The fact that caffeine can lead to malformations in the foetus comes from animal experiments. It was found that the embryos of rats that had been given caffeine showed considerable deformation of the bones. But what does this mean for the pregnant woman?

The rats were given amounts of caffeine equivalent to about 70 cups of coffee per day in humans. With such drastic amounts, it is hardly surprising that the embryos were damaged. If a pregnant woman drinks an occasional cup of coffee, this is unlikely to lead to malformations. However, it is always better to be cautious and perhaps avoid caffeinated coffee for the duration of the pregnancy to be on the safe side.