Pregnancy Problems Tied to Caffeine

Too much caffeine during pregnancy may increase the risk of miscarriage, a new study says, and the authors suggest that pregnant women may want to reduce their intake or cut it out entirely.

pregnant women who consume 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day -the amount in 10 ounces of coffee or 25 ounces of tea -may double their risk of miscarriage._{^{American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology}}

Pregnant women should try to give up caffeine for at least the first three or four months

“If, for whatever reason, they really can’t do it, think of cutting to one cup or switching to decaf,”

“Stopping caffeine really doesn’t have any downside.”

the amount of caffeine found in 8 to 16 ounces of coffee a day was safe. It noted that some studies had linked higher amounts to miscarriage and low birth weight, but stated: “However, there is no solid proof that caffeine causes these problems. Until more is known, women should limit their caffeine intake during pregnancy.”