How much coffee can I drink whilst pregnant?
How much coffee or caffeine in general can I have being pregnant?
Going out for coffee has to be one of my favourite things to do. It feels like a little-mid morning treat. Now not being pregnant, I can enjoy a coffee guilt-free without worrying about the effects it may be having on baby bump. But how much coffee can you actually have being pregnant? According to the NHS website, when you’re pregnant it is advisable to drink no more than 200mg of caffeine a day. But who knows what that means??!! When you go into your local coffee shop you can see how many calories are in your Grande Caramel Latte but not how much caffeine your happily going to be sipping away.
But a coffee is a coffee I hear you say?
No no sista…. A lot of recommendations advise that 1 cup of filter coffee will keep you within your limits. Whilst this may be true, this depends massively on whether you make this at home or drink a coffee whilst out and about. It also depends on which coffee shop you go to. You can enjoy a smooth Flat White from Starbucks, comfortably staying within your limits with 150mg caffeine. If you ventured over the road for the same coffee drink and catch up at Costa, it would put you over your limit by 77mg, with a massive 277mg of caffeine.
Here are a rundown of the differences between other drinks (all medium sizes):
Costa vs. Starbucks
Cappuccino: 277mg vs. 150mg
Late: 185mg vs. 150mg
Mocha: 287mg vs. 175mg
For more info or to find out the caffeine content of your fave coffee then check out the sites below.
Here are some of our other caffeine containing comforts…
A mug of tea: 75mg
A can of cola: 40mg
Most 50g bars of plain chocolate: less than 25mg
Most 50g bars of milk chocolate: less than 10mg
There has been lots of research into caffeine and pregnancy. With the current research advising to avoid caffeine within the first trimester due to risk of miscarriage.
After this time, it is to stay within 200mg p/day. The risks being miscarriage and/or fetal growth restriction, resulting in low birth weight babies, which has been linked to higher risks of health problems later in life.
I’m not saying ditch your favourite drink and avoid all high street coffee shops. But if you are one to have coffees out regularly check the caffeine content with the supplier. And if in doubt decaf it out.
Here are some links so that you can search your favourite coffees caffeine intake:
Starbucks:
http://globalassets.starbucks.com/assets/9b09abcb336d40cb8315c5806fb3c07e.pdf
Costa:
http://www.caffeineinformer.com/caffeine-content/costa-coffee
