17 Guilt-Free Starbucks Drinks for Pregnant Women
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What Can You Get At Starbucks When Pregnant?
Can’t fathom life without your occasional Starbucks fix? Don’t worry, you definitely don’t have to go without, so long as you’re mindful about what’s in your drink.
Which is the reason behind today’s post on guilt-free Starbucks drinks for pregnant women.
Of course, your baby’s health is your priority, and you wouldn’t want to jeopardize it by consuming caffeine in excess, nor would you want to consume high amounts of sugar. (Especially if you’re prone to gestational diabetes like I am.)
Risks of doing so include high blood sugar, excess weight gain, and dehydration on your end. As for your baby, too much caffeine could cause a higher risk of birth defects and high sugar consumption could potentially increase their risk of chronic disease later in life.
But as long as you don’t have any dietary concerns and you enjoy your Starbucks drinks in moderation, you have no reason to feel guilty about indulging.
So let’s get to that list!
Disclaimer: This information is not meant to replace professional medical advice.
How Much Starbucks Can I Drink While Pregnant?
According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pregnant women should limit caffeine consumption to a maximum of 200 milligrams of caffeine per day.
The amount of caffeine in Starbucks beverages can vary quite a bit, depending on the size and the drink type. For example, a tall (12 oz) brewed coffee from Starbucks contains approximately 260 milligrams of caffeine.
On the other hand, decaf coffee, tea, and smaller drink sizes are generally suitable during pregnancy. Which is exactly what we’re here to talk about today – the best, guilt-free Starbucks drinks for pregnant women.
Starbucks Drinks for Pregnant Women
Here’s the list of guilt-free Starbucks drinks for pregnant women, along with the largest “safe” cup size if you’re aiming to stay under 200 mg caffeine.
1. Hot or Cold Brewed Coffee
Starbucks offers a few different brewed coffee options with regular amounts of caffeine:
If you’re going with one of these brews, stick with a short (8 oz) cup since the tall contains over 200 mg of caffeine.
2. Hot or Cold Decaf Coffee
If you prefer a larger cup of coffee, Decaf Pike Place is your best bet, since their venti size only contains 30 mg of caffeine.
3. Cappuccino
When it comes to cappuccino, you’re free to order their venti size and you’ll still be under the limit at around 150 mg of caffeine.
4. Frappuccino
An ice-blended caramel frappuccino is my go-to drink at Starbucks. You could order a trenta size – their largest cup – and still be under 200 mg of caffeine.
Just keep in mind that frappuccinos are fairly high in calories!
Got a hankering for their Espresso Frappuccino? Go ahead and order a venti (or smaller) and you’ll be just fine.
5. Mocha
A mocha is a hot drink that contains chocolate, espresso, and steamed milk.
Are you hoping for a Caffe Mocha or a White Chocolate Mocha? Stick with the venti size, and you’ll stay under the caffeine limit.
But if it’s a Starbucks Reserve Dark Chocolate Mocha that you’re eyeing up, then you’ll want to go down to a grande, since it has a little more caffeine.
6. Latte
With the exception of the Starbucks Reserve Latte (at 265 mg), all of their latte flavors contain between 150-200 mg of caffeine in the venti size. Their grande size Reserve Latte has 135 mg, so you should be good to go with this size or smaller.
Lattes come in a wide range of delicious flavors, from the simple vanilla latte to eggnog. (They also contain a LOT of calories!)
7. Macchiato
You can grab a venti Starbucks macchiato and you’ll be perfectly safe. I’d stay away from an Espresso macchiato, though, since they’re mostly espresso with a little bit of steamed milk.
8. Flat White
You’ll be fine ordering a venti Flat White, but if you want a Honey Almond Milk Flat White, then you’ll need to go with a tall (or smaller) to stay under 200 mg of caffeine.
9. Iced Coffee
You can drink iced coffee from Starbucks, and as long as you stick with a tall or grande, you’re good to go. The grande comes in at about 165 mg of caffeine.
Want a larger size? Order an iced coffee with milk in the trenta size and you’ll be right around 190 mg caffeine.
10. Refreshers
Not a coffee drinker? Or perhaps you have an aversion to it during your pregnancy. Don’t worry, you can still enjoy a refreshing Starbucks drink!
Their Refreshers are cold, fruit-flavored beverages, and all sizes contain less than 200 mg of caffeine, so you can order as much as you want to drink.
The Strawberry Acai Refresher, also known as the Starbucks Pink Drink, is widely popular and absolutely safe to consume during pregnancy.
11. Iced Coconut Milk Drinks
Go ahead and enjoy an iced coconut milk drink! All sizes come in under the caffeine limit for pregnant women, and they come in a wide variety of flavors. (Guava Passion Fruit? Yum!)
Matcha and tea-infused coconut milk drinks have a slightly higher caffeine content at around 110 mg in the largest cup size.
12. Chai Latte
Warm up with a nice chai latte on a cool day, adding in any flavorings you want. While a chai latte is a little higher in calories, you can drink a venti size, which comes in at 120 mg caffeine.
13. Espresso (or Iced Espresso)
While espresso is a more concentrated form of coffee, served in small shots, you can still enjoy it while pregnant. Just stick with one or two shots, and you’ll be just fine.
14. Caffe Americano
An Americano is simply espresso diluted with water, and you can drink a tall (12 ounce) guilt-free while pregnant. You could even ask for decaf if you want to avoid caffeine altogether.
15. Caffe Misto
If you’ve never heard of a Caffe Misto, it’s a half-and-half blend of brewed hot coffee and steamed milk. Enjoy a venti size, adding in any flavorings or toppings that you like.
16. Hot or Iced Tea
Are you a tea lover? You can enjoy any size Starbucks tea while staying under the caffeine threshold. Green tea is a great choice, although they offer a wide variety of flavors.
A hot cup of tea with a dab of honey is a soul-warming beverage when it’s cold outside, and it’s especially soothing during cold and flu season.
17. Hot Chocolate
Go ahead – enjoy that cup of hot chocolate on your next Starbucks run! While it does contain a small amount of caffeine, you’ll be well under the daily limit.
Starbucks Drink Recap
| Starbucks Drink | Largest “Safe” Size |
| Regular Coffee | Short |
| Decaf Coffee | Trenta |
| Cappuccino | Venti |
| Frappuccino | Trenta |
| Espresso Frappuccino | Venti |
| Mocha | Venti |
| Reserve Dark Chocolate Mocha | Grande |
| Latte | Grande |
| Reserve Latte | Grande |
| Macchiato | Venti |
| Flat White | Venti |
| Honey Almond Milk Flat White | Tall |
| Iced Coffee | Grande |
| Iced Coffee With Milk | Trenta |
| Refresher | Trenta |
| Iced Coconut Milk | Trenta |
| Chai Latte | Venti |
| Espresso | Two Shots |
| Caffe Americano | Tall |
| Decaf Caffe Americano | Trenta |
| Caffe Misto | Venti |
| Tea | Trenta |
| Hot Chocolate | Trenta |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Following are the answers to a few common questions regarding pregnancy and Starbucks beverages.
What Starbucks drinks are not safe for pregnant women?
Frankly, just about all of the Starbucks drinks above *could* also be listed under “drinks to avoid during pregnancy” for various reasons. Some of these drinks contain more caffeine and/or sugar than others, though, and the bigger the cup size, the higher the caffeine and sugar content (obviously!).
The key is to be aware of the caffeine and sugar content in your beverage of choice, as well as any potentially unsafe herbs in the teas.
If you have gestational diabetes, stick with sugar-free drinks, like hot or cold brewed coffee or tea, to avoid blood sugar complications. And as always, if you have ANY special health considerations, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider for specific dietary guidelines.
That said, as long as you enjoy your Starbucks in moderation, you’ll be fine!
Can you drink decaf Starbucks when pregnant?
Yes, you can absolutely drink decaf Starbucks beverages while pregnant! As long as you stay under the 200 milligram limit, you’re good.
How many shots of espresso can I have while pregnant?
You can have up to two shots of espresso per day during pregnancy. A single shot of Starbucks espresso contains 75 mg of caffeine, so stick with two shots of espresso, and you’ll be under the 200 mg daily limit.
Can you drink Starbucks frappuccino while pregnant?
All sizes of Starbucks blended frappuccino drinks are under the 200 mg caffeine limit, so you can safely drink any flavor you like. Even the Espresso Frappuccino has only 185 mg of caffeine in the venti size.
…BUT! Keep in mind that there is a LOT of sugar in a frappuccino, so it should be enjoyed in moderation.
Can you drink Starbucks Refreshers while pregnant?
Absolutely! Refreshers are well under the caffeine limit, so you can safely enjoy a cold pick-me-up, even if you’re not a coffee lover.
Can you drink Starbucks Pink Drink while pregnant?
Yes, you can drink a Pink Drink during pregnancy. The Pink Drink from Starbucks is a sweet, refreshing beverage featuring the Strawberry Acai Refresher, coconut milk, and strawberries.
The Refresher juice base contains green coffee extract, and a grande (16 oz) size cup has 35-45mg of caffeine.
Can I drink hot chocolate while pregnant?
Yes, you can drink hot chocolate while pregnant, as long as you enjoy it in moderation. As with anything, drinking it in excess could present risks – especially when you’re carrying a baby.
What food can a woman eat from Starbucks while pregnant?
Starbucks offers a variety of food, from fresh fruit and salads to baked goods, and you’re fine to eat whatever you want off the menu (assuming you don’t have any allergies).
Pregnant women can even eat the wraps and sandwiches, but since they’re not made fresh to order, ask them to heat yours until it’s steaming hot.
Pregnancy Safe Starbucks Drinks
Today, we covered seventeen guilt-free Starbucks drinks for pregnant women. Which is your favorite? (Personally, I love myself a caramel frappuccino!)
So go ahead and enjoy any of these pregnancy safe Starbucks drinks. Just be sure to do so in moderation, keeping your caffeine intake under 200 mg daily.
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