Should You Drink Coffee While Pregnant?

Many scientific studies have demonstrated that coffee is good for you. More coffee leads to less type II diabetes, for example. Drink coffee, live longer was the title of one our articles about increased longevity in coffee drinkers. But how about when you decide to have kids? Should you drink coffee while pregnant? How much is too much? Pregnant moms go through a lot. They need to give up smoking if that is their vice. And they need to avoid alcohol. Do they have to give up that morning cup of java as well? The quick answer, mom, is that you can have that morning cup of coffee but not six cups more.

Should You Drink Coffee While Pregnant? How Much Is Too Much?

The concern about drinking coffee during pregnancy comes from the possibility of stillbirth with moms who drink excessive amounts of coffee (like eight cups a day) and both low birth weight and miscarriage in women who drink too much coffee. So, how much is too much and is there an acceptable amount of caffeine during pregnancy? According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology up to 200 milligrams of caffeine a day are OK according to their web page entitled Is It Safe to Drink Coffee during Pregnancy?

Yes, but hold the refills. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends limiting your caffeine consumption to fewer than 200 milligrams (mg) per day. That’s about what you’d get from drinking one 10-ounce cup of Starbucks coffee.

Going over that amount could be risky. Some 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 been linked with stillbirth. More research needs to be done to confirm these links, but it’s a good idea to err on the side of caution when you’re pregnant.

The good doctors remind us that coffee is not the only dietary source of caffeine. Tea and soft drinks are part of the picture as well. And, if you are going to drink coffee in pregnancy stick with healthy organic coffee to avoid unwanted impurities in your cup.

Arabica versus Robusta

Coffee comes in two basic types, Arabica and Robusta. Robusta coffee beans supply the caffeine that goes into most caffeinated soft drinks and bean for bean Robusta contains about 50% more caffeine than Arabica. Arabica coffee is better tasting as well as less likely to put you over the 200 milligram limit for your daily caffeine intake during pregnancy. The amount of caffeine in an Arabica espresso is between 30 and 50 milligrams and an 8 ounce cup of black coffee house Arabica will have no more than your 200 milligram limit.

Coffee in Moderation while Pregnant

The point of this seems to be that in pregnancy as in all of life moderation is a good idea. If you are a pregnant mom. And you need your cup of java to get through the day. Drink organic, Arabica, and preferably Colombian coffee.




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