Pregnant women can safely drink coffee as caffeine does not affect
their unborn baby, according to a new study.
Researchers found no evidence of a link between prematurity , birth weight and the amount of
caffeine consumed by mothers-to-be.
Previous studies suggested
caffeine might harm unborn babies as it stays in the system longer in
pregnant women, passing easily to a growing baby.
Health officials have warned that a high caffeine intake could affect
birth weight or the chance of having a miscarriage.
Pregnant women are advised against drinking more than four cups of
coffee a day - or six cups of tea.
The study, by the University of Aarhus in Denmark, recruited more than
1,000 women before they were 20 weeks' pregnant, who drank at least three
cups of coffee a day.
The group was split into two, with 568 women drinking ordinary instant
coffee and 629 drinking decaffeinated.
The authors then monitored the birth weight of 1,150 newborn babies and
the length of pregnancy for the babies.
The study, published by the British Medical Journal, found 'no
significant differences' between the two groups for birth weight or length
of pregnancy.
The researchers concluded that a moderate reduction in caffeine
intake in the second half of
pregnancy had 'no effect' on the outcome.
The women were not told what type of coffee they were drinking, and the
research was adjusted to take into account factors such as age, weight and
whether the women smoked.
When the adjustments were made, the average weight of babies born to
women in the decaffeinated group was a mere 16g higher than those born to
women in the caffeinated group, the study said.
The average difference in the length of pregnancy was less than two
days.
A spokesman for the British Coffee Association said: "This new study is
very interesting and supports the consistent advice given that pregnant
women should stick to a safe upper limit - in line with guidance issued by
the Food Standards Agency. This equates to three cups of brewed, or four
cups of instant coffee.
