Coffee Consumption During Pregnancy Won't Harm Babies' IQ

Coffee is continuously in the news for its beneficial effects, but some health experts have questioned whether it's safe for pregnant women to drink.

A new study shows that indulging in a cup of Joe won't negatively impact your child's development. 

During the study, researchers analyzed a marker of caffeine in the blood of 2,197 expectant mothers at multiple sites in the United States from 1959 to 1974. They studied the association between the chemical paraxnthine--caffeine's primary metabolite. The samples were collected as part of the Collaborative Perinatal Project--a 25-year study that explored the links between pregnancy and perinatal factors and children's health.

Researchers found no evidence that caffeine consumption during pregnancy held a negative effect on children's cognition or behavior at 4 and 7.

While the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that consuming less than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day is safe during pregnancy (the equivalent of one or two cups)--the researchers have not yet determined how larger amounts might affect pregnant women. 

The study is published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

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