New guidance on caffeine consumption for pregnant women has been outlined.Discuss new caffeine warning for pregnant women on our forums, right now! Or, post a comment below.Pregnant women have been advised once again to cut their caffeine intake after a new study revealed a link between the stimulant and babies born with low birth weight.
As a result of the research, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has revised its guidelines regarding caffeine intake during pregnancy.
Recommended levels of caffeine have been lowered from a maximum of 300mg a day to just 200mg - a reduction of a third.
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This means that pregnant women are now recommended to drink no more than two cups of coffee or tea a day.
However, those women who have been drinking three cups of coffee a day have been advised not to panic.
The FSA's chief scientist Andrew Wadge said: "This is new advice but these are not new risks.
"I want to reassure women that if you're pregnant and have been following the previous advice, the risk is likely to be small."
The study of 2,500 pregnant women, carried out by researchers from Leicester and Leeds universities, is to be published in the British Medical Journal this week.
FSA guidelines state that an average-sized home made cup of coffee contains 100mg of caffeine, but drinks bought from coffee shops may contain much higher levels of the stimulant.
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