Drinking just THREE cups of coffee a day during pregnancy may affect your child’s ability to crawl or walk by 12 months of age, study warns
- Scientists analyzed data from 87,106 mothers in a nationwide study in Japan
- Women who consumed more than 300 mg of caffeine per day – the equivalent of three cups of coffee – had a higher risk of developmental delays in their children by 12 months of age
- According to the NHS, pregnant women should not consume more than 200mg of caffeine per day
It’s a controversial topic that has been the subject of much discussion for years: is it safe for women to consume caffeine during pregnancy?
The NHS currently recommends that pregnant women should consume no more than 200mg of caffeine per day – the equivalent of two cups of instant coffee.
However, a new study warns that drinking coffee in moderation, even when consumed in moderation, may affect your child’s ability to crawl or walk by the age of one.
Researchers at the University of Hokkaido in Japan claim that children born to mothers who only consume three cups of coffee a day have a 1.11-fold increased risk of developing motor delays at 12 months of age.
The NHS currently recommends that pregnant women should consume no more than 200mg of caffeine per day – the equivalent of two cups of instant coffee (stock image)
How much caffeine?
The NHS recommends that pregnant women should consume no more than 200mg of caffeine per day. There is:
- 100 mg in a cup of instant coffee
- 140 mg in a cup of filter coffee
- 75 mg in a cup of tea (green tea can contain the same amount of caffeine as regular tea)
- 40 mg in a can of coke
- 80mg in a 250ml can of energy drink
- Less than 25mg in a 50g bar of dark chocolate
- Less than 10mg in a 50g bar of dark chocolate
While some lifestyle habits, such as smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy, are well known to affect baby development, there is still no consensus on the effects of caffeine consumption.
“You should limit your caffeine consumption when trying to have a baby and during pregnancy,” advises the NHS.
“High caffeine consumption has been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage and low birth weight.”
In the study, the researchers looked at whether maternal caffeine consumption affects children’s developmental outcomes.
The team analyzed data from 87,106 mothers in a nationwide study in Japan.
The data included the mothers’ caffeine consumption during pregnancy and the child’s motor skills at six and twelve months of age.
The analysis found that children born to mothers who consumed more than 300 mg of caffeine per day had a lower risk of developmental delays after six months.
However, at 12 months, they had a 1.11-fold increased risk of developing motor delays.
Researchers from the University of Hokkaido in Japan claim that children born to mothers who consume only three cups of coffee a day have a 1.11-fold increased risk of developing motor delays at 12 months (stock image)
The researchers say the data collected at six months of age should be interpreted with caution because it is more difficult for mothers to assess a younger child’s motor skills.
“The results of this study showed that adverse effects of maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy on child development at 6 months were rarely observed and that an association with a reduced risk of developmental delays was observed,” the team explained in their study, published in Early Human Development.
“In the fitted model, maternal caffeine intake was associated with a lower risk of developmental delay, communication, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and problem solving.
“Nevertheless, at 12 months of age, all associations with the lower risk observed at 6 months of age disappeared.”
While the reason for the link remains unclear, the researchers hope the findings will encourage pregnant women to limit their caffeine intake.
“Further studies will be important to investigate whether the delay in gross motor development at 12 months caused by caffeine exposure has an impact on outcomes with age,” they concluded.
BENEFITS OF DRINKING COFFEE
Caffeine has been deemed safe for consumption in doses up to 400 mg per day for the general population.
Studies suggest it may have a variety of health benefits, including fighting liver disease and type 2 diabetes.
Research has even suggested that it might even help people live longer.
It’s the world’s most commonly used stimulant and has been reported to increase daily energy expenditure by about five percent.
Researchers have said that combining two to four coffees a day with regular exercise would be even more effective for weight maintenance.
A 2015 study showed that just a few cups a day could help millions of dieters stay fit once they reach their goal weight.