Pregnancy

Research overview

At a glance

• It is widely accepted that any effects of coffee consumption on reproductive health are linked to caffeine rather than coffee consumption. The majority of the published work, therefore, focuses on the effects of caffeine.
• Current recommendations for caffeine intake during pregnancy range from 200-300 mg/day from all sources, not simply from coffee*.
• The onset of nausea, vomiting and appetite loss in very early pregnancy usually leads to a drop in coffee consumption and hence caffeine intake from coffee.
  • Women with healthy pregnancies may have a higher level of circulating hormones, provoking a stronger avoidance of caffeine in early pregnancy, than those women who later miscarry.
• Studies available from the last decade do not provide convincing evidence that moderate caffeine consumption (200-300 mg/day from all sources, not simply coffee*) increases the risk of reproductive or perinatal complications.

* A regular cup of coffee contains approximately 100mg of caffeine.