High caffeine doses during pregnancy might increase the risk of premature delivery, low birth weight, and miscarriage.
Notes on verification
Low birth weight association is well-supported by multiple dose-response meta-analyses. Miscarriage link is plausible at high doses but contested (ACOG and Tommy's note lack of definitive causal evidence). Preterm birth is the weakest link, with major meta-analyses finding no significant association. Overall hedged 'might increase' framing is reasonably supported but masks heterogeneity across the three outcomes.
Sources
- Cocoa - Uses, Side Effects, and More - WebMD (webmd.com)
- https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2010/08/moderate-caffeine-consumption-during-pregnancy (acog.org)
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4198801/ (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4507998/ (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25179792/ (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41478925/ (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/calculators-tools-resources/check-your-caffeine-intake-pregnancy (tommys.org)
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582613/ (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282480539_ACOG_Committee_opinion_no_462_Moderate_caffeine_consumption_during_pregnancy (researchgate.net)