Can you drink coffee while pregnant?

Answer 1

Guidelines issued by the Food Standards Agency recommend that pregnant women have no more than 200mg of caffeine a day (FSA n.d. a). This is equivalent to two mugs of instant coffee or four cups of tea or five cans of cola per day (FSA n.d. a).

Caffeine can be found in coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate. Some over-the-counter drugs, including headache and cold tablets, stay-awake medications, and allergy remedies also contain caffeine. Always seek your pharmacist's advice before you buy over-the counter remedies, and don't forget to mention that you are pregnant.

Even the amount of caffeine in coffee and tea can vary widely depending on whether the coffee grounds or tea leaves are brewed or instant, weak or strong. Colas and other drinks vary in caffeine content, too. See the list below for average caffeine amounts in some common foods and beverages (FSA n.d. b). You might be surprised how easily you can get a large dose of caffeine.

• 1 mug of instant coffee = 100mg

• 1 cup of instant coffee = 75mg

• 1 cup of brewed coffee = 100mg

• 1 cup of tea = 50mg

• 1 can of cola = 40mg

• 1 can of "energy" drink = 80mg

• 1 x 50g bar of plain chocolate = up to 50mg

• 1 x 50g bar of Milk Chocolate = up to 25mg This information was taken from http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/nutrition/foodsafety/caffeine/ A first-hand answer:

It's best to really keep it at a minimum as it really affects the baby a lot more than it does you. I will tell you, I had about a can every two weeks during most of my pregnancies, and all my kids turned out just fine--very healthy and intelligent. The most harmful thing I did was used milk-of-magnesium to try to stop the vomiting, as suggested by the doctor, and that baby was the only one that came out needing surgery for a hernia (hole in the colon).

Answer 2

Perfectly fine.

Just cut back a bit if it contains caffiene and many would tell you no more than 2 cups a day if that is so. Coffee can have a laxative effect as well as make heartburn worse so prepare yourself for either.

-Mother of 3.

Answer 3

One cup (up to 12 ounces) is generally pretty safe. If you can avoid it all together, that's even better.

Answer 4

You can have 200mg of coffee per day while pregnant. That's equal to one cup of average strength coffee

Answer 5

Caffeine is not a necessary nutrient so a pregnant woman would not need to have any. "Should" makes it sound as if you think there is some amount that is necessary.

Answer 6

You shouldn't drink coffee when pregnant because it has caffiene in it and that's not good for the baby. Try decafe.

Answer 7

It is safe to drink coffee when you are pregnant. To much to be avoided.

Answer 8

Yes. You can safely drink coffee, through out pregnancy. Hope that you will not take it more than 3 times a day and it is not very strong.