Overall it appears that low to moderate caffeine intake does not make it harder to conceive a baby, nor does it increase the risk of miscarriage. However, higher levels of caffeine intake (greater than 300mg per day) maybe associated with decreasing the chances of becoming pregnant and increasing miscarriage rates2.
Moderate caffeine consumption (less than 200 mg per day) does not appear to be a major contributing factor in miscarriage or preterm birth.
And the study found women who drank more than two caffeinated drinks a day during the first seven weeks of pregnancy also were at a high risk of miscarriage. "The impacts of caffeine on pregnancy have been suspected for some time," says Joseph Stanford, MD, an OB/GYN with University of Utah Health.
Until we know more about how caffeine can affect pregnancy, it's best to limit the amount you get to 200 milligrams each day. This is about the amount in 1½ 8-ounce cups of coffee or one 12-ounce cup of coffee. Be sure to check the size of your cup to know how much caffeine you're getting.
Babies of pregnant women who consume over 200 mg of caffeine per day are at an increased risk of fetal growth restriction which could result in low birth weight and/or miscarriage. “There is evidence that excessive caffeine intake is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage.
Recommendations for pregnancy
The recommended limit in Australia is a maximum of 200mg caffeine per day. This would be equivalent to 1 cup of strong espresso style coffee, 3 cups of instant coffee, 4 cups of medium strength tea, 4 cups of cocoa or hot chocolate or 4 cans of cola.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women limit their caffeine consumption to less than 200 mg (about two, six-ounce cups) per day.
Doctors and midwives do not recommend energy drinks to anyone during pregnancy. Energy drinks contain a lot of caffeine and many other ingredients that could be unsafe for pregnant people.
You can have caffeine, but no more than 200mg per day. Regularly drinking more than this amount can increase your risk of pregnancy complications, such as low birthweight, and even miscarriage.
Because their study found caffeine consumption before pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of miscarriage, it's more likely that caffeinated beverage consumption during this time directly contributes to pregnancy loss.
Certain uterine conditions or weak cervical tissues (incompetent cervix) might increase the risk of miscarriage. Smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs. Women who smoke during pregnancy have a greater risk of miscarriage than do nonsmokers. Heavy alcohol use and illicit drug use also increase the risk of miscarriage.
Is caffeine harmful during pregnancy? A lot of research shows that caffeine intake during pregnancy won't harm you or your baby as long as you're taking in less than 200 mg of caffeine per day. At this cut off, most research shows that drinking caffeine does not increase your risk of miscarriage or premature delivery.
The greatest reason people drink caffeinated beverages is to increase their energy and alertness. Studies show that 100 to 200 mg of caffeine (about 1 to 2 cups of regular coffee) are enough to achieve these results.
What does 200mg of caffeine look like? You will be reaching 200mg of caffeine with, for example: 2 bars of plain chocolate and one mug of filter coffee. 2 mugs of tea and one can of cola.
Current studies show that maternal caffeine exposure not only severely disrupts embryo implantation but also disrupts ongoing midterm fetal growth and development, resulting in pregnancy loss, low birth weight, and impaired brain development in offspring on postnatal day 6 (P6) [35–38,55].
As a general rule of thumb, expectant mothers can have about 10 ounces of brewed or drip coffee per day, or one to two shots of espresso.
The Food Standards Agency recommends that pregnant women shouldn't take more than 200mg of caffeine a day. A can of Coca‑Cola Classic contains 32mg of caffeine and a can of Diet Coke contains 42mg.
Researchers have not reported an association between low (under 200 mg) levels of caffeine and an increased chance for miscarriage. Some studies suggest that the chance for miscarriage may be increased when people consume moderate (200-300 mg) or high (more than 300 mg) levels of caffeine.
Although the aerosol of e-cigarettes generally has fewer harmful substances than cigarette smoke, e-cigarettes and other products containing nicotine are not safe to use during pregnancy. Nicotine is a health danger for pregnant women and developing babies and can damage a developing baby's brain and lungs.
Experts advise against energy drinks during pregnancy because they generally contain high levels of caffeine and other stimulants, and they may cause stress and increased blood pressure and heart rate.
Women may want to limit their tea consumption during the first trimester when the baby's neural tube is developing to avoid the chance of decreasing absorption of folic acid. After this point, drinking one cup of green tea per day has not been shown to increase any risks for the baby.
A regular flat white made with arabica beans (the bean most commonly used in cafes and restaurants) contains 50mg to 90mg of caffeine, the same amount as a latte or cappuccino made with arabica beans.
Further, the EFSA indicates that, for most people, up to 200 mg of caffeine at once doesn't raise health concerns, even “when consumed less than two hours prior to intense physical exercise”. However, they caution that 100 mg of caffeine taken close to bedtime may affect sleep quality.