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Research suggests that women who drink tea or coffee during pregnancy are more likely to have small babies.
Even women who drink less than the "safe" amount of caffeine at 200 mg – about two cups of instant coffee or three cups of tea – are at higher risk of low birth weight or premature newborns.
Researchers, from University College Dublin, believe that caffeine limits blood flow to the placenta, which affects the growth of babies.
Drinking tea or coffee, even less than two to three cups a day during pregnancy, could give birth to a smaller baby, according to researchers at University College Dublin
The study, led by doctor Ling-Wei Chen, examined 941 mother-child pairs born in Ireland. Tea was the main source of caffeine for mothers (48%), followed by coffee (38%).
The results suggested that for each additional 100 mg of caffeine – approximately half a cup of coffee – consumed daily during the first trimester, birth weight was reduced by 72 kg (0.5 lb).
This amount of caffeine also reduces the baby's length and head circumference, as well as his gestational age, which measures the duration of the pregnancy.
The results also revealed that women who consumed the most caffeine had babies weighing about 170 g (0.37 lb) less than those who consumed the least.
Even women who consumed less than 200 mg of "safe" caffeine were significantly affected. This amount is considered safe by the NHS.
The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Dr. Chen told Reuters: "Based on the constant associations we have observed and the fact that many pregnancies are unplanned, we recommend that pregnant women or women seeking to be pregnant at least limit their use of coffee. of tea containing caffeine.
"High caffeine intake can cause restricted blood flow to the placenta, which can then affect fetal growth.
"Caffeine can also cross the placenta easily, and since caffeine clearance slows as pregnancy progresses, caffeine buildup can occur in fetal tissue."
Researchers fear that people will not know how much caffeine is in their tea.
Tea contains less caffeine than a cup of coffee, but the exact amount depends on the time of infusion, the temperature of the water and the type of tea.
The Department of Nutritional Services reports that a cup of black tea contains between 23 and 110 mg of caffeine.
The World Health Organization recommends that women consume less than 300 mg of caffeine per day during pregnancy. Whereas the NHS and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advise not more than 200 mg.
However, the most recent research suggests that this is too high, according to Dr. De-Kun Li, a scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Research Division in Oakland.
He did not participate in the study, but discovered a link between caffeine use during pregnancy and miscarriage in a 2015 study.
"Epidemiological findings based on self-reported caffeine use are generally not very accurate. Thus, the thresholds chosen by ACOG and WHO can only be considered as approximate reference points, "said Dr. Li.
"Biologically, it is unlikely that 300 mg is risky, while 299 mg is safe. The message I would prefer to women would be "the less there is the better".
"My advice would be to try to reduce as much as possible.If you could totally stop smoking, it would be even better."
ACOG added that it reviewed all of its recommendations every 18 to 24 months, incorporated all new research into its reviews, and made the necessary adjustments as needed.
In 2008, a trial of 1,063 pregnant women in San Francisco showed that those who consume at least 200 mg of caffeine had a 25% risk of miscarriage, compared with 12% of those who avoided the stimulant. in soft drinks and chocolate.
Another study found that caffeine consumption during pregnancy seemed to promote obesity in children.
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