Did you know that people in the UK alone drink around 98 million cups of coffee a day? (according to the British Coffee Association). But, can you drink decaf coffee while you are pregnant?
Throughout this blog, we will explore everything you need to know about decaf coffee, whether it’s safe to drink while pregnant, and the reasons behind this. For more information, read on.
To answer this question, yes – you can drink decaf coffee while pregnant. However, there is a limit on how much caffeine you can drink daily. According to the NHS, you should drink no more than 200mg of caffeine daily.
If you were to drink more than 200mg of coffee a day, then this could lead to birth complications, such as low birth weight or miscarriages.
Caffeine is found in a lot of products, including chocolate, fizzy drinks (coke) and herbal teas. If you used to drink caffeine daily, then it can be hard to completely stop or cut down on your caffeine intake.
However, decaf coffee is a great alternative to regular coffee and it only contains up to 15mg of caffeine depending on the brand and method of decaffeination.
Remember to always check the mg of caffeine so you don’t go over the recommended amount.
As briefly mentioned before, too much caffeine can have negative effects on pregnancy as it can increase the risks of complications. Not only does too much caffeine affect the baby, but it can also have negative effects on you as a mother…
For example, drinking too much caffeine can:
Increase your blood pressure and heart rate Can worsen indigestion and nausea related to pregnancy It can cause insomnia and sleep disturbances.
This is why it is important to keep your caffeine intake to a minimum (less than 200mg a day) to avoid any complications and prevent worsening your pregnancy symptoms.
During pregnancy, caffeine breaks down a lot more slowly, which can cross the placenta and enter your baby’s bloodstream. From here, the caffeine can’t be broken down.
Caffeine can be found in many different drinks and foods, but how much caffeine is in your diet? Here is a chart of different foods and drinks and how much caffeine can be found in them:
Drink/food: |
Amount of caffeine: |
Cola |
32mg |
Instant coffee |
60-100 mg per cup |
Dark chocolate |
12mg |
Milk chocolate |
9 mg per 1.55 ounces |
Decaf coffee |
Around 2mg per cup |
These are just some of the many foods and drinks that caffeine can be found in, so make sure that you are checking the amount of caffeine before you drink a cup of coffee or enjoy a bar of chocolate!
There is no doubt that decaf coffee is considered to be a safer alternative to regular coffee, however, it is important to remember that it still contains a small amount of caffeine. Here are some of the benefits of choosing decaf coffee while pregnant:
Cutting down on caffeine can be hard, however, decaf coffee contains a lot less caffeine than regular coffee, which means that you can have a few cups of coffee a day as long as you don’t go above 200 mg daily.
Reducing your caffeine intake can help minimise any risks associated with excessive caffeine consumption during pregnancy.
If you enjoy coffee and don’t want to completely cut out coffee, then decaf coffee is a great alternative. Decaf coffee can provide a similar taste and experience without leaving you with the side effects of caffeine.
Many pregnant women opt for decaf coffee over regular coffee as it allows them to continue drinking coffee while keeping their baby safe and healthy.
Studies have shown that drinking decaf coffee in moderation during pregnancy is not likely to have any negative side effects on fetal growth or increase the risk of any complications.
These are just some of the benefits of drinking decaf coffee. However, it is important to remember that it still contains some amount of caffeine, which is why you must be mindful of the amount of caffeine you consume daily.
By now, you should have a better understanding of whether you can drink caffeine whilst pregnant, the benefits and how many mg of caffeine you can have a day.
Here are some key takeaways for you to remember:
Here at Crosby Coffee, we offer a wide range of coffee beans, workshops and machines. Since 2014, we have worked hard to develop successful relationships with a variety of cafes, hotels, restaurants and offices that serve our high-quality coffee.
We roast our beans weekly to ensure our customers get fresh coffee quickly no matter where in the world they are.
Our expert team is equipped with excellent knowledge to support and guide you to ensure your coffee tastes as good as it does here in Crosby.
We offer a wide range of coffee including decaf coffee, such as decaf Colombia Rainbow and decaf Colombia Tabi.
Our decaf Colombia rainbow coffee contains tasting notes such as almonds, milk chocolate and clementine – whereas our decaf Colombia tabi contains macadamia nuts and dark caramel. Our decaf coffee blends allow you to enjoy coffee without consuming too much caffeine.
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