Can I drink coffee during pregnancy?

Coffee is the most popular social beverage used by many people, but it also generates a lot of controversy when it comes to pregnancy. 

It is widely known that caffeine can cross the placenta. In the growing fetus, caffeine can causes an increase in heart beat and also increase the breathing rate. However, beyond this no one really knows if caffeine is bad for the growing fetus. So far, all the studies on coffee have been in people who either use excessive amounts of caffeine (usually 8-10 cups a day) or no coffee at all.

In some studies it has been shown that caffeine can lead to a decreased absorption of iron in the mother and this could theoretically lead to anemia. This may present as fatigue, dizziness or an irregular heart rate.  Another study has shown that high levels of caffeine can lead to a higher incidence of miscarriages. Many other small studies have reached different conclusions and none of the studies have reliably produced consistent results.

So what should a pregnant mother do?

Most experts think  mild to moderate coffee drinking (1-2 cups/day) is safe during pregnancy. Women who are paranoid, high strung, anal retentive and never trust any medical advice are better off not drinking any coffee.