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Can you drink coffee when you’re pregnant? What to eat and what to avoid

DURING pregnancy you may find yourself worried and confused over what you can and can't eat and drink.

And while we all love our morning caffeine, too much can actually be harmful to your baby, but that doesn't mean you'll have to go cold turkey on coffee.

 Experts recommend you drink no more than 200mg of caffeine a day
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Experts recommend you drink no more than 200mg of caffeine a dayCredit: Getty - Contributor

Can you drink coffee while you're pregnant?

Yes, but not too much - caffeine found in coffee can be harmful in large proportions.

And it's not just coffee, but you overall intake of caffeine that you may want to keep an eye on.

Caffeine is  also found naturally in lots of foods including tea, chocolate, energy drinks and flu remedies, so it's important to take all of these into consideration.

The that you should limit your caffeine intake to no more than 200mg a day, that's about two cups of coffee, although if you occasionally exceed that it's not a huge deal or too high a risk.

Th NHS say: "Try decaffeinated tea and coffee, fruit juice or water, and limit the amount of energy drinks you have, as they can be high in caffeine."

 Two cups of instant coffee a day are OK for pregnant women
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Two cups of instant coffee a day are OK for pregnant womenCredit: Getty - Contributor

Why is too much caffeine bad for your baby?

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

The NHS say that too much caffeine can sometimes lead to a miscarriage.

: "When you drink a cup of coffee, caffeine crosses the placenta into the amniotic fluid and your baby's bloodstream. While your body goes to work metabolizing and getting rid of the caffeine, your baby's body is still developing and takes a much longer time to process the caffeine. As a result, your baby is exposed to the effects of caffeine for much longer than you are."

So how much caffeine does my favourite drink contain?

 

Caffeine totals in drinks

  • One mug of filter coffee = 140mg
  • One mug of instant coffee = 100mg
  • One mug of tea = 75mg
  • One can of cola = 40mg
  • One 250ml can of energy drink = up to 80mg  (larger cans may contain up to 160mg caffeine)

 

What foods and drinks should I avoid during pregnancy and which are recommended?

there are a few foods you should avoid while pregnant, and a few that are good for your baby.

Avoid

  • Mould-ripened soft cheeses and soft blue-veined cheeses like stilton, brie, camembert and goats' cheese. These cheese can contain bacteria which can have harmful effects on an unborn baby.
  • Raw eggs - make sure eggs are thoroughly cooked until the whites and yolks are solid to prevent risk of salmonella food poisoning.
  • Unpasteurised milk - it is not advisable to drink raw (unpasteurised) milk while pregnant or any food that is made of them like goats' cheese.
  • Pâté - avoid all types of pâté, including vegetable pâtés, as they can contain listeria, a harmful bacteria.
  • Raw meat - make sure all meat is cooked thoroughly and be careful with cured meats.
  • Liver - any foods with too much liver should be avoided for their high levels of Vitamin A.
  • Fish - be careful with oily fish like tuna and avoid some types of fish completely such as shark and shellfish.
  • Alcohol - you should avoid drinking alcohol while pregnant as it affects your baby's development.
  • Vitamin A supplements such as fish oils.

Recommended

  • Fruit and vegetables provide you and your baby with minerals, vitamins and fibre.
  • Starchy foods like bread, potatoes, breakfast cereals, rice, pasta, noodles and oats - are an important source of energy, some vitamins and fibre.
  • Protein including beans, pulses, fish and eggs.

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