Women who are pregnant or trying for a baby should think about binning caffeine from their diet.
NHS guidance advises that pregnant women should limit the amount of caffeine they consume to 200mgs a day.
However, a new study says pregnant women, or those trying for a baby, should avoid it completely.
Caffeine is found in some foods and drinks – such as tea, coffee and chocolate.
It is also added to some energy drinks, cold and flu remedies and a variety of soft drinks.
A study – published in the journal BMJ Evidence Based Medicine – examined data from 37 studies.
A research team led by Professor Jack James, of Reykjavik University in Iceland, found that 32 studies reported caffeine significantly increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes – including stillbirth, miscarriage and low birth weight.
Prof James also cited an increased risk of childhood acute leukaemia and children being overweight or obese when born to mothers who consume caffeine during pregnancy.
However, Daghni Rajasingham, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), said: “The findings add to the large body of evidence that supports limited caffeine intake during pregnancy.
“However, as other, and potentially more reliable research has found, pregnant women do not need to cut caffeine out entirely as risks highlighted are extremely small – even if the recommended caffeine limits are exceeded.
“The RCOG’s advice of limiting caffeine intake to 200mgs per day – the equivalent to two cups of instant coffee – still stands.
“This paper does not supersede all other evidence that has found a limited intake of caffeine is safe for the majority of pregnancy women.”
