Can pregnant women drink coffee?

According to experts, pregnant women should not indulge in the drink – when consuming more than 300 milligrams of caffeine, the risk of miscarriage increases.

American scientists have warned women that coffee can affect fertility, reducing chances of conception, and also increase the risk of miscarriage. As Gil Weiss, one of the authors of the study, said, the chances of conception decrease when consuming more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day.

One glass of finely ground brewed coffee contains about 85 milligrams of caffeine. That is, fertility can decrease already when consuming more than three cups of coffee.

Weiss noted that it is not clear exactly how caffeine affects fertility. But it is known for sure that caffeine penetrates through the placenta. More than a decade ago, studies showed a link between the consumption of 300 mg of caffeine per day and an increased risk of miscarriage. At the same time, 600 mg of caffeine doubles the risk.

However, this does not mean that coffee is absolutely prohibited for all pregnant women. Most women, if they are healthy and the doctor has not forbidden this drink, can afford a cup. It is best to choose coffee without caffeine, but regular, high-quality coffee in small quantities will not harm the baby and will not put the pregnancy at risk.

But there are other factors. Coffee increases blood pressure, so this drink is contraindicated in case of blood pressure problems or high tone. In addition, it has a diuretic effect, which can cause additional difficulties for pregnant women. Another factor that should be taken into account is that coffee can increase the symptoms of toxicosis. Therefore, even if there was no direct prohibition from the doctor, you should always take into account your condition and well-being so as not to worsen it.

It is also worth remembering that caffeine is also contained in other drinks. For example, there can be even more caffeine in green tea than in coffee, depending on the variety and brewing method. There is a small amount of caffeine in cocoa.

Therefore, if you drink a lot of tea or cocoa, coffee can be really excessive, even if it is just one cup. As an alternative, there are decaffeinated drinks, of which, fortunately, there are a huge number. By the way, this substance is still present in decaffeinated coffee, but it is approximately 20 times less.