Pregnancy and Caffeine

What is caffeine?

Most of us will take in some caffeine on most days. Caffeine is a substance that:

• Occurs naturally in foods such as tea, coffee and chocolate.
• Is added to some drinks such as cola, and some 'energy' drinks.
• Is an ingredient of some cough and cold remedies, and some painkillers which you can buy at pharmacies.

Why is caffeine a concern during pregnancy?

A small amount of caffeine is fine. However, if you have a lot of caffeine it increases your risk of having a baby with low birth weight, and increases your risk of having a miscarriage. The increased risk is small. But, it is best to play safe. The Food Standards Agency recommends that you do not have more than 200 mg caffeine in any one day if you are pregnant, or if you are trying to become pregnant.

Calculating your daily caffeine intake

As a rough guide:

• One mug of instant coffee has about 100 mg caffeine.
• One cup of instant coffee has about 75 mg caffeine.
• One mug of filter coffee has about 140 mg caffeine.
• One mug of tea has about 75 mg caffeine.
• One cup of tea has about 50 mg caffeine.
• One 50 g plain chocolate bar has about 50 mg caffeine. Milk chocolate has about half the caffeine as plain chocolate.
• One can of cola has up to 40 mg caffeine.
• One can of 'energy' drink may contain up to 80 mg caffeine.
• Check the label on medicines for quantities of caffeine.

So, you do not have to stop your favourite drinks, but you may need to limit their amount. For example, you will reach about the 200 mg limit for one day if you:

• eat two 50 g bars of chocolate, and drink two cups of tea, OR
• drink two mugs of instant coffee, OR
• drink a can of energy drink, one can of cola, and eat one 50 g bar of plain chocolate and one 50 g bar of milk chocolate.
• Etc.

If you occasionally take in more than 200 mg in one day it is likely to be fine as the risks to the baby are small. However, as a general rule, it is best to aim for 200 mg or less on most days throughout your pregnancy.

Further information

Food Standards Agency - Advice for Pregnant Women

Web: www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/pregnancy/