10 Starbucks Drinks For Pregnant Women

Pregnancy comes with a lot of changes for different women, including dietary and drink variations due to the well-being of the unborn child.

How do these variations affect your coffee options?

Read on to find out!

First Things First….

Due to its high caffeine content, pregnant women are advised to avoid coffee while expecting. It’s essential to note that caffeine is a brain stimulant which also increases blood pressure and heart rate.

However, there’s some good news!

Based on recent studies, the American Pregnancy Association postulates that a soon-to-be mom can take up to 200mg of caffeine per day, but not more.

This article provides you with 10 Starbucks drink options which contain not more than 200mg of caffeine that can be enjoyed during pregnancy.

10 Super Starbucks Drinks for Pregnant Women

1. Hot Brewed Coffee

Starbucks provides you with three levels of brewed coffee; Blonde, Pike place & Dark roast. No matter how exciting these options may seem on a cold winter morning, remember you have a coffee limit during pregnancy.

To stay within the recommended limit, you should go for the short cup options (which contain only about 180mg of caffeine). All other sizes will throw you off your recommended limit, which is harmful for your baby.

2. Shot of Espresso

A shot of espresso contains about 75mg of caffeine. This means you can go for about two cups per day – if you really need it!

You need to steer clear of triple or quadruple shots of espresso, as both will shoot you over your recommended daily intake of 200mg per day.

3. Cappuccino

Cappuccino is another good option to opt for. Although it is made with brewed espresso, it is still below the 200mg of caffeine limit. A Grande cappuccino contains only about 150mg of caffeine.

4. Latte

Lattes are made from espresso and steamed milk. And the good part is that all the flavors are below 200mg! So, latte is an excellent choice. If you need a larger quantity, you can opt for Venti, which contains about 170mg of caffeine.

5. Macchiato

Macchiato is another good option, as the Venti size is within the recommended daily caffeine allowance for expectant mums.

A macchiato is a similar option to latte, only with a lower milk content. A double from Starbucks contains over 150 mg of caffeine, which is within the recommended daily intake of caffeine.

6. Iced Coffee

If you prefer your coffee iced, a Grande cup of iced coffee is a great option which contains about 120–165 mg of caffeine. However, avoid the Venti size as it contains about 235mg of caffeine. This is above the required daily portion for caffeine.

7. Starbucks Tea

Tea also contains caffeine, although the quantity is less than that in coffee. A cup of caffeinated tea contains about 40-80 mg of caffeine. But you need to be careful of the other constituents of the tea, as some herbal and hibiscus tea are not recommended during pregnancy. Green tea should also be limited to one cup per day.

8. Frappuccino

A Frappuccino coffee is recommended if you prefer your coffee in some form closer to dessert form. There are different flavors available and it comes in sizes with caffeine level lower than 200mg.

Although the Frappuccino option keeps you below the recommended daily coffee limit, you need to be careful as it contains over 500 calories and 16g of fat.

9. Reserve Cold Brewed Coffee

Another awesome Starbucks drink option is the reserve cold-brewed coffee is similar to iced coffee. A Grande contains about 200mg of caffeine, which is the recommended limit for you per day. Anything bigger than this will push you over your limit for the day.

10. Half-Caf or Decaf Coffee

If you’re trying to reduce your caffeine intake greatly, a half-caf of decaf coffee is perfect. A decaf cup of coffee usually contains about 15mg of caffeine. You’ll still get the taste and vibes you get from caffeine, but with reduced caffeine content.

Conclusion

Although pregnancy comes with a lot of changes, your coffee doesn’t have to be one of them. As long as you don’t cross the 200mg boundary.

Irrespective of the fact that these Starbucks drinks are relatively safe during pregnancy, excess caffeine consumption can cause baby’s growth restriction, reduced birth weight, preterm birth or worse, a miscarriage or stillbirth.

You may need to alter the size and quantity you drink per day, and that’s better than giving up coffee completely, anyway!