscarriage risk at higher consumption levels (one study reported an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.23 for intake above 200 mg per day), but other large studies have not found this association. ACOG explicitly states that “a recommendation regarding higher levels of caffeine consumption and the risk of miscarriage cannot be made at this time” (ACOG Committee Opinion 462).
Preterm birth
ACOG’s review also concluded that moderate caffeine consumption is not a major contributor to preterm birth. Several large studies have looked for an association and found none at intake levels below 200 mg per day.
Low birth weight and growth restriction
This is where the evidence is most consistent. Multiple meta-analyses, including a 2024 review in the medical literature (PMC10625456), have found that maternal caffeine consumption is associated with increased risk of low birth weight and small-for-gestational-age babies, with the effect becoming clearer above 200 mg per day. The relationship appears to be dose-dependent: more caffeine, more effect on birth weight, particularly at higher intakes.
Stillbirth and childhood outcomes
Some reviews have found associations between higher maternal caffeine intake and stillbirth or certain childhood outcomes (including childhood acute leukemia), but these findings come from observational studies and are confounded by other factors. The effect sizes are small and the evidence is not consistent enough for major medical bodies to issue specific warnings beyond the general 200 mg threshold.
The bottom line from the research
Below 200 mg per day, the data is reassuring across all outcomes studied. Above 200 mg per day, the evidence becomes mixed but trends toward more risk for low birth weight specifically. The 200 mg threshold is conservative on purpose because pregnancy is one area where “we’re not sure” is sufficient reason to be cautious, even if absolute risks remain small.
Coffee in the first trimester specifically
The 200 mg limit applies throughout pregnancy. There isn’t a separate first-trimester rule, despite this being a common question.
What does change in the first trimester is your tolerance. Many women find that morning sickness, food aversions, or hormonal shifts make coffee unappealing or actively nauseating in the first trimester, even if they drank multiple cups daily before pregnancy. If your body is signaling that coffee isn’t agreeing with you, listening to that signal is generally reasonable. It often resolves by the second trimester.
If you can’t tolerate even decaf in the first trimester, that’s typical and not a cause for concern. The decaffeination process doesn’t remove the coffee oils and acids that often trigger first-trimester nausea. Switching to ginger tea, lemon water, or herbal options is reasonable until your tolerance returns.
Caffeine sources to track that aren’t coffee
Because the 200 mg limit covers all caffeine sources, several things that aren’t coffee can push your daily total higher than you realize:
- Black tea (8 oz / 240 ml): ~47 mg. Three cups equals roughly one cup of coffee.
- Green tea (8 oz / 240 ml): ~28 mg. Lower than black but not negligible.
- Yerba mate (8 oz / 240 ml): ~85 mg. Often consumed in much larger quantities than tea.
- Matcha (1 tsp / 2 g): ~70 mg. Higher than most teas because you consume the leaf.
- Cola sodas (12 oz / 355 ml): 34 to 46 mg.
- Mountain Dew (12 oz / 355 ml): 54 mg.
- Dark chocolate (1 oz / 28 g): 12 mg. Cocoa-heavy desserts can add up.
- OTC headache and pain medications: Excedrin contains 65 mg per tablet; many combination cold and pain medications include caffeine. Always check the label, and check with your doctor before any OTC medication during pregnancy.
- Energy drinks: These should be avoided entirely during pregnancy. Most contain well over 100 mg per serving, often with additional stimulants not studied in pregnancy.
- Pre-workout supplements: Same as energy drinks – avoid during pregnancy.
Caffeine while trying to conceive
The research on caffeine and conception is still evolving. Most large studies have not found a strong effect of moderate maternal caffeine intake on time-to-conception. A 2025 cohort study in BJOG (Ruderman et al.) examined periconceptual caffeine intake and adverse outcomes, finding mostly modest effects at moderate intake.
The general recommendation if you’re trying to conceive is to apply the same 200 mg limit you’d use during pregnancy, since you may not know you’re pregnant for several weeks after conception and the highest-risk window for caffeine effects is the first weeks. Many fertility specialists suggest erring toward less rather than more during the period you’re actively trying.
Coffee and caffeine while breastfeeding
Once you’ve delivered, the rules relax considerably. Caffeine does pass into breast milk, but in much smaller proportions than it passes through the placenta. Roughly 0.75 to 1.5 percent of maternal caffeine intake ends up in the breast milk. For a mother drinking one 8 oz (240 ml) cup of coffee with 95 mg of caffeine, the baby receives less than 1.5 mg total across all feedings from that cup.
The CDC and most breastfeeding guidelines treat up to 200 to 300 mg of caffeine per day as compatible with breastfeeding. The newborn liver still can’t fully metabolize caffeine, so very high maternal intake can produce fussiness or sleep disruption in some infants. If you notice this pattern, reducing your intake is the standard first step.
When to talk to your OB-GYN about caffeine
For most women, the 200 mg guideline is enough and doesn’t need detailed discussion. The following situations warrant a conversation with your prenatal provider:
- You’re regularly consuming well above 200 mg per day and haven’t been able to cut back. Your doctor can help with a tapering plan that avoids withdrawal headaches while reducing intake.
- You’re experiencing significant heart palpitations or anxiety from amounts that previously didn’t bother you. Pregnancy can unmask cardiovascular conditions, and the symptoms are worth investigating.
- You have a history of high-risk pregnancy (previous miscarriage, preterm birth, growth restriction, gestational hypertension). Your provider may recommend stricter limits than the general 200 mg guideline.
- You’re taking medications that interact with caffeine metabolism (some antibiotics, antidepressants, asthma medications). Caffeine levels can rise unpredictably when combined with these.
- You’re worried about a specific recent intake (you had a large coffee before you knew you were pregnant, or several cups in one day). Your OB can put it in context.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, in moderation. ACOG recommends staying under 200 mg of caffeine per day from all sources, which is roughly one 12 oz (350 ml) cup of brewed coffee or two 8 oz (240 ml) cups. Below that threshold, the research does not show an increased risk of miscarriage or preterm birth. Above 200 mg, some evidence suggests increased risk of low birth weight.
Yes. Decaf coffee contains 2 to 7 mg of caffeine per 8 oz (240 ml) cup, well below any meaningful threshold. ACOG and the American Pregnancy Association both consider decaf safe during pregnancy in normal amounts. You’d need to drink 30 or more cups of decaf to approach the 200 mg daily caffeine limit.
One to four cups per day is fine for the vast majority of pregnant women. The caffeine content of decaf is too small to be a concern at any realistic consumption level. If you’re combining decaf with other caffeine sources (tea, chocolate, soda), add them together and stay under 200 mg total.
Yes, one standard cup (8 oz / 240 ml) of brewed coffee per day is well within ACOG’s 200 mg limit. A standard 8 oz cup contains about 95 mg of caffeine, half of the daily threshold, leaving room for other caffeine sources. If your “one cup” is a 16 oz (480 ml) Grande, that’s closer to 190 mg and is essentially your full daily allowance.
Yes, decaf is safe in the first trimester just as it is throughout pregnancy. The 200 mg total caffeine guideline doesn’t change by trimester. The only first-trimester-specific consideration is that morning sickness may make coffee (even decaf) unappealing temporarily. If that’s the case, listen to your body. Tolerance often returns in the second trimester.
Caffeine crosses the placenta freely, and the small amount in decaf coffee (2 to 7 mg per cup) does reach the fetus. But the amount is so small relative to safe thresholds that it’s not a meaningful exposure. The chemical solvents used in some decaffeination processes are present at levels under 10 parts per million in the finished coffee, and the amount that crosses the placenta from those residuals is negligible.
Swiss Water Process or CO2 process decaf is the cleanest option because neither uses chemical solvents. Look for “Swiss Water” or “SWP” on the label. CO2 process decaf is common in higher-end specialty coffee. Methylene chloride and ethyl acetate processes are also considered safe at FDA-allowed residual levels, but Swiss Water and CO2 avoid the question entirely.
ACOG’s position is that moderate caffeine consumption (under 200 mg per day) does not appear to be a major contributing factor in miscarriage. Above 200 mg, the evidence becomes mixed. Some studies have found increased risk; others have not. ACOG explicitly states that no recommendation can currently be made about higher intake levels and miscarriage risk. The 200 mg threshold is conservative on the safe side.
No. Caffeine is not a known teratogen (a substance that causes birth defects). Major reviews including MotherToBaby and the FDA do not list caffeine as a cause of structural birth defects at any consumption level studied. The concerns about higher caffeine intake during pregnancy relate to growth restriction and birth weight, not malformations.
200 mg is the daily maximum recommended for pregnant women by ACOG. It’s roughly half of the 400 mg daily limit recommended for healthy non-pregnant adults. 200 mg equals about one 12 oz (350 ml) cup of brewed coffee, two 8 oz (240 ml) cups, or three espresso shots. Staying at or below 200 mg per day across all sources is the safe target.
Not necessarily. ACOG and most prenatal guidelines treat moderate caffeine (under 200 mg per day) as acceptable. Cold-turkey caffeine withdrawal can produce significant headaches, fatigue, and irritability, which adds an unnecessary stressor during pregnancy. If you want to reduce intake, tapering gradually over a week or two is gentler. Complete avoidance is the most conservative option but is not medically required for the average pregnancy.
Good substitutes during pregnancy include decaf coffee, herbal teas (most are caffeine-free, but avoid certain ones like high-dose raspberry leaf in early pregnancy), chicory root coffee, hot water with lemon, and golden milk (turmeric and warm milk). Roasted dandelion root and roasted barley drinks (“coffee substitutes”) have a coffee-like flavor without caffeine. Talk to your provider before regularly consuming any herbal preparation during pregnancy.
Yes. The CDC and most breastfeeding guidelines treat up to 200 to 300 mg of caffeine per day as compatible with breastfeeding. Only about 1 percent of maternal caffeine intake passes into breast milk. If your baby shows unusual fussiness or sleep disruption that tracks with your coffee intake, cutting back is the standard first step, but for most breastfeeding mothers, normal coffee consumption is fine.
Pregnancy roughly doubles the half-life of caffeine in the second trimester and can double it again by the third trimester. A morning cup of coffee that would normally be mostly cleared by afternoon in a non-pregnant adult (5-hour half-life) can persist into evening or beyond during pregnancy (up to 11 hours half-life in the third trimester). This is one reason caffeine effects feel stronger during pregnancy.
Sources and references
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – Committee Opinion 462: Moderate Caffeine Consumption During Pregnancy
- ACOG – How much coffee can I drink while I’m pregnant?
- NCBI Bookshelf – Caffeine (MotherToBaby Fact Sheet)
- Maternal Caffeine Consumption and Its Impact on the Fetus: A Review. PMC, 2024.
- Maternal caffeine consumption and pregnancy outcomes: a narrative review. PMC, 2021.
- American Pregnancy Association – Caffeine Intake During Pregnancy
- Mayo Clinic – Caffeine: How much is too much?
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Spilling the Beans
- Ruderman et al. – Periconceptual Caffeine Intake and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Results From the nuMoM2b Cohort. BJOG, 2025.
This article is for general information only and does not replace personalized prenatal medical advice. The 200 mg threshold is a general guideline; your OB-GYN may recommend different limits based on your individual pregnancy. If you have questions or concerns about caffeine intake during your pregnancy, talk to your healthcare provider.
Discussion 42
I come from a coffee drinking culture, my mother, grandmother, great-grandmother etc.. ALL DRANK COFFEE WHILE PREGNANT. However, in Latin America especially in Guatemala everyone has cofee 2 times a day usually medium or coffee with Milk, (cafe con Leche) not as strong as a latte. No one in my family coming from my great grand mother had a pre-term, nor did they have any children with mental or physical disabilities, I think that coffee itself is not bad at all, it’s about the moderation, I honestly cannot bear to take more than 2 cups a day in a medium blend or with milk but each person is subject to their own opinion, I honestly think the stance of saying “coffee is simply bad during pregnancy” is ignorant and misinformed, if that was the case everyone in Latin America must be pre-term, Sigh….
I crave filtered
Double espresso and clay (as in soil) can there be something healthier to substitute with! I’s ±2months pregnant please help me!!!
Hi… i am 17 weeks preganant and likes coffee very much before pregnancy. till now i had not taken any coffee but now i sometimes get craving for a cup of coffee. what should be the ideal amount in case pregnant women wants to intake. since every individual is different and so the case of pregnancy is different with all. please advice…
Hi Everyone,
I wonder if a woman drink a lot of coffee for a month before knowing she is pregnant what are the risks to the unborn child?
I do not think decaf coffee is safe at all during pregnancy.
coffee is good for you but drink moderately
i study nuitrition and i love coffee and am planning to get pregnant so i did a research on coffee. on http://www.babycentre.com you will find an article about drinking coffee while pregnant. they say that having a cup of coffee equals to running to catch a bus. in both cases your heart rate goes up, so does your matabolism. they also say that considering this one or two cups should be fine.
as love coffee,and want to stay healthy,i prepare it at home from freshly ground organic coffee beans, and i only use filtered water. i use home coffee machine and krups coffee grinder, britta water filter. i drink about 2-3 cups a day. i would not recommend drinking regular decaf, because of the processes the coffee goes through. i think i would try to go off coffee, or at least drink week organic coffee. good quality coffee has lots of antioxidants. should not be drunk with sugar or milk.
one last thing – not everyone is affected by coffee/caffeine in the same way, so bear that in mind. if someone drunk 8 cups of coffee during her pregnancy and had healthy baby this may not be safe recommendation for sombody else.
i would say, everyone should limit ( or stop drinking if u can ) their coffee/caffeine intake,and should only buy organic. they are some good brands.
happy pregnancy!
What about organic coffee? Limited of course to 1-2 cups a day. I’m asking because I simply love coffee and cannot think straight without it.
At my 7 month ultra sound scan my babies heart was racing and thumping way louder than normal. My mid wife asked if I could think of anything that would cause it. I could only think that I’d had two caffeinated coffees,one at 7am and one at 11.30am. I was shocked and a little ashamed that my poor wee girls heart was still working overtime at 4PM! I didn’t drink anymore coffee while pregnant after that, its simply not worth it.
I owned a coffee shop and let me tell you specialty drinks do NOT HAVE MORE CAFFEINE than a regular cup of joe. That is incorrect. yes, espresso contains more caffeine per volume, but an espresso shot is very small compared to a 8oz,120z, 16oz or 20oz of coffee. So per volume your “regular cup of joe” has alot more caffeine in it.
I’m currently pregnant myself and I do not drink any caffeine, I have never been a soda drinker so that’s not a problem. I have had one iced latte with half caf espresso. This has far less caf than a regular cup of coffee. Then there comes tea which has less caffeine as well. People need to look into their information correctly before misinforming people. My dr/midwife advised that one cup of regular coffee a day would be fine but no coffee the first trimester at all. Again,I’m almost in my third trimester and have only had one iced latte last week. So, I say you need to decide for yourself what risks you are willing to take and you need to talk to your Dr/midwife before deciding to consume something. I find the study interesting on the decaf coffee side of things, makes sense though as the process that the beans go through to make them decaf.
I drank a cupp before, during and after my pregnancy.. but I was younger then so I had no probs.. now that i’m older and trying for a 2nd, i’m going to deem caffeine as a risk just to be on the safe side.. plus, read this: http://www.babycenter.com/204_caffeine-may-interfere-with-fertility-in-women_10351446.bc?scid=preconception_20110531:2&pe=MlV4QWdSSXwyMDExMDUzMQ
wow did any of you catch the last part of this article??? all you people saying to switch to decaf are clearly not reading this through.
“The Study also found that women who drank three or more cups of decaffeinated coffee a day in the first trimester had 2.4 times the risk of miscarriage as those who did not drink decaf.”
miscarriage was 1.3 times in CAFFEINATED coffee, nad 2.4 in decaf. which one is clearly safer? let them drink it if it doesnt exced a dangerous amount, but dont tell them to switch to decaf when it causes more problems
I am 28 weeks pregnant and i have not drunk caffinanted coffee since i have gotten pregnant! But i drink decaffinated coffee. When i drink decaffinated coffee i usually drink 2 cups with about 4 to 5 teaspoons of suger. I drink decaff almost everyday mainly in tha morning and everything seems fine with my pregnancy. As a matter of fact im enjoying a cup right now. All i can say is good luck to everyone, which i believe everyone will be ok as long as you dont drink a whole lot of coffee!
hi, everything here is very interesting and great to read, i am currently trying to get pregnant but i am addicted to one specific coffee, nescafe gold blend decaff. i thought i was all safe since i have only one cup a day, and it has very little caffeine in it. but after reading this i am questioning if it’s that causing me to not get pregnant, we’ve been trying for 5 months. maybe i should try the swiss stuff. does it come in instant? thanks for the advice
good luck to all
em x
So, there’s mixed research on whether caffeine intake is linked to increased risk of miscarriage. One study found no evidence of a link, but another study found that intake of more than 200 mg a day of caffeine (regardless of the source) meant more than twice the risk of miscarriage. Neither study is conclusive proof that caffeine does or doesn’t cause miscarriage, however, as it’s possible that various confounding factors could have affected the results.
With the available evidence in mind, a reasonable conclusion would be that it’s a good idea to restrict your caffeine intake during pregnancy as a safety precaution — there’s enough evidence to say that moderate to high caffeine intake might be linked to miscarriage. But on the other hand, if you’ve already had a miscarriage, you should not look back and assume that it happened because you drank too much coffee or ate too much chocolate while you were pregnant. There’s just not enough evidence to draw such conclusions, and it’s probably more likely that caffeine had nothing to do with your miscarriage.
BOTTOM LINE: Why risk it?
to Jacks, when i was trying to get pregnant my ob-gyn advised me to not run but just walk because it lessens my ovulation. i followed her and it worked! I’m now 18 weeks. pregnant. goodluck!
Thanks for your advise…clearly I am over doing it on the training but when it comes so naturally and feels so effortless to be able to run an hour, swim 1hr – 1 1/2hs, ride 2-3hrs its hard to give up as it makes you feel so good…but people have been telling me I’m doing to much and I know in my heart that I have to give it up or I just won’t be able to get pregers…and I’m not getting any younger!!
To kirsty… I went tocthe library and just searched for ovulation and fertility books. Also i talked to my doctor… But my opinion would be yes. I would def cut back on training!
From what you explained it sounds like i did not even work out as much as you and it still affected my ovulation! And i know that excersize is something that can be very important in someones life but i made the choice to limit myself to an hour or less five times a week and here i am prego! So i would definatly consider making some changes in that area of your life:) its really hard to do at first but the result is definately worth it!
Let me know if you need any more advice… I would love to help:)
Jacks 7, please reply. I have started the ovulation drug, had 2 mths and no ovulation so the dosage was raised last month and still no ovulation. I’m still training, running up to 14km a day or swimming or a shorter run and bikram yoga class. Do you think I need to ease back more on the training? Where did you do your research?
I have worked in coffee for six years. In that time i have learned that certain coffee shops buy defaf beans that have been through the Swiss Water Process which means it has been decafinated only by processing water through them several times and no chemicals are used in this process. I am currently six weeks pregnant and personally ask coffee shops im my area if they buy decaf that has been through the water process and go there whenever i feel the craving! But i also think that everyones pregnancy is different and should consult their doctor for info and not take peoples peoples advice to heart .
Also to Kisrty … I have also been in your shoes. I used to be very active and i also had few periods a year. My husband and i desired to have a baby so i did some research and found that intense excersize can decrease fertility and cause you not to ovulate! So i cut back and six months later here i am six weeks prego! I hope this helps!
I do not think decaf coffee is safe at all during pregnancy. I am a coffee drinker and once I got pregnant I switched to decaf. Every day I would have 1 cup of decaf coffee. About 2 – 3 hours after I would have a low sugar episode that left me dizzy, very irritable, shaky, sweaty, and eating everything in site to get my sugar back up. As soon as I stopped drinking decaf coffee, my low sugar episodes stopped and I have not had one since. My advice do not drink any caffeine at all.
Well I’m confused….I’m a few weeks pregnant and cut down my coffe intake form about 5-8 cups a day to only 2 cups a day. I read that it was ok but now i’m not so sure.Help? is any amount of caffeine proven ok? and I bought some decaf,is that not ok and what about green tea??????
I think that coffee in moderation is not a bad thing during pregnancy.
Decaf has plenty toxins and there are other supposedly healthy drinks like fruit juice, soda, and flavoured water that are layered with chemicals designed to keep the product fresher for longer. Sulphur Dioxide, Pimarcin and other preservatives are surely more harmful than the effects of a little caffeine here and there.
My wife is pregnant and trying to avoid caffeinated coffee just to be safe, but looking into the process of decaffeinating coffee has got me a little concerned. In the standard methods of decaffeinating coffee (both direct and indirect) the coffee comes into contact with methyl chloride (a known carcinogen) and/or ethyl acetate (less toxic but still potentially harmful). If there are known carcinogens and neurotoxins being used to process coffee, is it really worth the risk of potentially damaging our baby’s health?
I’ve been checking out alternative methods of decaffeination and the swiss water process as well as a new method called the Co2 process seem to be good alternatives. Fortunately coffees treated using these processes aren’t too difficult to find (at least not up here in Portland, OR). Does anyone else know anything about the standard or natural methods of treating coffee?
“As pregnant women, there are so many things we are advised not to eat and drink, i just think that in moderation, the simple things in life should still be enjoyable.”
I just cannot agree more~~~~~its a baby which we are carrying , not a monster~ just be careful what you drink and eat , but that doesnot mean you cannot eat and drink at all…………….
I’m 10 weeks pregnant and I rarely drink coffee. The key is to not drink a lot of caffeine because it also raises the baby’s heart rate which is why it could also cause a spontaneous abortion. It also travels through the placenta, and because pregnant women have a slower digestive system than non-pregnant women, that means the caffeine stays in your body longer. So just take care of how much caffeine you drink, whether it be through coffee, soda, or tea.
My doctor told me that it’s okay to drink caffeine once in a while, but she just tells her patients to not drink it at all because once you tell a person that, it might go from occasionally to moderately and maybe potentially everyday. So if I drink coffee, it would be a very weak cup with lots of milk, and maybe once a week if that.
To babyone, regarding chemicals in decaf – there are brands out there that use natural methods of decaffeinating coffee. You can get chemical free decaff coffee in any natural food store (Whole Foods).
I am about 4 months pregnant and I dont drink caffeine every day but when i do drink it is in high amounts do you think my baby will be okay? I have heard a lot of differnt things about caffiene during pregnancy, and i haven’t been aware of how much you should or should not drink, but now that i am aware should i be worried.I did some light research about it when i first found that i was pregnant but did not relize the signifigance of how much effect caffine has on pregnancy, now that i have done more research i am some what concerned, but still not certain of how much caffeine consumed should be of concern.
I am 26 weeks pregnant with my first baby.. and i went completly off tea, well completly off everything for the first three months. As soon as i started to feel more myself i really wanted to drink coffee with a good helping of double cream, ive had one or two a day for the passed two months…i think there are a lot worse things pregnant women could be doing, and over panicing about how much coffee we are drinking is probably one of them !
decaf has a bunch of chemicals in it…i read that decaf is actually worse for pregnant women and to just limit caffeine to a reasonable amount. i will not drink decaf since i read up on it during my pregnancy
I am not a doctor, but based on my studies in A&P and Nursing, I would say that the reasons for limiting caffine (i.e., coffee) would be mainly due to it’s vasoconstrictor effects. In pregnancy a woman’s blood volume significantly increases, because it needs to supply the baby and the mother with nutrients and oxygen. If you have an increased blood volume (which would automatically increase your BP)….then you add vasoconstriction (which is a narrowing of the vessels that also increases BP) I would think that it couldn’t be good for mom or baby. I’m not saying don’t drink coffee, but I think the recommendation to limit it is a great idea.
I, like Jessica am extremely healthy, an elite marathon runner who also swims and cycles, I have trained everyday for the last 400 days. I am wanting to get pregnant but I only get a few periods a year. I love my coffee and have a home made extra strenght soy latte a day. Is this reducing my chances of getting pregnant. Does anyone know?
Actually, I do agree with most of your posts but I must add to the whole decaff sharade that not only does it contain tons of pesticides, the same as regular coffee (one of the most chemical treated crops in the world along with soy beans) but also is heavily processed and some even claim toxic. So if you really crave you coffee in the morning you’re probably better off having a weak regular coffee that a couple of decaffs.
I am almost 18 weeks pregnant, I used to consume 2-3 decaf soy lattes a day before pregnancy, no caffienated drinks, hate caffeine, but up until a week ago it made me nauseated now I crave a small cup of decaf with half and half everyday, I eat very healthy I dont splurge on the normal pregnancy cravings, splurging for me is some natural vanilla ice cream and berries on top, and my decaf coffee, once a day, I also know alot about nutrition and feel that decaf coffee is way less of a concern than the moms I see buying a diet soda and a pastry.
I think coffee ring’s opinion is ill-informed and potentially dangerous. One person’s experience does not override years of research. It is true that there have been conflicting studies, but that is a reason to take things in moderation and TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR!!
Many women experience high blood pressure during pregnancy and coffee can certainly play a role in increasing that. I hope people on this forum have more sense than to listen to posters that think doing things in excess is fine because it is their own “research.” I certainly would not want to risk a miscarriage or have a child with a birth defect because I was doing my own research, instead of trusting years of science. My advice is to wean yourself from caffeine slowly if you are trying to become pregnant or find that you are pregnant.
There are many good half caffeinated varieties now and decaf that are just as tasty as the real thing. If you still need to have 1-2 cups daily, most doctors seem to say that is ok.
Not all the things that worked for Ms A would work the same way for Ms B. I totally support Chai latte, Moderation. If one is used to taking 8 cups, while pregnant 5 cups is OK (I think). That is the way to go. If one can go without, good.
I have never been a really big coffee drinker, but since my second trimester, I really enjoy a good cup pf coffee everyday. As pregnant women, there are so many things we are advised not to eat and drink, i just think that in moderation, the simple things in life should still be enjoyable. I agree with ‘coffee ring’ who says that even breathing air isnt always good for you.
Since working in the coffee industry for the last 8 years & training as a qualified barista… I have learnt alot. It’s OK all this research – but to me means nothing!! During my pregnancy I still drank 8 – 10 (poss more)cups a day. I’m addicted I know. Still I knew what they say about drinking coffee in pregnancy but I just took it as research only and went ahead with my addiction! My baby came out 2 weeks late, the most beautiful skin i have ever seen, not a thing wrong with my baby and is a very advanced baby. I put it down to my 2 addictions COFFEE AND CHEESE! if you want to drink coffee in pregnancy go for it… I’m a very healthy lady compared to my friends who wouldn’t even touch a cuppa.
If at any point in my pregnancy I had low blood pressure that coffee was my cure.
I think you get to a point in life when people say what’s good & bad and start to realise even breathing in air isn’t always good for you.
I have been working in the coffee industry for the last three years and as a result I have acquired a lot of knowledge. I do not claim to know any effects that caffeine will have on a pregnancy. Evidently there are a lot of mixed messages as far as the potential effects of it. Because I see unbelievable amounts of pregnant women coming in and ordering our specialty coffees in both decaf and fully caffeinated. Specialty coffees (lattes, cappucinos,etc) tend to have more caffeine than an average cup of joe. Point of fact, decaffeinated coffee still contains caffeine, just a lesser amount than fully caffeinated.
no way
I heard that decaf still has caffeine in it. Just less. That’s probably why.
if caffeinated coffe is the problem why is decaff still limited to 2 drinks a day. what is the problem with it?