Caffeine and pregnancy - How much caffeine safe for pregnancy?

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

Too much can also cause miscarriage. Caffeine is naturally found in lots of foods, such as coffee, tea and chocolate, and is added to some soft drinks and energy drinks. It can also be found in certain cold and flu remedies. Talk to your midwife, pharmacist or another health professional before taking these remedies.

You don’t need to cut caffeine out completely, but you should limit how much you have to no more than 200mg a day. Try decaffeinated tea and coffee, fruit juice or water and limit the amount of ‘energy’ drinks, which may be high in caffeine. Don’t worry if you occasionally have more than this, because the risks are quite small.

How much caffeine safe for pregnancy

 • 1 mug of instant coffee: 100mg

 • 1 mug of filter coffee: 140mg

 • 1 mug of tea: 75mg

• 1 can of cola: 40mg

• 1 can of ‘energy’ drink: up to 80mg

 • 1 x 50g bar of plain chocolate: up to 50mg

• 1 x 50g bar of milk chocolate: up to 25mg

So if you eat...

• One bar of plain chocolate and one mug of filter coffee

• Two mugs of tea and one can of cola, or

• One mug of instant coffee and one can of energy drink you have reached almost 200mg of caffeine.