Is Decaf Coffee Safe During Pregnancy: Is It Safe For The Baby?

It is known that pregnancy comes with a lot of restrictions. Staying safe during pregnancy should be your priority. You have to take care of a lot of things while taking care of yourself and the little one growing inside you.

One such thing that you will hear the moment you are sure about your pregnancy is that you should restrict your caffeine intake. However, what about decaf coffee?

Is decaf coffee safe during pregnancy? If you are a caffeine addict, it might be difficult to completely get rid of it during this time. Or you could simply be craving a warm cup of coffee in the middle of the day. What would you do then? Let’s find out.

Decaf Coffee & Pregnancy: How It Works?

Well, you can drink decaf coffee during pregnancy. However, there is a specific limit that you have to follow if you are drinking decaf coffee.

You should not drink more than 200mg of caffeine in a day. Exceeding this limit can cause complications during childbirth, like miscarriages and low birth weight.

Various products have caffeine in them, like herbal teas, frizzy drinks, and chocolate. If you used to intake coffee regularly, then it will be difficult to give up the habit entirely.

However, you can consume decaf coffee as an alternative. It has only 15mg of coffee. But, this varies slightly depending on the brand you are choosing and their method of decaffeination.

When you are buying a product, or consuming some packaged food, make sure you check for the amount of caffeine it contains. It should not exceed the recommended amount. Moreover, you will come across different caffeine pregnancy myths, so stay clear of those.

Is Decaf Coffee Safe During Pregnancy?

Is it ok to have decaf coffee while pregnant? Decaf coffee is safe to consume during pregnancy.

However, consuming too much can be an issue, it can negatively impact the pregnanct and increase the chances of complications. Too much caffeine can affect the baby as well as the mother.

For instance, drinking too much caffeine can increase the heart rate and blood pressure. If you are facing issues with digestion and feeling nauseous because of pregnancy, it can make the situation worse. Moreover, it can disturb your sleep and cause insomnia.

So, you should try to consume caffeine as little as possible to avoid any complications. This will prevent the pregnancy symptoms from getting worse.

Caffeine breaks more slowly when you are pregnant. This can cross the placenta and enter the bloodstream of the baby. There, the caffeine cannot break down, hence causing problems with the baby.

Expert Opinions on Decaf Coffee & Pregnancy

According to Dr. Angela Jones, M.D, FACOG, told Romper, “There are no official guidelines on decaf coffee and pregnancy; having said such, I would advise consuming it in moderation.”

According to Healthline, “Decaf contains a fraction of the caffeine found in caffeinated coffee — a decaf coffee has about 97% of the caffeine removed.” This means it is almost without caffeine.

Fertility specialist, Dr. Lucky Sekhon, who is also a certified OB/GYN in NYC mentioned, “Decaf coffee does contain caffeine (around 2 to 15mg per 8 oz cup), but a lot less than a typical 8 oz cup of regular coffee (which can contain upwards of 80-200mg per cup). It is advised to keep caffeine intake to less than 200-300 mg per day when pregnant.”

Dr. Sekhon further added, “200-300 mg of caffeine is a guideline for pregnant people that remains constant in each trimester; so it doesn’t matter if you’re nine weeks pregnant or nine months, it’s best to keep the caffeine under 300 mg.”

Benefits of Decaf Coffee During Pregnancy

Can you drink decaf coffee while pregnant? Decaf coffee is one of the best alternatives to regular coffee that you can consume during pregnancy. However, remember that it still has caffeine. Some of the benefits of decaf coffee during pregnancy are mentioned below.

Less Caffeine Intake

Cutting coffee completely can be difficult. But, if you choose decaf coffee it can be an amazing alternative and will not cause any problems in your pregnancy. You can have a few cups in a day, but you have to ensure that you are not exceeding the 200mg limit.

Can Satisfy Your Cravings

If you are a caffeine addict, it is going to be hard for you to cut back on coffee. This is where decaf coffee comes in. You can have coffee without the side effects. You get to satisfy your cravings while keeping your baby safe.

Has Minimal Impact on Fetal Development

Consuming decaf coffee within the limit does not cause any problems in the development of the baby. There are no side effects on fetal growth or risk of any complications.

How Much Decaf Coffee is Safe to Drink During Pregnancy?

As mentioned above, during pregnancy, you should not consume more than 200mg of caffeine. And decaf coffee mostly contains 15mg of caffeine, which is almost nothing compared to regular coffee.

Here is a list of food and drinks with the amount of caffeine it contains.

Food/Drink	Amount of Caffeine
Decaf coffee	2 mg/cup approximately
Milk chocolate	9 mg/1.55 ounce
Instant coffee	60-100 mg/cup
Dark chocolate	12 mg
Cola	32 mg

Frequently Asked Questions

Is decaf coffee safe during pregnancy comes with a lot of other questions. Here are some of those questions mentioned.

Wrapping Up!

Is decaf coffee safe during pregnancy? Now, you know the answer to it. You are aware of the benefits of decaf coffee and how much you can have in a day.

Just make sure you are not consuming more than 200mg of coffee in a day. Moreover, if you are having coffee daily, make sure you keep a check on your intake. Drinking too much can cause trouble in your pregnancy.