Caffeine: Is it Safe to Drink Matcha Tea While Pregnant?

How much caffeine is safe to drink during pregnancy? 

Does Matcha Tea extend over the limit?

In this article, we are going to do some myth-busting.

Is it safe to drink matcha tea while pregnant?

Here’s the short answer: Yes, but don’t go overboard.

Read on and find out:

• Why drinking too much Matcha Tea with its high levels of caffeine can potentially harm an unborn baby.

• And what the perfect amount of Matcha is.

We’ll set the record straight on the questions surrounding caffeine, matcha and pregnancy.

And one more thing before we jump in…

We have an article about Caffeine in Matcha.

And one about Caffeine in Tea.

If you want to learn more about this subject...

What Really is Caffeine, Anyway?

For us to understand if caffeine or Matcha affects pregnancy:

Let’s first talk about caffeine.

When you’re awake, a chemical called adenosine slowly builds up in your brain. 

Put simply, Adenosine makes you sleepy.

This adenosine binds to receptors which slow down brain activity. 

The more adenosine you have in your brain, the more tired you feel. 

And this is why you feel tired when you stay awake for too long. 

When you sleep your brain “resets” the adenosine.

So when you wake up, you don’t feel tired.

Caffeine has the ability to counteract the effects of adenosine on your brain. 

It binds to adenosine receptors.

The result?

Your brain doesn’t get the chemical signal that it should start feeling tired.

Why Caffeine is a Stimulant

Adenosine is “known to relax the cells of the brain and nervous system and cause drowsiness and the sense of tiredness” 

- According to Dr. Raja Gangopadhyay, International Forum for Wellbeing in Pregnancy.

• Dr. Gangopadhyay is currently working as a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.

• With a special interest in Perinatal Mental Health at the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Put simply: he knows his stuff.

That said, for sure talk to your own doctor.

Adrenaline Stimulant

Caffeine can stimulate the production of adrenalin in the body.

That’s the “fight or flight” chemical.

Adrenaline can:

• Increase your heart rate.

• Boost dopamine levels giving you an emotional lift.

• Expand air passages of the lungs.

How does caffeine affect pregnant women?

Across the globe, 73-93% of women consume caffeine whilst pregnant. 

These are very high numbers.

That begs the question, how does caffeine affect the pregnant mother?

Basically: 

• The closer to expectancy, the longer it takes the body to break down (metabolize) caffeine.

“The rate of metabolism of caffeine slows down as the pregnancy advances.” - Dr. Gangopadhyay

It can take 1.5–3.5 times longer to eliminate caffeine from your body when pregnant according to a recent study!

Can Caffeine Harm an Unborn Baby?

If consumed in large quantities (like most things, including water!)...

• Caffeine can potentially be harmful.

Intakes greater than 200mg per day may increase the risk of a miscarriage.

Keep in mind that:

• A typical shot of Matcha has around 25mg of caffeine.

• And a Starbucks Matcha Latte has 80mg of caffeine.

You don’t need to worry about drinking Matcha while pregnant.

Unless you’re planning on drinking more than 8 shots of matcha a day.

Or 2.5 Starbucks Matcha Lattes.

And if you’re drinking 2.5 Starbucks Matcha Lattes a day…

Then you’re drinking 80 grams of sugar.

And frankly, at that point, Caffeine won’t be your biggest problem to worry about…

Extra info: Talking about Starbucks Matcha Latte… Sugar is not the only thing you need to worry about. The matcha this company uses is also a problem in itself. In fact, it’s not even matcha. Have a look at our article on Starbucks Matcha Latte to know exactly what you were drinking all this time.

How Does Caffeine Affect a Pregnancy? 

As Dr. Gangopadhyay says, “Caffeine crosses the placenta freely and reaches the baby’s blood circulation easily”.

With your unborn baby’s metabolism still in early development... 

An overload of a stimulant such as caffeine is likely to be difficult for the baby to fully metabolize.

This means it can be challenging for an unborn baby to: 

• Fully break down the caffeine.

• Deal with the stimulating effects it brings.

A little caffeine is fine…

But you don’t want to go over that 200mg maximum a day.

Which is like having two cups of coffee a day.

Are there Guidelines on Consuming Caffeine during Pregnancy?

Fortunately, The American College of Obstetricians Gynecologists (ACOG) states: 

¨Moderate amounts of caffeine (less than 200 mg per day)...

...are not linked to a heightened risk of miscarriage.¨

• If your caffeine fix is less than 200 mg per day there’s nothing to worry about 

Because there are no clear findings to suggest any sort of risk.

If you’re an expecting mother, having a scientifically-backed quantity guideline is definitely helpful.

So the next time you’re feeling drained and need a strong pick-me-up... 

You now know to avoid exceeding the recommended limit of caffeine.

And because you’d need to drink a crazy amount of Matcha to hit that limit…

You can relax and enjoy your green brew.

Can a Pregnant Woman Drink Matcha Tea?

Yes, pregnant women can drink Matcha Tea in moderation.

An 8-ounce cup of Matcha Tea contains around 70 mg of caffeine.

A cup of coffee has anywhere from 70 to 140 mg of caffeine.

(Depending on the brewing method.)

Put simply?

Drinking several cups of Matcha Tea each day is totally safe.

But it’s more than safe, it’s likely very good for you and your child.

Matcha Tea has incredible antioxidant properties.

And a LOT of health benefits.

Some of which we covered in our What is Matcha Tea guide.

Extra info Caffeine in coffee makes us feel jittery, while Matcha gives us a calm energy. It all has to do with an amino acid called L-theanine. It is found naturally in tea leaves, and it helps balance out the stimulating effects of caffeine.

The Magic Number

“Everything in moderation” is a phrase that is often thrown around.

Especially when it comes to health.

In the case of drinking caffeine while pregnant, it couldn’t be more true.

• Remember, the magic number is 200mg.

Which is harder to hit if you’re drinking matcha, instead of coffee.

Just one more reason to make the switch to green.

Matcha Tea is an ideal caffeine fix for pregnant women. 

With typically less caffeine than coffee…

And plenty of health benefits in every cup.

So next time you need an energy boost, reach for a cup of matcha instead of coffee. 

You'll be glad you did!

After you give this a read –

And know everything there is to know about matcha and pregnancy.

Do tell us your thoughts. 

Post a comment below if you’re pregnant and still currently drinking matcha. 

Matcha, Ground Fresh

If you’re pregnant and looking to try Matcha, I’d love to invite you to try our Matcha. We grind it fresh in-house using traditional Japanese stone mills.

You can buy our Matcha here. We love to share with future mothers, and with anyone who genuinely wants to know what fresh-ground matcha tastes like.

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