Is it safe to drink energy drinks when you are pregnant?

Personal development is exciting but exhausting. Your energy level may start to drop before you get the second line on your pregnancy test. Add wild hormone changes and kickboxing to your bladder, and you may find yourself wanting to ride. It’s tempting to pick up a popular energy drink off the grocery store shelf — especially if you went there before you got pregnant — but is it safe to drink while you’re expecting?

Here, doctors and certified nutritionists who specialize in pregnancy, postpartum, and children break down what you should know before drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

What are energy drinks?

The category of energy drinks is very confusing – the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not provide an official definition, and not all caffeinated drinks (like soda, for example) are considered energy drinks. So what exactly is it worth?

This category is often used to describe caffeinated beverages including other products designed to increase alertness, such as stimulants and botanicals, explains Malina Malkani, MS, RDN, registered dietitian and owner of Malina Malkani Nutrition.

Common uses other than caffeine found in energy drinks may include:

• Methylxanthines

• B vitamins

• Guarana

• Yerba my friend

• Bitter orange

• Ginger

• Ginkgo

• John’s Wort

• Ginseng

• Taurine

As for caffeine, energy drinks typically contain 54 to 328 milligrams per 16 fluid ounces, according to the FDA. But some can contain 41 to 246 milligrams of caffeine per 12 fluid ounces.

Are energy drinks good for pregnancy?

No two energy drinks are exactly alike, says Malkani. This makes it difficult for health organizations or professionals to give unequivocal recommendations as to whether it is safe during pregnancy. However, the International Society of Sports Nutrition does not recommend it to those who are pregnant or trying to conceive. In general, doctors and nutritionists agree that it is best to avoid energy drinks during pregnancy.

“There is not enough evidence to say with confidence that energy drinks as a group are safe during pregnancy,” says Malkani.

A common concern is the amount of caffeine, which can exceed the American College of Gynecologists’ (ACOG) recommended daily limit of 200 mg during pregnancy. Typically, small hot or iced coffees from popular chains contain 150 to 193 mg of caffeine, says Caroline Drewes Pessel, MD, director of cardio-obstetrics and preconception counseling at Northwell Health’s North Shore University Hospital.

“Caffeine easily passes from you to your baby through the placenta, and because of metabolic changes, caffeine stays in your body for a long time during pregnancy,” Dr. Pessel says.

Research shows that exceeding the 200 mg limit can lead to more accidents:

• High blood pressure in pregnant women

• Premature/low birth weight babies

• Fetal death

• Childhood mental health problems, including ADHD, depression, and anxiety

• Nausea in pregnant women

• Difficulty sleeping and irritability in pregnant women

• Kidney and liver problems in pregnant women

Although the caffeine content of alcoholic beverages is within the limit of 200 mg, experts remain concerned about other ingredients that may be present. These are the ingredients that Malkani recommends avoiding or following up with your doctor:

• Guarana (contains caffeine)

• Taurine (limited research on pregnancy outcomes)

• Supplements, such as vitamins B-6 and B-12 (may contain prenatal vitamins)

• Electrolytes, such as sodium or potassium (depends on health conditions, such as pregnancy complications)

• Added sugar (can cause metabolic problems in pregnant women, premature birth, and weight gain)

What if you’ve already had a strong drink – or several?

“My first thought for a woman who has been drinking energy drinks throughout her pregnancy is to stay calm,” says Malkani. It does not mean that you have caused any problems for your growing child.

“Pregnancy outcomes depend on many factors, and observational studies cannot tell us whether caffeine or another drink causes pregnancy outcomes,” he adds.

From then on, he suggests reducing your daily caffeine intake. “Gradually cutting back can be easier, because a sudden reduction in caffeine can cause headaches and other withdrawal symptoms,” says Malkani.

Are energy drinks safe to drink while breastfeeding?

Unfortunately, your exhaustion won’t end when your baby arrives. Instead, you may be thinking about having an energy drink while caring for a newborn. Before drinking, it is important to know that the International Society of Sports Nutrition does not recommend drinking energy drinks while breastfeeding. And ACOG has a 200 mg daily limit of caffeine during breastfeeding as it does during pregnancy. Some babies – especially newborns and premature babies – are sensitive to caffeine.

If your favorite brand is in the safe caffeine range and you still want to know about energy drinks while breastfeeding, ask your health care provider for more information.