Don't drink more than 1 small cup of coffee a day during pregnancy

Drink no more than 1 cup of coffee a day during pregnancy (Oriental IC Photo)

Question: Can I drink coffee during pregnancy? Babycenter recommends limiting caffeine intake during pregnancy, according to a recent article on the website babycenter that suggests excessive caffeine intake during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage.

Can pregnant women drink coffee? Dr. Ronald J. Ruggiero, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, recommends avoiding coffee during pregnancy, but if you do, limit it to one cup a day.

Ronald J. Ruggiero says a study of cows showed that pregnant cows who consumed three cups of coffee a day had babies that were smaller than normal cows. Studies have shown that too much caffeine reduces placental blood flow, which may lead to babies not getting enough oxygen and nutrients.

A San Francisco study of 1000 pregnant women found that consuming 200 milligrams of caffeine a day during the first trimester doubled the risk of miscarriage. 200 mg of caffeine is equivalent to drinking 2 cups of coffee or 5 caffeinated sodas. The study showed that those who consumed 200 milligrams of caffeine a day had a 25 percent miscarriage rate, those who consumed 100 milligrams a day had a 15 percent miscarriage rate, and those who consumed no caffeine had a 12 percent miscarriage rate.

Based on these data, pregnant women are advised to drink no more than 1 cup of coffee or coffee drink per day, which is the limit for total caffeine intake, so if you drink coffee, you should also avoid consuming other caffeinated recipes or drinks on the same day to avoid excessive caffeine intake.