Is It Normal That I’m Craving Coffee During Pregnancy?

Hi Mama,

Oh! that cup of coffee in the morning really refreshes in ways that no other drink or even breakfast can do and now when you’re pregnant, people are asking you to give it up. The more you are told to stay away from caffeine, the more appealing it seems to you. It might seem that the smell of coffee in the morning which spreads all around the house and the coffee beans from tens of brands sitting on the shelves of aisle 2 are all calling to you.

Do you see the pattern here? If you’re craving coffee during your pregnancy, it isn’t because your body is in dire need of the caffeine, but you crave it because you’ve been told to not have your daily cup of coffee.

So, is it safe to have coffee during pregnancy?

Absolutely yes! Sure, I agree that previously women were asked to stay away from caffeine entirely, but with modern advancements in research, studies now show that you can have your cup of joe daily but within the recommended limit.

Some pregnant women will be asked to completely lay off caffeine during pregnancy due to medical conditions. So, make sure to talk to your doctor before you take any decision off of the unlimited number of articles you read on the internet today.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggests that pregnant women should limit their caffeine intake for the day up to 200mg, which is equivalent to a 12-ounce cup of coffee. The caffeine intake can be through not only coffee but through tea, carbonated, and energy drinks.

Consuming caffeine more than the prescribed limit can increase the risk of miscarriage, especially in the first trimester. Research states that women consuming more than 5 cups of coffee in a day have an increased chance of suffering a miscarriage.

So, when I consulted my doctor about my caffeine intake, she had a better-safe-than-sorry solution and told me to limit my caffeine intake up to 200 mg because caffeine can cross the placenta, which can limit the blood flow to the placenta and increase blood pressure and blood sugar levels in the pregnant women. Extra caffeine can also put pressure on the liver which is already busy is managing the increased hormones in your body.

Caffeine in coffee content

So, from the above table, you can understand that Decaf coffee is considered safe during pregnancy. But don’t forget that decaf coffee still has caffeine in it, so don’t go gaga over decaf. Remember that you can eat and drink everything during your pregnancy but only in moderation, and focus on eating more nutritious and healthy food.

Craving and consuming coffee, ice cream, or even a bar of chocolate during your pregnancy once in a while isn’t harmful, but as I said, it should only be once in a while and in moderation.

But, if you’re not a coffee person, but love a cup of tea in the morning or afternoon, then here is the amount of caffeine present in it…

The amount of caffeine in it will be very different from coffee. 8 ounces of brewed tea will have 48 mg which is quite less than that of 8 ounces of coffee.

So, mamas, take an informed decision after consulting your doctor. Happy Pregnancy!