Is caffeine safe during pregnancy? Here's what you need to know about your morning coffee and pregnancy.

This post has been written and medically reviewed by Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist).
If you're pregnant, you probably already know that there's a long list of foods to avoid. Some have a little more leeway than others. One that's still debated is caffeine. Some people will say to completely avoid all caffeine, while others say that a little caffeine won't hurt anything. Let's dive into the research surrounding caffeine and pregnancy to see if you really have to give up your morning cup of coffee while pregnant.
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Is Caffeine Safe During Pregnancy? What The Research Says
While not necessarily inconclusive, studies vary on whether or not (and how much) caffeine affects pregnancy. Some studies have linked caffeine intake to miscarriage, preterm birth, and low birth weight, though many older studies are flawed in design. The most recent (and better designed) studies seem to conclude that moderate intake of caffeine is safe, as stated by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists1.
Risk of Miscarriage
One of the concerns with caffeine has been risk of miscarriage, especially in the first trimester when the risk is highest. One 2008 study showed that the increase from no caffeine to less than 200 mg raised the risk for miscarriage only slightly, from 12% to 15%, while the risk increased significantly by 25% with levels over 200mg daily, though there still could be cofounding factors (such as maternal age and smoking)2. However, another 2008 study, this time a prospective cohort, found no increase in miscarriage with caffeine levels less than 300 mg daily and suggests that there could be recall bias when women who have already experienced a miscarriage report past intake3. Similarly, another prospective cohort in 2009 also concluded that light to moderate caffeine intake did not result in loss of pregnancy when following women from preconception to 12 weeks gestation4.
Preterm Birth and Fetal Growth Restriction
Two studies have found that moderate caffeine intake is not associated with preterm birth, and does not affect birth weight gestational age, or fetal growth5,6. Another study concluded that moderate caffeine intake did result in reduction in birth weight, though the differences were tiny, even for the group of highest caffeine consumption (roughly 3 ounces, or 84 grams)7.
How Much Caffeine Is Okay During Pregnancy
The consensus among health professionals is that up to 200 mg of caffeine daily is safe during pregnancy. That's roughly a 12 oz cup of coffee, though levels can vary widely based on brewing method, beans, and other factors.
Caffeine Levels in Common Beverages
The Spruce has a good article outlining the caffeine levels of many popular drinks. Here are estimates for a few of the more common caffeinated drinks:
- Drip coffee: 150-175 mg per 8 oz.
- French press coffee: 80-135 mg per 8 oz.
- Percolated coffee: 64-272 mg per 8 oz.
- Decaf coffee: 2-12 mg per 8 oz.
- Dunkin Donuts brewed coffee: 143-206 mg per 16 oz.
- Starbucks brewed coffee: 260 mg per 12 oz.
- Starbucks espresso drinks (single shot): 75 mg per 12 oz.
- Starbucks cold brew: 150 mg per 12 oz.
- Keurig K-Cup: 75-150 mg
- Herbal Tea: 0 mg
- Black Tea: 40-100 mg per 8 oz.
- Green Tea: 25-50 mg per 8 oz.
- White Tea: 50-75 mg per 8 oz.
- Soda: 25-50 mg per 8 oz.
Ways To Lower Caffeine Intake
If you're worried about caffeine intake during pregnancy and want to lower the amount that you consume, here are some things you can do to help decrease your caffeine consumption:
- Switch from regular coffee to decaf. I know the taste of most decaf coffee is not great, but buying good decaf whole beans from a local coffee shop is a good option, taste-wise.
- Replace caffeinated coffee or tea with herbal tea. Many herbal teas are pregnancy safe (and some can even help pregnancy outcomes!), so switching to herbal tea is a good option if you still want a cozy warming drink.
- Get a smaller size. Since many drinks are much larger than the 8 or 12 oz serving size, make sure you're watching the size of your drink. Sodas can be especially large, so watch out for how much of a caffeinated beverage you're drinking and opt for the smallest size.
- Avoid energy drinks, or anything that claims to give you more energy. These are often very high in caffeine.
- Watch out for sneaky sources of caffeine, such as chocolate or hot cocoa. A little bit doesn't contain a ton of caffeine, but if you're eating a lot due to those pregnancy cravings, be mindful that chocolate does contain caffeine.
Bottom Line
Consuming under 200 mg of caffeine is probably safe, so go ahead and enjoy a little cup of morning coffee if you're feeling it. If you're at high risk for miscarriage, you may choose to avoid caffeine altogether in the first trimester when the risk is highest. (This is also the easiest time to avoid it, since the nausea can be particularly bad!). Speak with your doctor or midwife if you have any concerns about caffeine, and make sure you're realistic about what size your cup of coffee really is.
Sources:
- Moderate Caffeine Consumption During Pregnancy ↩︎
- Maternal Caffeine Consumption During Pregnancy and the Risk of Miscarriage: A Prospective Cohort Study
↩︎ - Caffeine and Miscarriage Risk ↩︎
- Caffeine Consumption and Miscarriage: A Prospective Cohort Study ↩︎
- Effect of Reducing Caffeine Intake on Birth Weight and Length of Gestation: Randomised Controlled Trial ↩︎
- Effect of Caffeine Exposure During Pregnancy on Birth Weight and Gestational Age ↩︎
- Association Between Maternal Caffeine Consumption and Metabolism and Neonatal Anthropometry ↩︎
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