Should pregnant women drink coffee?

If one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to start a family and you’re a confirmed coffee or tea drinker then you’ll need to check out official advise during your pregnancy or even better consult your GP.

The official NHS advise regarding drinking caffeinated drinks is this:

Pregnant women should have no more than 200mg of caffeine a day.

One mug of instant coffee contains around 100mg of caffeine.

High levels of caffeine can result in babies having a low birth weight, which can increase the risk of health problems in later life.

High caffeine levels might also cause a miscarriage.

The NHS advises that pregnant women should also check the labels of energy drinks as these also often contain caffeine as the stimulant. Many of the labels will say if they are suitable for pregnant women or indeed for young children.