Important signs to watch for if you are pregnant

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Bad cramps or stomach pains that don't go away
Bleeding or a trickle or gush of fluid from your vagina
Lower back pain/pressure or change in lower back pain
A feeling that the baby is pushing down
Contractions or change in the strength or number of them
An increase in the amount of vaginal discharge
Fever, chills, dizziness, vomiting or a bad headache
Blurry vision or spots before your eyes
Sudden or severe swelling of your feet, hand or face
A significant change in your baby's movements

Go to a hospital right away and contact your doctor/midwife if you have any of these symptoms!

Adapted with permission from:
Best Start: Ontario's Maternal Newborn and Early Child Development Resource Centre

Last Reviewed: November 2011

Eating Healthy

Food safety

Listeriosis & pregnancy | Caffeine & pregnancy | Herbal teas & supplements |

Caffeine & pregnancy

What is caffeine?

Caffeine is a stimulant that affects various systems in our bodies. According to Health Canada, caffeine has potential health effects and should be taken in moderation.

Caffeine can:

Affect absorption of some nutrients
Cause the need to urinate (pee) within an hour after consumption which can lead to dehydration
Temporarily increase your heart rate and raise your blood pressure
Increase the length of time it takes to fall asleep, reducing your total sleeping time
Increase mental alertness
Cause withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, depression, restlessness, and fatigue, when you try to quit
Cause people to become irritable and nervous
Increase the risk of miscarriage or low-birth-weight babies if consumed excessively (Motherisk, 2000)

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Effects of caffeine during pregnancy and breastfeeding:

Sensitivity to caffeine may increase during pregnancy
Caffeine can pass to the baby through the placenta
Caffeine in breast milk may keep your baby awake

Sources of caffeine:

Coffee
Tea
Chocolate
Chocolate milk
Cola
Guarana
Some soft drinks
Energy drinks
Some medications

What is a safe amount of caffeine?

Pregnant women, women of childbearing age and breastfeeding should not have more than 300 mg/day of caffeine from all sources.

Caffeine can be found in*:

1 1/2 cups of filter drip coffee
3 cups of instant coffee
5 cups of strong tea
7 cans (355 mL can) of cola beverage
6 cans diet cola beverage
35 cups of chocolate milk
28 g of candy, sweet chocolate

(1 cup = 250 mL = 8 oz)

*Adapted from: Health Canada's Fact Sheet "Caffeine and Your Health." 2005.

Amount of Caffeine in Foods and Drinks

Coffee (6 oz/200ml)

Percolated: 72 – 144 mg
Filter drip: 108 – 180 mg
Instant: 60 – 90

Tea (6 oz/200ml)

Weak: 18 – 24
Strong 79 – 108

Chocolate Bar (2 oz/60gm)

Milk 3 – 20
Dark 40 – 5

*Source: Healthy Pregnancy: Caffeine and Pregancy (Public Health Agency of Canada)

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For more information:

Region of Peel-Public Health
905-799-7700
Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Caledon residents call free of charge at 905-584-2216
To speak to a Public Health Nurse or Registered Dietitian

Healthy Pregnancy: Caffeine and Pregnancy - Public Health Agency of Canada

Caffeine - It’s Your Health - Health Canada
Caffeine in Food - Health Canada

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