Can I Drink Coffee While Pregnant?

Caffeine is a stimulant that provides a boost of energy and nothing beats that first sip of coffee in the morning. But is it safe to drink coffee during pregnancy?

It is advised by health authorities to limit your intake of coffee in pregnancy because caffeine slightly increases your blood pressure, heart rate and the amount of urine your body makes. It can also cause indigestion or trouble sleeping in pregnancy.

During pregnancy, you might be sensitive to caffeine because it can take you longer to clear it from your body than if you weren’t pregnant. It can also make you feel nauseous or lightheaded.

Can Pregnant Women Drink Coffee?

Pregnant mums don’t need to completely kick off their caffeine intake. In addition to it, chocolates and energy drinks also contain caffeine. They can also have coffee in the 9th month of pregnancy. But it has to be under the prescribed limit.

Cold coffee in pregnancy is also allowed as far as its intake is in moderate amounts. Research suggests that caffeine intakes greater than 200 mg per day might raise the risk of miscarriage.

How Coffee Affects A Mother When Pregnant?

Being a stimulant, drinking coffee in early pregnancy or in any of the trimesters increases your blood pressure and heart rate which can be dangerous during pregnancy.

Coffee also increases the frequency of urination. This causes a reduction in your body fluid levels, resulting in dehydration.

In addition to these, caffeine also changes your sleep patterns. This in turn can worsen the scene as expecting women experience tiredness and fatigue due to the hormonal changes.

How Does Caffeine Affect A Foetus?

When you intake caffeine during pregnancy, it passes through the placenta to your baby. The placenta grows in your uterus (womb) and supplies the developing baby food and oxygen through the umbilical cord.

Expecting women should limit their caffeine intake because it causes blood vessels in the uterus and placenta to constrict. This in turn can reduce the blood supply to the foetus and inhibit growth.

Although the adverse affects of caffeine on the foetus needs more research, studies till date have shown that too much caffeine can cause miscarriage, preterm birth (birth that happens before 37 weeks of pregnancy), low birth weight (when your baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces), and withdrawal symptoms in infants.

Excess caffeine intake can potentially disrupt foetal stress hormones, putting infants at risk for rapid weight gain after birth and for heart disease, obesity, and diabetes later in life.

How Much Coffee Is Safe in Pregnancy?

According to the American College of Obstetricians Gynaecologists, expecting women must limit caffeine intake to 200 mg or less.

Depending on the caffeine content in various items, you can adjust the amount yourself. For example, a single mug of coffee and that of tea in the entire day will not harm as the caffeine content will sum up to 175 mg.

At the same time, one mug of instant coffee and a single can of energy drink in a day will constitute an intake of approximately 200 mg of caffeine. 

Are There Any Benefits Of Coffee During Pregnancy?

Moderate amounts of caffeine can improve energy and alertness. Plus, it can perk you up after a night spent tossing and turning.

Consuming low to moderate amounts of caffeine during the second trimester might even reduce your risk of gestational diabetes.

It’s fine to have a little bit of caffeine during pregnancy, provided you keep an eye on how much you’re consuming. But if you didn’t consume caffeine before conceiving, there’s no reason to start doing so during pregnancy.

Coffee Alternatives During Pregnancy

Several expecting mums keep asking the question, “What can I drink instead of coffee during pregnancy?” Some of the alternatives of coffee during pregnancy are:

1. Chicory coffee: Chicory root can be roasted, ground and brewed into a delicious hot beverage like coffee beans. It tastes very similar to coffee but is free from caffeine.

2. Matcha tea: Matcha tea provides a plethora of beneficial antioxidants in a single serving and is a great alternative to coffee.

3. Golden milk: Golden milk is a caffeine-free substitute and incorporates invigorating spices such as ginger, cinnamon, turmeric and black pepper.

4. Lemon water: Start your day with lemon water as it does not contain calorie and caffeine and provides an ample dose of vitamin C.

5. Lukewarm water: Sometimes you might want just a warm, comfort drink. Hence, you can try a cup of lukewarm water. 

6. Hot cocoa: Hot cocoa uses raw cacao powder and offers body and mood boosting magnesium. Packed with antioxidants, it also stimulates the production of feel-good chemicals such as serotonin.

7. Gingerbread latte: Between the rich taste of almond milk and the mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger, gingerbread latte will be the perfect alternative to your favourite cup of coffee.

8. Hot mulled cider: Also known as wassail, mulled cider is apt for those chilly fall nights when all you want to do is sit by the fire with a good book.

Just gather some unpasteurized apple cider, whole cloves, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and fresh or frozen cranberries.

9. Beetroot latte: The earthy taste and pink shade make beetroot lattes unique and eye-soothing. A great alternative to coffee for sure!

10. Herbal tea: You can try herbal tea as an alternative to coffee. Chamomile tea is great for calming, peppermint aids digestion, and ginger settles the stomach.

11. London fog: Another alternative is the London fog. This latte is usually made with caffeinated Earl Grey but you can also use decaf Earl Grey instead.

12. Kombucha: Made by fermenting black tea with bacteria, yeast and sugar, Kombucha is a great alternative to coffee. It boosts your immune system, improves cholesterol levels and blood glucose levels in people diagnosed with diabetes.

13. Chai tea: Chai tea is a type of black tea that is blended with strong herbs and spices and can be an alternative to coffee as it contains less coffee.

14. Decaf coffee and tea: This can sound like a simple solution to coffee alternatives. However, even decaffeinated drinks contain some caffeine. Yet, compared to a regular cup of coffee, the amount of caffeine is minimal.

15. Mint and lemon tea: An alternative to coffee is the mint and lemon tea. The delightful aroma offers energy as you drink it.

FAQs

Can coffee cause miscarriage in early pregnancy?

Yes, too much of coffee intake can cause miscarriage. Several studies have shown the inter-relation of caffeine intake and miscarriage.

Can coffee cause cramps in pregnancy?

Caffeine can over-stimulate the production of stomach acid. This can cause cramps and even diarrhoea.

Conclusion

It is safe to drink coffee while you are pregnant, as long as it is under the suggested limit. While the thought of scaling back on yet another staple in your diet might be frustrating, it is important to remember that it’s not forever.