How much coffee is too much during pregnancy?

While some doctors suggest you cut down on coffee during pregnancy, others may be fine with moderate consumption. But how much coffee is too much during pregnancy?

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pregnant women should limit their caffeine consumption to less than 200 milligrams per day. So how much is 200 mg of caffeine? Well, the amount of caffeine in one 8 ounce cup (240 ml cup) is around 100 mg. If it has milk in it, then the caffeine content may come down to 75 to 80 mg in one 8 ounce cup of coffee. So the recommendation of not more than 200 mg per day, will make it not more than 2 cups of coffee a day.

The baby gets all its nutrients through the placenta. Caffeine can cross the placenta and get into the fetal circulation. So although you may be able to handle the caffeine, the baby’s system is still immature and may not be able to handle excess caffeine.

Caffeine is a stimulant and can raise your heartbeat, blood pressure and sometimes cause palpitations. It is also a diuretic. So you may also get dehydrated if you take more than the recommended quantity of coffee.

consumption of excess caffeine especially in the first three months of Pregnancy has been linked to higher risks of miscarriage.

To put it in a nutshell, it is better to limit your intake of coffee to a maximum of two cups a day during pregnancy.

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