Is Espresso safe during pregnancy?
About 63 mg caffeine per 1-oz shot — up to about 3 single shots a day stays under 200 mg if you have no other caffeine.
What the sources say
ACOG says moderate caffeine — under 200 mg a day from all sources — is not linked to miscarriage or preterm birth. Mayo Clinic lists espresso at about 63 mg per 1-oz shot (decaf espresso about 1 mg). A double shot is roughly 126 mg, and drinks like lattes or cappuccinos contain one or more shots. Add tea, soda and chocolate to your daily total. While breastfeeding, CDC considers up to about 300 mg/day (2–3 cups of coffee) low to moderate; newborns and preterm babies clear caffeine slowly, so less may be better.
Common alternatives
Also listed as
espresso shot, double shot, doppio, ristretto, cortado, macchiato, cuban coffee, cafecito, nespresso
Sources
- ACOG: How much coffee can I drink while I'm pregnant?
- MotherToBaby: Caffeine
- Mayo Clinic: Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more
- FDA: Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?
- CDC: Maternal Diet and Breastfeeding
- NIH LactMed: Caffeine
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.