Pregnant women who drink more than two cups of coffee a day could double the risk of miscarriage according to recent research published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
The finding has led to calls for expectant mothers to limit or even stop drinking coffee, tea, caffeinated drinks or hot chocolate to be on the safe side. Consultant obstetrician Pat O'Brien, spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: "On the basis of this study, I think I'll be advising women to avoid caffeine during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, especially those with a history of miscarriage."
Caffeine might harm the unborn baby because it stays in the system longer in pregnant women and passes easily to the growing baby, who cannot readily metabolise it.
It may damage cell development and decrease placental blood flow, affecting the unborn baby's life-support system. There have been fears a high caffeine intake could also affect birth weight and prematurity.
U.S. researchers looked at 1,063 pregnant women in San Francisco between October 1996 and October 1998 who did not change their caffeine consumption during pregnancy. Those who consumed 200mg or more of caffeine a day - the equivalent of two or more regular cups of coffee or five 12oz cans of caffeinated drink - had twice the miscarriage risk of women who consumed no caffeine. Women who consumed some caffeine but less than 200mg daily had a more than 40 per cent increased risk of miscarriage.
The British Coffee Association said it offered advice on coffee consumption during pregnancy in line with the Food Standards Agency guidance which recommends 300mg of caffeine per day as a safe upper limit for pregnant women. This equates to four cups of instant coffee or three cups of brewed coffee. This position is also supported by the Royal College of Midwives and the Centre for Pregnancy Nutrition. A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency said it was funding a study on caffeine consumption in pregnancy which was almost complete and would revise its advice if appropriate.
January 2008
Back To Our Main News Section
Look At Other News Snippets Here | 
Families Struggle to Pay Nursery Fees
