How much decaf tea can I drink when pregnant?
No need to worry! The guide I got from my midwife says decaf black tea is around 2-5mg of caffeine per 240ml cup. The advice is to have less than 200mg a day, and you’re no more than 35mg. Enjoy! Researchers suggest that drinking 5–10 cups of decaf coffee could accumulate the amount of caffeine in 1–2 cups of regular, caffeinated coffee ( 8 ).So, to be on the safe side, Allt suggests sticking to one to three cups. Most research that has shown the health benefits of coffee (whether fully caffeinated or decaf) has found the point of diminishing returns to be any intake above 2 to 3 cups per day,” Allt says.Any coffee that is classed as decaffeinated must be 97% caffeine free. In a standard cup of ordinary coffee there is between 80-100mg of caffeine, in decaffeinated there is between 2-15mg of caffeine.EFSA allows up to 200 mg of caffeine per day—so 2–3 cups of decaf pose no problem.It may even exert health benefits like reducing fasting blood sugar and supporting your gut microbiome. But don’t get carried away just because it’s decaf; it’s still best not to overdo it. According to experts and research, one to three cups a day seems to be the sweet spot for decaf coffee intake.
What non-caffeinated tea can I drink while pregnant?
Yes, a few of the herbal teas mentioned above — like peppermint and ginger tea, are generally safe to drink while pregnant. The main difference between herbal and non-herbal teas is that traditional, caffeinated, non-herbal teas like green or black tea come from one specific tea plant leaf called Camellia sinensis. The best coffee alternatives during pregnancy include decaf coffee, herbal teas (like rooibos or peppermint), turmeric lattes, matcha in moderation, smoothies, and hot cocoa. These options let you enjoy your routine with less caffeine.Eating chocolate when you’re pregnant is perfectly safe but, of course, you should enjoy it in moderation, paying close attention to caffeine, sugar and calorie levels. You should choose high-quality chocolate that is, ideally, low in sugar.The best coffee alternatives during pregnancy include decaf coffee, herbal teas (like rooibos or peppermint), turmeric lattes, matcha in moderation, smoothies, and hot cocoa. These options let you enjoy your routine with less caffeine.
What is the safest coffee to drink while pregnant?
Power of Decaf to Control Caffeine Levels Decaffeinated coffee contains only trace amounts of caffeine (often 2-4 mg per cup), making it a generally safe alternative for pregnant women. But decaf coffee is more than just a “lighter” option. It offers a way to preserve your favorite coffee rituals. Also, if you are in the process of considering to become pregnant, currently are pregnant, or presently are breastfeeding, drinking caffeine is either not advised at all, or advised only in small amounts. So, the switch to decaffeinated coffee can be a great option.Caffeine is also a diuretic, meaning that it helps get rid of fluids from the body. It is important that women who use caffeine stay well-hydrated by drinking enough water. Most experts suggest that women who are pregnant limit their caffeine intake to 200 mg or less per day.Official advice from the NHS, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist (RCOG) and from Tommy’s, remains that women should reduce their caffeine intake when trying for a baby, or when pregnant, to less than 200 mg a day.Here are some key takeaways for you to remember: You can drink decaf coffee while pregnant as long as you don’t exceed 200mg a day. Make sure to keep an eye on your caffeine intake daily. Drinking too much coffee can potentially cause complications during your pregnancy.If you’re pregnant, check with your doctor about having caffeine. It’s usually OK to have 1 or 2 cups of coffee, but it’s best not to have more than that.
What to replace coffee with when pregnant?
The best coffee alternatives during pregnancy include decaf coffee, herbal teas (like rooibos or peppermint), turmeric lattes, matcha in moderation, smoothies, and hot cocoa. These options let you enjoy your routine with less caffeine. Key takeaways: Decaf coffee contains many of the same substances found in regular coffee. But it has a lot less caffeine. It can also have many of the same health benefits as regular coffee, including a reduced risk of diabetes, liver disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.Finally, keep in mind that decaf coffee still contains some caffeine. A 250mL serve of decaf coffee contains between two and six milligrams of caffeine. If you’re pregnant, it’s recommended you limit your caffeine intake to 200mg per day.Decaf coffee is made from regular coffee beans that go through a process to remove most of the caffeine. However, decaffeinated coffee is not completely caffeine free, and EU regulation for decaf coffee is less than 0.How much caffeine can I have? 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.
How much caffeine crosses the placenta?
Caffeine is rapidly absorbed and crosses the placenta freely. After ingestion of 200 mg caffeine, intervillous blood flow in the placenta was found to be reduced by 25%. Although caffeine does cross the placenta, it has been shown that caffeine does not cause a decrease in uterine blood flow or fetal oxygenation 8. Two studies have assessed the relationship between caffeine consumption and mean birth weight differences 6 7, and two others have recently reported on IUGR.The researchers noted that caffeine is believed to cause blood vessels in the uterus and placenta to constrict, which could reduce the blood supply to the fetus and inhibit growth.
How does caffeine affect a baby in the third trimester?
Some reports suggest that children exposed to more than 500 mg of caffeine per day in the third trimester of pregnancy were more likely to have faster heart rates, shaking, increased breathing rate, and spend more time awake in the days following birth. Fussiness, jitteriness and sleeping problems have been found in babies whose mothers consumed high levels of caffeine, more than 5 cups of coffee each day. There is no agreed upon safe level of caffeine because every baby’s tolerance is different.