Nowadays, coffee is an incredibly popular drink. Many people drink coffee every morning, while others drink several cups a day. Whatever your habits, you may want to think twice about drinking a lot of coffee while you’re pregnant.
When pregnant or trying to conceive, we tend to clean up our lives (our diets, relationships, exercise habits, etc.) to try and give your baby the healthiest start possible. One great way to begin cleaning up your diet, is to consider whether or not it is safe to drink coffee while you’re pregnant.
The evidence around drinking coffee while pregnant is conflicted. I cannot comfortably say whether or not it is safe for you to drink coffee when pregnant. Everyone’s body is different, therefore everyone’s needs are different. Some may tolerate coffee well, while others may not. For those reasons, todays post will not just be based on the safety of drinking coffee, but also a few “safer” options regarding amounts, types, and some healthier ways to drink it. I believe this approach will allow you to make your own decision based off of the evidence I provide here.
Why is coffee considered possibly unsafe?
A few reasons coffee is not typically recommended for pregnant women are:
- The amount of caffeine. It is typically recommended that women do not consume more than 200 mg of caffeine per day. This means you can enjoy one 10 ounce cup of coffee in a 24 hour period and it be considered safe. Caffeine can also make acid reflux worse and, while not unsafe, reflux can be miserable.
- The chemicals inside coffee grounds. Typical coffee grounds are high in heavy metals, mold, yeast, and mycotoxins (among other things). There are companies that sell mold free, heavy-metal free, yeast free, and mycotoxin free coffee. This will not be the coffee you buy from your local Starbucks. It might cost you a little bit more, and you would have to make it at home. I will share a list of those cleaner companies later in this post
- Consistent consumption of a drink with no nutritional value. When you’re pregnant, every bite of food and every sip of liquid counts toward the development of your baby. What you eat is what your baby is made up of. Many times, coffee is just filled with sugar and conventional dairy. Both of these are not great for creating bones and organs. Coffee does have small amounts of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, folate, sodium, and choline. These are all important in pregnancy, but the small amounts of these micronutrients do not outweigh the negative effects of the sugar and dairy.
- Some thing else to keep in mind is that caffeine can cross your placenta. High amounts of caffeine can limit the blood flow to your placenta, and it can also increase your blood pressure and blood sugar levels. In addition, you can also put additional strain on your liver, which is already busy processing the increased hormonal demands related to your pregnancy.
Can I drink decaf?
Decaffeinated coffee is typically regarded as safe during pregnancy. Keep in mind though that decaf coffee does still contain a small amount of caffeine. Brewed decaf has 2 to 5 mg of caffeine per 8 ounces. So if you’re trying to completely cut caffeine out, keep in mind that decaf isn’t 100% caffeine free. That being said, if you’re really craving coffee and you aren’t comfortable with a regular cup, decaf may be an excellent option for you! When searching for a decaf coffee, try and find one that is naturally processed, toxin free, and organic. Another great substitute for coffee may be dandelion root detox tea. Some people say that it tastes similar to coffee and dandelion tea a great way to detox!
A few cleaner coffee brands
As I mentioned above, there are several coffee brands that are grown organically, free of yeast, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and molds. Some cleaner coffees are made with mushrooms, I do not recommend these for pregnancy because those mushrooms sometimes have negative affects on your pregnant body. Just like you can’t use too much peppermint or chamomile while pregnant, the mushrooms may not be best for you at this time. Some herbs and mushrooms just don’t work well during this time. However, postpartum may be a great time to try a mushroom coffee if you’re really wanting to branch out!
When looking at a cleaner coffee, always buy organic. Many times, the pesticides sprayed on the coffee is where a lot of the bad stuff comes into play. Certified organic coffees aren’t sprayed with pesticides.
A few great options are :
Four Sigmatic (be careful to read these ingredients, as this does typically contain mushrooms)
All of these brands offer several different roasts, as well as decaf options. They are clean, organic, and delicious!
Healthier ways to drink coffee
One huge complaint about coffee consumption is that it offers little to no nutritional value. When you are building another human body, it’s important to make everything you consume count.
One great way you can make your coffee a little more nutrient dense is to make it bulletproof. This sounds kind of intimidating, but it’s actually super easy!
What you will need:
- Coffee
- Your favorite fat (grass-fed butter, grass-fed ghee, coconut oil, MCT oil, coconut butter, cacao butter, or nut butter)
- Blender
How to make it:
Brew your coffee (around 8 to 10 ounces), add 1 tablespoon of your chosen fat, use a hand-held blender or pour your ingredients into a regular blender and blend on high until creamy and emulsified. Pour into a cup and enjoy! It’s that easy!
You can add some collagen, turmeric, and ginger for some extra anti-inflammatory/antioxidant properties and added nutrition. Don’t forget your favorite organic sweeteners or flavorings if that sounds good to you. (Some people don’t think that bulletproof coffee needs sweetened at all, but I like to add a tiny bit of coconut sugar to mine!)
This recipe is rich and creamy, because of the added fats! The fats listed above are brain foods that I highly suggest using consistently in your diet. Especially when pregnant, your body craves whole fats. This coffee is an excellent way to add some of those extra fats into your diet. An added bonus is that if you’re struggling with constipation, these extra fats can help smooth things out and make it easier to go!
Again, if you’re questioning the safety of coffee, just don’t drink it! But if you must, try and use organic, toxin free coffee (whether it is decaf or not) and try drinking it with the added fats that I suggested for the bulletproof coffee. It’s delicious and so nutritious 🙂
Disclaimer: All content and media on the Creating a Better Birth website is created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard the advice of a medical professional, or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or call emergency services. If you choose to rely on any information provided by Creating a Better Birth, you do so solely at your own risk.