About Fertility
How Much Coffee Is Safe in Pregnancy?
Caffeine, an ingredient in coffee, is the world’s most widely used psychoactive substance. Chances are you are holding a cup of it now or will be soon. It is often the first thing a person consumes as part of their morning ritual. Patients often wonder how much coffee is safe in pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggests that pregnant women limit their caffeine intake to no more than 200 mg daily. A recent study published in Neuropharmacology, however, suggests that even this amount of caffeine may result in adverse behavioral effects on children. As part of a long-term study of brain development and child health, researchers looked at 9,000 brain scans from 9 and 10-year-old children. They found that women who had consumed any coffee during pregnancy were more likely to have children with behavioral issues later in life.
Can Pregnant Women Drink Caffeine?
As a medical community, we are still trying to better understand the association between caffeine and a multitude of obstetrical and neonatal outcomes, including miscarriage and preterm birth. Regardless, for patients who are trying to conceive, caffeine reduction may be an important part of prenatal care.
Contact Us
At Fertility Centers of New England (FCNE), many patients come to us because they are struggling with infertility and/or miscarriages. We are proud to have helped thousands of patients realize their dreams of becoming a parent. We want each of our patients to have the safest, healthiest pregnancy possible. If you have questions about how much coffee is safe in pregnancy or your fertility, please contact us to schedule a consultation.
Christensen ZP, Freedman EG, Foxe JJ. Caffeine exposure in utero is associated with structural brain alterations and deleterious neurocognitive outcomes in 9-10-year-old children. Neuropharmacology. 2021 Jan 30;186:108479.
