Great news! You’re pregnant, but now you have opened up a whole new world of questioning what you can eat and drink.
Many of us look forward to our morning caffeine hit, but can you continue getting your daily fix when pregnant?
Well, let’s dispel all the coffee myths and find out the truth about coffee drinking and pregnancy. In this guide, we’ll run you through all the facts so you can feel confident about caffeine consumption during this special time in your life.
Caffeine and Pregnancy
We’ll jump straight in and say that caffeine can be consumed when you are pregnant—but only in moderation.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has stated that moderate caffeine intake “does not appear to be a major contributing factor in miscarriage or preterm birth.”
What’s a moderate amount of caffeine?
ACOG states that less than 200 mg per day of caffeine is a moderate amount during pregnancy. But you might be thinking, how many cups of coffee can I drink then?
According to a Mayo Clinic article, caffeine in a cup of brewed coffee is approximately 96 mg. So really, no more than two cups of brewed coffee a day should be fine. Instant coffee has about 62 mg of caffeine—so no more than three cups with this variety.
What if you have too much?
One issue is that ACOG hasn’t determined if large amounts of caffeine can cause miscarriages. So, we think you’ll be putting yourself at an unknown risk by drinking too much coffee.
Coffee Myths During Pregnancy
Okay, so we’ve established that you can drink the occasional coffee while pregnant. But you might have heard all sorts of rumors about what coffee can do to your unborn child.
Let’s bust the myths…
1. Drinking coffee while pregnant can lower your child’s IQ.
FALSE: A study by The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (RINCH) found that drinking moderate amounts of coffee when pregnant does not affect your future child’s IQ.
2. My future child will have behavior problems if I drink coffee.
FALSE: The same RINCH study found no evidence to suggest behavioral issues of your future child if you drink moderate amounts of coffee when pregnant.
3. Coffee stunts bone growth.
FALSE: It’s a strange common myth that coffee stunts bone growth. There is absolutely no evidence of this.
4. Coffee has health benefits.
TRUE: Even when you are pregnant, you could reap some of coffee’s antioxidizing health benefits. Why not have a look at how you could enjoy your coffee fix more easily when pregnant?
The Bottom Line
You really shouldn’t be worried about enjoying a coffee now and again when you’re pregnant. It’s just one of those many coffee myths that drinking the hot stuff in moderation is going to harm your unborn child.
Just keep in mind that you might be consuming other caffeinated drinks during the day, and the total amount could go past the 200 mg limit. But there’s always decaf!
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