Caffeine intake during pregnancy
Caffeine is the most frequently used drug during pregnancy. In small amounts, caffeine is considered safe for the fetus. But experts caution pregnant women to keep their caffeine use below 200 mg a day.
- Pregnant women who ingest more than 200 mg daily have a higher rate of miscarriage.
- Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it makes you urinate more often. This can cause you to lose important minerals, including calcium.
- Caffeine can interfere with sleep for both you and your fetus.
Your best bet is to avoid caffeine or reduce your consumption during pregnancy to the equivalent of about 1 cup of coffee or tea a day. Caffeine can be found in many types of drinks and in chocolate. The amount of caffeine in your coffee or tea can depend on the serving size, the brand, or how it was brewed.
Coffee drinks such as a 16 oz (480 mL) mocha can have 175 mg of caffeine, and a 12 oz (360 mL) regular coffee can have as much as 260 mg of caffeine. Tea can have 30 mg to 130 mg of caffeine in a 12-ounce cup. An ounce (30 g) of milk chocolate can have 1 mg to 15 mg of caffeine, and dark chocolate can have 5 mg to 35 mg of caffeine. Many soft drinks and energy drinks also contain caffeine.
It is important to keep track of your caffeine intake throughout the day. Check the label if you don't know how much caffeine is in your drink or chocolate bar. Talk to your doctor about caffeine and nutrition during pregnancy.
Adapted from International Food Information Council Foundation and Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (2002), Caffeine and Women's Health. Also available online: http://ific.org/publications/brochures/caffwomenbroch.cfm.
| Author: | Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH Carrie Henley | Last Updated: May 29, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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