The government’s Food Standards Agency has warned pregnant women to reduce the amount of caffeine they consume in a day after a link with low birth weight.

The FSA have recommended lowering intake to no more than two cups of coffee or four cups of tea per day – this reduces levels of the stimulant down from 300mg to 200mg.

Recent research from the University of Leicester and University of Leeds involving 2,500 pregnant women identified a link between caffeine consumption and low birth weight. Babies born with low weight are at a higher risk of developing problems such as heart disease and diabetes.

Although the risk is considered small if women have been consuming the previous recommended amount, the advice is to limit coffee, tea, cola and energy drinks straight away to avoid any potential problems.

How do you know what level of caffeine is in a cup of coffee? Well, the advice is to drink no more than an average sized cup of coffee or tea. Drinks purchased from shops are likely to be larger and have higher levels of caffeine so moderate your intake if buying from a coffee shop.

If you want to ensure that you’re diet is supplementing your nutritional needs while pregnant, consider visiting a trained nutritionist for advice. Find out more about nutrition here

Find a local practitioner