Can Drinking Too Much Coffee Cause Stillbirth in Pregnant Women?

Pregnant women often hear conflicting advice about caffeine. Some doctors warn against any coffee, while others say a cup a day is fine. But what’s the real risk — especially when it comes to serious outcomes like stillbirth?

If you're pregnant, drinking more than eight cups of coffee a day may triple your risk of stillbirth, according to a key Danish study. But one or two cups? Likely safe for most.

The Danish Study on Coffee and Pregnancy

In February 2003, researchers led by Wisborg published findings in the British Medical Journal based on a study of over 18,000 pregnant women in Denmark. They investigated the relationship between coffee consumption and the occurrence of stillbirth.

Key Finding: Eight Cups or More

The study reported that women who drank more than eight cups of coffee per day had a threefold increase in the risk of stillbirth compared to those who drank less. This figure was the headline result that drew widespread attention.

Other Lifestyle Factors

Researchers noted that women who consumed higher amounts of coffee were also more likely to smoke and drink alcohol. These factors are themselves associated with negative pregnancy outcomes. However, after adjusting statistically for smoking and alcohol use, the link between coffee and stillbirth changed only slightly.

What Happens When You Remove Smoking?

When the data were further analysed and the influence of smoking habits was removed, the apparent connection between coffee intake and fetal death became statistically insignificant. This suggests that other variables, particularly smoking, may confound the results.

Past Research on Coffee Risks

Wisborg also pointed to previous studies that showed links between coffee consumption during pregnancy and increased risks of miscarriage and low birth weight. Those findings add to the caution around high caffeine intake.

How Much Coffee Is Moderate?

Most experts consider one to two cups of coffee per day to be a moderate and generally safe intake during pregnancy. That aligns with many official guidelines that suggest staying under 200–300 mg of caffeine daily — roughly the amount in one to two typical cups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does coffee really cause stillbirth?

A Danish study found that drinking more than eight cups of coffee per day may triple the risk of stillbirth. But after adjusting for smoking and alcohol, the risk increase became much smaller, and when smoking was excluded, the link was no longer significant. The absolute risk remains low, but very high intake isn't advisable.

How many cups of coffee is too much during pregnancy?

Most health sources recommend limiting caffeine to about 200–300 mg per day during pregnancy — roughly one to two cups of brewed coffee. Drinking more than eight cups daily has been linked in one study to a higher stillbirth risk, though other factors may play a role.

What did the Danish study actually find?

The 2003 Danish study of over 18,000 pregnant women found that those consuming more than eight cups of coffee daily had three times the risk of stillbirth. But when researchers adjusted for smoking and alcohol, the risk increase was reduced, and without smoking in the picture, the coffee-stillbirth link disappeared statistically.

Is one or two cups of coffee safe in pregnancy?

Yes, most studies and guidelines suggest that one or two cups of coffee per day — equating to about 200–300 mg of caffeine — is generally safe during pregnancy. This amount is not associated with increased risks of stillbirth, miscarriage or low birth weight in the majority of cases.

Why did the study results change after adjusting for smoking?

Women who drank more coffee were also more likely to smoke, and smoking is a known risk factor for stillbirth. Once researchers statistically controlled for smoking, the coffee-related risk diminished. This highlights the difficulty of isolating caffeine’s effects from other lifestyle factors.

Should pregnant women avoid coffee completely?

Not necessarily. Complete avoidance isn’t required for most pregnant women. Sticking to moderate intake — around one to two cups per day — is widely considered safe, though individual sensitivity varies. Very high consumption (over eight cups daily) is not recommended based on current evidence.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffees for Pregnant Coffee Drinkers

For expectant mothers sticking to one or two cups daily, we recommend FrontStreet Coffee’s washed Yirgacheffe — bright, floral, and easy on the stomach with notes of lemon, jasmine, and soft stone fruit. Alternatively, try their balanced Brazil Queen Manor, offering sweet chocolate, caramel, and nutty tones with low acidity. Both are single origins with clean cups and moderate caffeine, ideal for keeping intake light yet enjoyable. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.