Yes, but hold the refills. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises restricting your caffeine consumption to fewer than 200 milligrams (mg) per day. That’s about what you ‘d receive from drinking one 10-ounce cup of Starbucks coffee.
How Much Coffee Can a Pregnant Woman Drink?
Discussing that quantity might be dangerous. Some research studies have linked drinking more than 200 mg of caffeine a day with an increased risk of miscarriage and low birth weight. And drinking large amounts of caffeine (eight cups of coffee or more a day) has actually been related to stillbirth. More research has to be done to verify these links, however it’s a good idea to err on the side of caution when you’re pregnant.
Understand that the amount of caffeine in your cup of coffee will differ depending on the type of coffee and how it’s brewed. The coffee at a dining establishment or coffee bar, for example, can range from about 100 mg for a small (8-ounce) cup to over 400 mg for a big (16-ounce) cup, depending on the brand name and the brew.
And keep in mind, decaffeinated does not mean caffeine-free. A 16-ounce cup of brewed decaffeinated coffee generally includes about 12 to 25 mg of caffeine.
If you require a caffeine increase but are concerned about your intake, you may select a latte (about 75 mg of caffeine). From the milk in a latte you’ll get a little extra calcium and protein – nutrients you require during pregnancy anyway.
Is It Safe to Drink Coffee While Pregnant?
When you drink a cup of coffee, caffeine crosses the placenta into the amniotic fluid and your baby’s blood stream. While your body goes to work metabolizing and eliminating the caffeine, your baby’s body is still developing and takes a lot longer time to process the caffeine. As a result, your baby is exposed to the impacts of caffeine for much longer than you are.
How much caffeine can you have while pregnant? Researchers continue to attempt to determine the specific result of caffeine on your baby and your pregnancy. ACOG states that thus far, mild caffeine consumption (less than 200 mg) isn’t really thought about to be a significant cause of miscarriage or premature birth, according to iytmed.com. One large research study, nevertheless, discovered 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 do not 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 jittery and cause insomnia. Caffeine can likewise result in heartburn by triggering the production of stomach acid.
These impacts might be more noticeable as your pregnancy advances. That’s since your body’s ability to break down caffeine slows, so you wind up with a higher level of it in your blood stream. During the second trimester, it takes nearly two times as long to clear caffeine from your body as when you’re not pregnant. During the third trimester, it takes nearly three times as long.
This can mean that more caffeine crosses the placenta and reaches your baby, who cannot process it efficiently.
