Can caffeine affect pregnancy in the first trimester?
In a Chinese prospective study, caffeine intake before pregnancy was not found to increase the risk of early pregnancy loss, but caffeine intake of more than 300 mg/day during the first trimester appeared to significantly increase this risk [23]. Research suggests that moderate caffeine consumption (less than 200 milligrams per day) does not cause miscarriage or preterm birth. That’s the amount in one 12-ounce cup of coffee. Remember that caffeine also is found in tea, chocolate, energy drinks, and soft drinks.You can have caffeine, but no more than 200mg per day. Regularly drinking more than this amount can increase your risk of pregnancy complications, such as low birthweight, and even miscarriage. There is: 100mg in a mug of instant coffee.You can have caffeine, but no more than 200mg per day. Regularly drinking more than this amount can increase your risk of pregnancy complications, such as low birthweight, and even miscarriage. There is: 100mg in a mug of instant coffee.In addition, women also are more likely to miscarry if they drink more than 200 mg of caffeinated beverages a day during the first seven weeks of pregnancy. Because women may not be aware that they are pregnant in those early weeks, it’s important to reduce caffeine once you’ve decided you would like to get pregnant.Due to conflicting conclusions from numerous studies, the March of Dimes states that until the results of more conclusive studies are available, pregnant women should limit caffeine intake to less than 200 mg per day. This is the equivalent of about one 12 oz cup of coffee.
How many mg of caffeine is safe in the first trimester?
Research suggests that moderate caffeine consumption (less than 200 milligrams per day) does not cause miscarriage or preterm birth. That’s the amount in one 12-ounce cup of coffee. Remember that caffeine also is found in tea, chocolate, energy drinks, and soft drinks. Drinking coffee during pregnancy can continue to be a pleasant daily ritual. Italy’s ministerial guidelines for healthy eating and the European Food Safety Authority¹ echo this. The important thing is not to exceed the recommended amount of caffeine per day, equal to 200 mg (300 mg, for the World Health Organization).Caffeine passes the placental barrier freely; the fetus does not express the main enzymes that inactivate it [4,5], and caffeine metabolites have been found to accumulate in the fetal brain [6,7].Maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy affects fetal growth because caffeine can easily cross the placenta and decrease blood flow to the placenta [8, 9]. There are ongoing concerns that coffee intake could increase among pregnant women in particular and result in adverse health effects.In some studies, exposures below the recommended level of caffeine intake during pregnancy (200 mg/day), as suggested by the guidelines, were associated with pregnancy loss, low birth weight, cardiac and genital anomalies, higher body mass, and neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral outcomes.A healthy adult can consume around 400 milligrams of caffeine daily, which means you can safely have about four cups of coffee in a day unless otherwise advised by your doctor. Consumption of 200 milligrams of caffeine doesn’t cause any significant harmful effects in healthy people.
Should I cut out caffeine when pregnant?
The current NHS guidelines recommend that you should have less than 200mg a day if you’re pregnant. This is about 2 cups of instant coffee. However, our Tommy’s research centres show that the risk goes up the more you have. So, it’s a good idea to reduce the amount you have as much as possible, to protect your baby. The NHS suggests that pregnant women should limit their caffeine intake to no more than 200mg a day. To give you some perspective, an average 25g serving of instant hot chocolate typically contains less than 5mg of caffeine. However, bear in mind the caffeine from other sources you might consume throughout the day.
Is caffeine linked to birth defects?
Variations in caffeine metabolism exist, and some studies indicate that consuming as low as 100 to 200 mg of caffeine daily can prompt pregnancy complications. Common side effects include subfertility, intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight, and spontaneous abortion [13]. One study released by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that women who consume 200mg or more of caffeine daily are twice as likely to have a miscarriage as those who do not consume any caffeine.