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Pregnancy and Newborn Q&A

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Can I Still Drink Coffee Now That I'm Pregnant?

I can’t function without my morning wake-me-up coffee. But now that I’m pregnant, can I still have my cup of coffee every morning?
Dipti

Yes, but it's best to not have more than that. Studies indicate that caffeine consumption of more than 150–300 milligrams a day (about 11/2–3 cups of coffee) can put a pregnancy at higher risk. High caffeine consumption has been linked to an increased risk of having a low birth-weight baby and of miscarriage.

If you're having a hard time cutting out coffee cold turkey, here's how you can start:

  • Cut your consumption down to one or two cups a day.
  • Gradually reduce the amount by combining decaffeinated coffee with regular coffee.
  • Eventually cut out the regular coffee altogether.

For more information, check out these articles:
Eating During Pregnancy
Staying Healthy During Pregnancy
Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: May 2006

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