Drinking one cup of coffee per day during pregnancy is unlikely to increase a womain’s risk of premature birth or miscarriage, according to research from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Recent studies have conflicted in their conclusions regarding complications in pregnancy due to moderate caffeine consumption.
“I think it’s time to comfortably say that it’s okay to have a cup of coffee during pregnancy,” said Dr. William Barth, the chair of a College committee which analysed the evidence.
The Committee stated that 200 milligrams of caffeine daily, approximately what is found in a 12-ounce cup of coffee, does not radically contribute to either premature births or miscarriages.
Two recent studies were taken into consideration, both of which surveyed more than 1,000 pregnant women. One of the studies, led by Dr. David Savitz of New York’s Mount Sinai Medical Center, concluded there was no increased rate of miscarriage for females who consumed low, moderate, or even high levels of caffeine at different stages of their pregnancy.
However, Dr. De-Kun Li and his team at Oakland’s Kaiser Permanente’s Division of Research concluded there was a greater chance miscarriage in women who consumed above 200 mg of caffeine on a daily basis, but no further risk at lower levels.
The committee said the evidence was not uncertain on whether consuming upwards of 200 mg of caffeine per day would increase risks to pregnancy.
