Caffeine

Cubslove12

As I have been reading up I'm seeing mixed information on if any/ how much caffeine is ok for you.... 

I traditionally had a coffee in the morning and I would do the occasional can of pop or Starbucks energy drink at lunch... I'm trying to just do my morning coffee. 

I'm getting worried though, today just grocery shopping sucked all the energy out of me I had to take a nap. I teach high school and my students need me to have a lot of patience and energy...

I plan on talking to my doctor but, I was wondering if you are still drinking caffeine what are you drinking?

Or is there any safe natural energy boosters out there to help me? 

socks2819

Personally, I try to cut out caffeine in the first trimester. Then I add back in a cup of coffee or tea a day from second tri on. I drink a fair bit (job in corporate america) so I find it is good to do my body a service and knock back a bit. Talk to your doc, but I think you would be fine with two cups of caffeinated beverages a day. 

As for other ways to keep energy up - exercise! (Now if only I listened to my own advice!)

FemShep

While every doctor is different, most will say up to 200mg of caffeine/day is fine. Expecting Better provides a good overview of the stats behind the recommendations if you're interested. 

Cubslove12

socks2819 said:

As for other ways to keep energy up - exercise! (Now if only I listened to my own advice!)

I've been doing well about working out, today was my first bad day where I skipped! 

mrskratt

I decided to skip out of the caffeine this pregnancy, I didn't my last. I had a half cup with DD. Now, I'm taking brisk walks when I feel tired and drinking hot lemon water in the morning. 

SuperNerd42

My doctor is fine with 200 mg of caffeine. While soda isn't great for you, it actually doesn't have all that much caffeine. A 12 oz can of Mountain Dew only has 55 mg of caffeine! The energy boost must come from all the sugar  

I've switched to tea. I have a cup in the morning and keep some at work if I start dragging in the afternoon. The two cups come in under 200 mgs. Otherwise fruit helps me too. I always have grapes and a couple clementines at hand. 

itravelsize

I have cut caffeine out I'm not the happiest with out my morning coffee but I have started having an apple they are a great source of natural quick energy to get you going. I would just check with your doc on what their coffee recommendation is I know depends on what kind of brew and how much and so forth 

AverageAsh

I still do a cup of coffee in the morning and a small pick-me-up in the afternoon. This site helps me do the math in my foggy brain haze.
Www.caffeineinformer.com

socks2819

Cubslove12 said:

socks2819 said:

As for other ways to keep energy up - exercise! (Now if only I listened to my own advice!)

I've been doing well about working out, today was my first bad day where I skipped! 

I need to channel your good habits! Hoping to start tomorrow.

Blonde1817

I still drink one small cup of coffee with milk every morning, about 4-6 oz.  Then I switch to herbal tea or hot water with lemon.  

Maybe try half a cup of coffee in the morning and half a cup in the afternoon?

While I'm trying to keep my caffeine intake minimal, I don't think there's really any evidence supporting that small amounts of caffeine are harmful. But I would ask your doctor if you're nervous.

queen_frostine

I have never had more than one coffee or soda in a day, and not every day, which I understand will keep me under the 200mg rule (unless I get a giant Starbucks drink). I usually avoid drinking caffeine for a while and then when I get it it makes me feel reaaaaaaalllly good. Unfortunately, since I've been pregnant, the occasional caffeine has NOT had the usual effect! 

I'm sure you'll be fine with one cup - but if it helps you to avoid more, just tell yourself it wouldn't work anyway?

MrsSeptemberPenguin

My doctor said up to 200mg a day is safe, and there are even studies out there that say up to 300mg is safe. That said I have cut back on my caffeine intake, but not gotten rid of it completely. While pop isn't good for you its my weakness and with all these other pregnancy stresses I need my pick-me-up from my one can of pop I have each day. That's 55mg and way below the limit. Doctor said that's definitely fine. It's really up to each individual person and what their doctor recommends. 

PrimRoseMama

2 cups of regular coffee with cream and sugar.

LizaKate1213

I have a cup of half caff in the morning. Last pregnancy I got headaches and my doctor actually encouraged a small cup of coffee or tea to help and it worked. If I am really sluggish in the afternoon i will have a second cup of tea or half caff again.

2015dee

My RE told me no caffeine, but that was more related to my history of loss. Previously, I usually had a cup of coffee in the morning and a Coke in the afternoon. I gradually weaned off, but it was HARD. I've heard repeatedly though that 200mg of caffeine is fine. I think my doc is just playing things safe with me. 

nsquaredlife13

Last pregnancy I had coffee aversions, however I did not have Iced Caramel Macchiato with extra Caramel aversions! I had one every day, but I did half-caf to be safe. My Midwife said 1 caffeinated beverage per day MAX.

sparklegrump

I'm still drinking coffee. I have 3 kids and a full time job, so I don't have a choice.

alysie89

I'm drinking  coffee. Usually 2 mugs a day. If occasionally  I have a 3rd I don't feel too bad, I was told it's all about moderation and just not to be drinking game it cup after  cup all  day. 2 cups is the general  rule of thumb I believe.

kmtz89

I am still having one cup in the morning. Though for the past week I've only gotten halfway through it and felt like I didn't want it anymore... 

JamieK1882

I don't drink coffee and only drank green tea while TTC, but pop is my weakness. I cut it out for first tri, but will allow myself 1 can/day starting in 2nd.

emmaaa

I have a cup of coffee (black) every morning. Except lately, it has been making me feel sick but for some reason a latte doesn't. 

housewifehobbyist

I switched to half caff and generally have two cups with almond in the morning and no caffeine afterwards.  I had water with lemon and ginger this morning so I could try one of those butterbeer lattes from Starbucks today!

amwright33

My first pregnancey, I was told 200mg. But towards the end of second tri I was becoming dehydrated more and had to up my water intake more and was told no more caffeine or anything that wasn't water related. I also started to go into  pre term labor but they stopped it. Caffeine was not the reason it just didn't help with the dehydration.

simcal18

housewifehobbyist said:

I switched to half caff and generally have two cups with almond in the morning and no caffeine afterwards.  I had water with lemon and ginger this morning so I could try one of those butterbeer lattes from Starbucks today!

OMG.  I am trying my best to limit caffeine (200 MG a day MAX and generally less than that unless I get a withdrawal headache), but I saw this on the board this morning and caved.  Holy crap was it good.

BebeCash

I am one of those rare birds who doesn't get caffeine withdrawal symptoms, despite a near pot-a-day habit.  I switched to decaf and upped my water intake.  At only 25mg of caffeine per 16oz cup, I can still drink coffee pretty much throughout the day.  The difference in taste is barely detectable.  

annabenanna

I've cut out my afternoon cup of coffee, but I do drink one cup with cream and sugar in the mornings.  Some mornings, I don't feel like drinking coffee at all...but on days I do want it, I have a cup.  

styler91

I went from drinking 3-5 cups of coffee a day to cutting it out cold turkey..... Hubby keeps checking in making sure I don't drink any...
needless to say, I'm going insane. not sure if my mood swings are from the pregnancy, or lack of caffeine. 

jade24422

I've been drinking just one cup of half caff a morning  decaf tea. Surprisingly its been enough. I just read something though about how half caff/decaf isn't good for you and the baby because of the process of decaffeinating the coffee, so now questioning that (there's always something, right?!).  Do any of you know anything about decaf/half caff being harmful?

coffee89

I do one to two coffees a few days a week. I skip energy drinks and diet sodas.

Selena2016

I have cut out caffeine completely. I'm just too paranoid to risk it. For energy I have been eating lots of small meals and taking brisk walks as often as possible. 

housewifehobbyist

@natsfan2442 I used Swiss Water Process Decaffeinated coffee (from Cafe Grumpy, but there are lots of other places that offer it) and mix it half and half with regular coffee beans.  The Swiss Water Method is supposed to be a safer way to decaffeinate coffee.  

Divallyn

For those of you still drinking caffeine does it actually do anything for the fatigue? I have one cup of black tea in the morning and I feel like it hasn't made any difference at all.

nsquaredlife13

Divallyn said:

For those of you still drinking caffeine does it actually do anything for the fatigue? I have one cup of black tea in the morning and I feel like it hasn't made any difference at all.

I'm fairly certain I'm in the placebo effect with my caffeine relationship. I have no idea if it actually does anything for waking me up, but if I have a headache it goes away. Pre-pregnancy, I could drink a super strong latte or coffee right before bed and fall asleep as if it was nothing.

mrsman2018

At first I was still having my one cup of coffee in the morning but for the past two weeks I have not even wanted one. Not that I am not tired, I'm exhausted, but no hot foods or beverages are appealing to me. I am drinking soda ... even though I was not a huge soda drinker before I was pregnant, I really want it now. I don't drink a can every day, but maybe three a week. If I am tired I should go for a walk or exercise, but I just take a nap. I am having headaches every day now, so napping kind of helps. I am taking Tylenol but I feel bad for how much I am taking, even though it is supposed to be safe. 

sparklegrump

Divallyn said:

For those of you still drinking caffeine does it actually do anything for the fatigue? I have one cup of black tea in the morning and I feel like it hasn't made any difference at all.

I can definitely tell a difference in my energy level and my attitude if I don't have coffee. 

Blonde1817

@Divallyn I definitely think my one small AM cup helps get me going! But I've also been cutting down on caffeine for awhile now, so a little bit affects me more than it used to.  I still have major fatigue in the afternoon and especially evening, but I can't drink caffeine after the morning anyways because it impacts my sleep.

von1976

I have cut way back on my caffeine intake, but it has little to do with choice. I just don't have the taste for coffee now. I switched to tea, which I can stomach, but I plan on switching back to coffee just as soon as pregnancy aversions abate.

After reading Emily Oster's book and looking at the research, I am not convinced that caffeine consumption poses any risks to baby in pregnancy, as long as you keep it reasonable.

PrimRoseMama

Divallyn said:

For those of you still drinking caffeine does it actually do anything for the fatigue? I have one cup of black tea in the morning and I feel like it hasn't made any difference at all.

I'm still tired, but the ritual is what I am after mostly. The warm liquid, the smell, and the little boost. I'm still really tired, but not getting to have my coffee makes me angry lol.

runningmama14

I had occasional caffeine with my first pregnancy, but when I developed hypertension, I cut it completely. This time around, I'm doing everything I can to ward off the hypertension diagnosis again, since I'm higher risk, so none for me. Boo.

queen_frostine

@Divallyn Don't remember if it was on this or another thread, but I mentioned myself that I have noticed it is NOT kicking in like usual! Alas, I shall be cutting it out for now as the heartburn is too bad. 

melm90

I have completely cut out caffeinated drinks, It sucks !! I have also heard an apple in the morning is as good as a cup of coffee.