How can I tell how much caffeine I'm having during my pregnancy?
Guidelines put a limit on how much caffeine you should have when you're pregnant. Here's how to make sure you're not having too much...
Love a latte? Crave a cappuccino? We all love a mid-morning pick-me-up, but it’s worth keeping an eye on how much coffee you drink in light of new research that advises pregnant women to limit their caffeine intake to 200mg per day – previously it was 300mg.
Too much caffeine is thought to be linked to low birth weights, so bear in mind it’s also found in tea and cola, and even some chocolate - as well as coffee.
And now charity Tommy's - who fund research into stillbirths, miscarriage and premature birth - have produced a handy calculator to help you make sure you're sticking to the 200mg limit.
Just for info, here's how much caffeine various drinks (and chocolate) contain (approximately):
- Can of cola: 40mg of caffeine
- Mug of tea: 75mg
- Bar of plain chocolate: 50mg
- Cup of instant coffee: 100mg
- Mug of filter coffee: 140mg
- Energy drinks: a 250ml can: 80mg
Keep in mind that these are just guidelines, and as long as you don't go over the limit repeatedly, the risks are very small - so don't panic!
Use Tommy's caffeine calculator
See how much caffeine you're having by clicking on the image of the calculator below, and filling in the relevant fields....
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Authors
Tara is mum to 1 daughter, Bodhi Rae, and has worked as Content Editor and Social Media Producer at MadeForMums since 2015
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