Caffeine during pregnancy

There’s evidence to suggest that the miscarriage rate increases among women who drink 5-6 cups of coffee (or similarly caffeinated drink) a day. Caffeine does cross the placenta and enter into fetal circulation, but it’s not clear what effect, if any, this has on the fetus although caffeine consumption has been linked with low birth weight. One problem with caffeine that is well documented however, is that caffeine obstructs the absorption of iron by your body, and your body needs plenty of iron during pregnancy.

If you consume a lot of caffeine it’s probably best to err on the side of caution and try to cut back. Happily many women naturally go off coffee during pregnancy, making the job a whole lot easier.

Where you find it

Coffee is the most obvious source of caffeine, but it’s also to be found in varying amounts in tea (both black and green), chocolate, coffee-flavoured products and some soft and sports drinks, like cola or Red Bull. It's a good idea to check the label on canned or bottled drinks for caffeine content, particularly if they boast energising properties.

The NHS recommends that you drink no more than 200mg of caffeine a day, which is equivalent to:

• 2 mugs of instant coffee
• 1 mug of brewed coffee
• 2 cups of tea
• 5 cans of regular cola, or
• 4 (50g) bars of plain chocolate (milk chocolate has less caffeine in it than in dark chocolate).