Long-term effects of drinking coffee while pregnant

Can pregnant women drink coffee?

The short answer is yes, pregnant women can drink coffee.

Benefits of drinking coffee while pregnant

However, it's important to watch your consumption of coffee, and caffeine overall, during pregnancy. Caffeine can affect your pregnancy and your baby in ways that aren't completely clear.

"The biggest misconception I see regarding caffeine is that people think they can't have it at all during pregnancy," says Layan Alrahmani, M.D., a board-certified ob-gyn, maternal-fetal medicine specialist, and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board.

"Remember, having some caffeine is acceptable and unlikely to be harmful."

The American College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsOpens a new window (ACOG) advises pregnant women to limit their caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams per day, which could be as little as one 8-ounce cup of coffee, depending on the brand.

(See the chart at the bottom of this article to get an idea of how much caffeine is in different foods and drinks.

should you drink caffeine while pregnant

could you drink coffee while pregnant