Picture the scene: It’s been a busy morning, you’re 27 weeks pregnant on your third baby and after fasting for more than 12 hours for a series of routine blood tests, you’re tired, a little cranky and looking forward to a delicious, reviving coffee.
This was exactly where Sydney Morning Herald Education Editor Alexandra Smith found herself when she joined the line at her local café… only for the barista on duty to refuse her order for one very irritating and arbitrary reason:
Smith writes: “…the barista looked at my 27-week bump over his counter and shook his head.
“No,” he responded motioning towards my belly. “No caffeine for you”.
I thought I misheard. This was a coffee I was a ordering, not a martini.”
Instantly wracked by what she called ‘mother guilt’, instead of protesting, the flustered mum accepted the decaf option suggested by the barista:
“My decision to inflict caffeine on my unborn child had been criticised by a stranger. So, I accepted the weak hot milk option and watched as a minuscule drop of coffee was tipped into an oversized takeaway paper cup. It was a basically a babycino for grown-ups.”
Annoyed and disappointed that she hadn’t spoken up and defended herself, Ms Smith relayed the experience to friends via Facebook and discovered she wasn’t alone: “…it seems the pregnancy police are not simply patrolling bars and cafes.” she said.
“One friend reported that she was denied a soft-serve ice cream while pregnant; another said she was refused service when she tried to buy unpasteurised cheese in a British supermarket.
Just like our bodies, our decisions also become fair game.”
According to HSE guidelines, a small amount of caffeine is fine provided you limit it to less than 200mg per day. Here’s an idea of what 200mg of caffeine looks like:
- Two mugs of tea (75mg each).
- Two mugs of instant coffee (100mg each).
- One mug of filter coffee (140mg each).
Tell us, have you been coffee shamed while pregnant? Join the conversation on Twitter @HerFamilydotie.
