Is coffee safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about coffee during pregnancy?

1. Moderate caffeine intake, about 200 mg a day or less, hasn't been consistently linked to miscarriage or birth defects, while higher intakes may raise those risks. 1
2. Moderate caffeine intake, under 200 mg a day, does not appear to be a major factor in miscarriage or preterm birth. 2
3. Caffeine crosses the placenta, and your baby can't clear it from their system as efficiently as an adult can, which is why keeping intake modest matters. 1
4. Some studies link higher caffeine intake, above 200 to 300 mg a day, to a small increase in low birth weight risk, though not every study agrees. 1
5. Serving size matters a lot: a 12 oz brewed coffee usually has about 200 mg of caffeine, while espresso, cold brew, and specialty drinks can pack in a lot more per serving. 3

Is coffee safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Caffeine can feel harder to tolerate as early nausea kicks in, and some studies link higher intake to miscarriage. Many people naturally cut back on coffee in the first trimester without even trying.
• Second trimester. Your body clears caffeine more slowly in the second trimester. That means the same cup of coffee builds up to higher levels in your blood than it did before pregnancy.
• Third trimester. Caffeine clears even more slowly in the third trimester, and higher intake has been linked to lower birth weight in observational studies. Staying at or under 200 mg a day is the safer choice.