Doola
Download app now

Can I drink coffee while pregnant?

Check Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Coffee shows Check in Doola Scan for pregnancy in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, because each country limits caffeine. The limit differs: ACOG says less than 200mg a day, as do the NHS, Health NZ, the HSE and Australia's Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, while Health Canada says up to 300mg, about two 8 oz cups. The FDA sets no pregnancy limit of its own. Decaf counts too, but with only a few milligrams a cup.

Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · Updated

  • Brewed, filter or instant coffee

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Espresso and espresso drinks, such as cappuccino or flat white

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Iced coffee and cold brew

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Decaf coffee

    CheckIn all six countries
Doola Scan checking a plate
What each country says

Coffee while pregnant: what each country says.

Each country's own pregnancy guidance on coffee, with a link to it. Doola Scan uses your country's first.

  • United States

    Check
    • ACOGModerate caffeine (less than 200 mg a day) does not cause miscarriage or preterm birth.Source
    • FDANo set pregnancy limit; talk to your health care provider about whether to limit caffeine.Source
    • MyHealthfinder (HHS)Limit caffeine; ask your doctor if caffeine is safe for you, or try decaf.Source
    • ACOGModerate intake is not a major factor in miscarriage or preterm birth.Source
    • MyHealthfinder (HHS)Suggests decaf coffee and tea as an alternative to caffeine in pregnancy.Source

  • United Kingdom

    Check
    • NHSHigh caffeine intake is linked to miscarriage and stillbirth.Source
    • NHSNo more than 200 mg caffeine a day in pregnancy.Source

  • Canada

    Check
    • CPSLimit caffeine in pregnancy; consider cutting it out.Source
    • Health CanadaMaximum 300 mg caffeine a day when pregnant (about two 8-oz cups of coffee).Source
    • Health CanadaMaximum 300 mg caffeine a day when pregnant.Source

  • Australia

    Check
    • Better Health Channel (Victoria)Limit caffeine to 200 mg a day or less, or avoid it.Source
    • FSANZNo more than 200 mg caffeine a day from all sources.Source
    • healthdirectLimit caffeine to 200 mg a day when pregnant.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Maximum 200 mg caffeine per day (total) in pregnancy.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Maximum 200 mg/day.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Decaffeinated coffee has 2-4 mg caffeine per cup; counts toward 200 mg a day, no cup limit.Source

  • New Zealand

    Check
    • Health NZNo more than 4 cups tea or instant coffee (or 3 plunger coffees) a day.Source
    • Health NZUp to 200 mg caffeine a day in pregnancy.Source

  • Ireland

    Check
    • HSELimit caffeine to 200 mg a day (2 instant coffees, 1 filter coffee, 2-4 teas); limit energy drinks.Source
What to check

Before you drink coffee.

  1. Keep to your country's caffeine limit

    The NHS says no more than 200mg of caffeine a day in pregnancy, and the HSE, Health NZ and Pregnancy, Birth and Baby give the same figure. Health Canada says below 300mg a day, about two 8 oz cups of coffee. NHS

  2. Know roughly how much caffeine your cup has

    The NHS puts a cup of instant coffee at about 100mg, and says filter coffee and coffee from coffee shops can contain more. Health NZ lists a double shot of espresso at about 210mg and a cup of plunger coffee at about 100mg. Health NZ

  3. Count tea, cola, chocolate and energy drinks too

    Health Canada says your daily total should include all sources: tea, cola, energy drinks, chocolate and herbs such as guarana. The NHS gives about 75mg for a cup of tea and 40mg for a can of cola. Health Canada

  4. Switch to decaf if you want more cups

    MyHealthfinder suggests decaf coffee and tea as an alternative to caffeine in pregnancy. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby puts decaf at 2 to 4mg of caffeine a cup, and Health Canada at 3mg per 8 oz. MyHealthfinder (HHS)

Questions

About coffee
in pregnancy.

ACOG says moderate caffeine, less than 200mg a day, does not cause miscarriage or preterm birth. The HSE in Ireland says 200mg is about 2 cups of instant coffee or 1 cup of filtered or brewed coffee. Health NZ says no more than 4 cups of instant coffee or 3 cups of plunger coffee a day.

No. The FDA sets no pregnancy limit and asks you to talk to your health care provider about whether to limit caffeine. The 200mg figure in the US comes from ACOG.

Health Canada sets its own figure: below 300mg a day in pregnancy, about two 8 oz cups of coffee. The UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland use 200mg. Doola Scan shows each country's own limit.

The NHS says high caffeine intake is linked to miscarriage and stillbirth. Health NZ says too much caffeine can affect your baby's growth and increase the risk of low birth weight.

It can be. The NHS says filter coffee and coffee from coffee shops can contain more than the 100mg in a cup of instant, and the HSE says cafe tea and coffee may be stronger than coffee made at home.

The caffeine limits from ACOG, the NHS, Health Canada and the others apply all through pregnancy, from the first trimester on.

Decaf shows Check in all six countries, because it still has a little caffeine. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says decaf has 2 to 4mg a cup and counts toward the 200mg, with no cup limit.

Yes. Take a photo of the menu, the cup or the label, and Doola Scan checks it against your country's pregnancy guidance and caffeine limit. Food scans are free, 3 a day.
Doola Scan

Not sure about a meal? Scan it.

Point Doola at a plate, a menu or a label. It checks every ingredient against your country's pregnancy guidance and shows its sources. Food scans are free, 3 a day.

Download app now
More foods
Doola shows what official guidance says; it never diagnoses. No known issues means none of these countries' pregnancy guidance names it, not a promise that a food is safe.