New study finds no link between coffee and poor pregnancy outcomes

A genetic analysis of thousands of women has found coffee appears to be safe to drink in moderation during pregnancy.

But the “better safe than sorry mentality” comes as no surprise to those in the medical profession.

Dr Gunn-Helen Moen, from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland, said their study used genetic predisposition for coffee consumption and matched it against reported adverse birth effects.

“We’ve been looking at a few different outcomes, such as still-birth, miscarriage and pre-term birth and we can’t find any negative effects of drinking coffee on those outcomes,” she explained on 3AW Breakfast.

Ross Stevenson asked whether pregnant women got a raw deal with huge lists of what they should and shouldn’t do while pregnant.

“Better safe than sorry, I guess, has been the mentality,” Dr Gunn-Helen Moen said.

“It’s very difficult, obviously, to do research on pregnant women because we don’t want to do anything to them that could potentially harm their baby.”

Press PLAY below to hear her discuss the study

Picture: Getty iStock