Let's discuss caffeine....

natkay02

So I had my almost-daily can of diet mountain dew this morning. I know, I know, I'm horrible, but I have cut back tremendously from before. I avoided diet drinks (aspertame) completely in 1st tri and I used to drink 2-3 diet sodas (took everything I had not to type "pop" there) per day. Okay, fast forward to now. I drink my one can of DMD a day, with the very occasional sweet tea in the evening for dinner. Probably that puts me over the recommended mg of caffeine for those days, but I guess I've become a little more lax.

I don't know about you all, but I could use an energy boost. In fact, I'm craving a classic Coca Cola right now and I'm regretting that I've already had my caffeine for the day.

How much caffene do you drink? Are you more lax about it now later in the pregnancy?

Edit: To correct my horrible misspelling of caffeine. My bad.

JosephsSweetie

I usually have a bottle of Snapple Peach Tea every day that has 21mg of caffeine. Sometimes I'll have a Barq's rootbeer (23 mg of caffeine) at night if we're watching a movie and popcorn is involved.

LaComtesse

I've been steadily drinking between 50 and 300 mg of caffeine a day without any guilt. Artificial sweeteners, too.

300 mg/caffeine, unless your doc says otherwise is the daily limit. Daily. If you should really be drinking less, they would say so. 

As for artificial sweeteners: they're among the most consistently tested food additives out there and are continually proven to be safe. (Good article on this: https://www.pregnantchicken.com/artificial-sweetners/2010/12/27/are-artificial-sweeteners-safe-during-pregnancy.html) 

Mereou12

Eh, I'm pretty lax about it, too. And IIRC, a single can of pop (yes, POP!) isn't anywhere near the daily max....even MD only has 50-75 mg, I think? I wouldn't worry too much about another can.

I've been drinking a LOT more caffeine lately. I haven't been sleeping well, and we've had a pretty busy schedule, so I've needed an extra kick. I've had more Diet Coke and Starbucks lattes in the last 2 weeks than I did in my entire 1st tri.

 

babyAutumn

I drink a cup of coffee every morning and if I am feeling really tired, I might have a decaf coffee in the late afternoon.  Pretty much what I used to drink before I was pregnant.  Though I never drank decaf.

backinpgh

I wouldn't worry about it...your Mountain Dew comes in at 54mg a can, and black tea (especially commercially brewed tea) actually has very little caffeine in it. So you are still WELL below the one cup of coffee rule!

I've cut back alot myself, I end up with maybe 3 glasses of pop a week, but I do drink a lot of iced tea but I'm not worried about it.

BlueEyedBoyMeetsABrownEyedGirl

I guess I'm a little more lax about it in the last few weeks.  If I drink anything caffinated, it's usually Diet Snapple or unsweetened iced tea (sweetened with lemon and Splenda).  Maybe two big glasses per day...?

And, I am ashamed to say that I didn't pay much attention to aspartame consumption during my pregnancy.  Maybe that's a FFFC for tomorrow...

shelley1002

I have maybe 2 or 3 sodas a month.  I was never a big caffeine person and it tends to make my heart race and I hate don't like the way coffee tastes so I don't drink that either.

amberjac9888

I havent been drinking much caffeine this pregnancy but not bc I think I shouldnt for the baby, but because it makes me feel bad. I have found that caffeine free regular coke takes the same as regular coke does

kleu9

I've been lax about it pretty much this entire pregnancy, however, my intake has been considerably less than it would be non-pregnant. For example, previously I would drink at least 3 (large) cups of coffee every morning, would normally have a diet coke with lunch and maybe another diet coke in the afternon at my desk.

I stopped drinking coffee during first and most of 2nd tri because the smell disgusted me. When I got over that, I've been having coffee in the mornings about 3 days out of the week but we have a pretty sweet machine here at work and so I do a blend of decaf/regular in the mornings. We also have diet coke and caffeine free diet coke so I try to mix it up once in a while. But to be honest, I normally only grab the caffeine free if someone else is near the fridge and could see me

I've also have PLENTY of highly caffeinated espresso drinks from Starbucks. I don't order them with the extra shot of espresso anymore though

Lastly, I also call it Pop

luckygal3

I was very good about caffiene in the first trimester but lately I've been allowing myself 1 a day. However, I was having some bad headaches and my doc prescribed me some pain meds that have caffiene with them and said to take them with caffiene. She said not to worry too much at this point, though it can make LO a bit more active. I wouldn't go overboard but I don't think you need to be overly concerned if you let yourself have a coke!

BrittDanX

It's still not back in my diet. I cut it out completely for the first 30 weeks or so, and maybe had a sip here or there after 30 weeks. I think it's perfectly fine now, (especially being 39 weeks for myself) but I just don't have an urge to drink it.

LaComtesse

kleu9:

I've been lax about it pretty much this entire pregnancy, however, my intake has been considerably less than it would be non-pregnant. For example, previously I would drink at least 3 (large) cups of coffee every morning, would normally have a diet coke with lunch and maybe another diet coke in the afternon at my desk.

I stopped drinking coffee during first and most of 2nd tri because the smell disgusted me. When I got over that, I've been having coffee in the mornings about 3 days out of the week but we have a pretty sweet machine here at work and so I do a blend of decaf/regular in the mornings. We also have diet coke and caffeine free diet coke so I try to mix it up once in a while. But to be honest, I normally only grab the caffeine free if someone else is near the fridge and could see me

I've also have PLENTY of highly caffeinated espresso drinks from Starbucks. I don't order them with the extra shot of espresso anymore though

Lastly, I also call it Pop

Wow. That's a lot of caffeine pre-pregnancy. You seriously must have been like a hummingbird on coke.

womancake

Pop?  I can't believe I associate myself with some of you people. 

I still try to stay under the daily limit, but I am a little more lax about it now than I was 1st and 2nd trimester.  I don't think I let myself have any caffeine at all during 1st tri, because I was so paranoid.  And I don't think I've gone over the daily limit, but I've probably flirted with it a couple times.

picksthemusic

I've actually been able to avoid caffeine all together - except in any chocolate I eat. I can't wait to get back to my cuppa in the morning, though.

Traycee1242

You will be very thankful ypu got your babe used to caffeine in utero... I have between 75-300 mg a day... I did with my son too & he had no problems with it hen we were breastfeeding... I seriously could NOT do without caffeine with a newborn. My friend avoided it all pregnancy, and when she tried to drink it exile nursing it bothered her baby... She regrets that to this day (he's 1, lol)

natkay02

I had already talked myself into having a Coke before typing this, but I thought I'd see if anyone else felt like they were sort of slacking off on these days....

And I'm glad I'm not the only one to call it pop. "Soda" sounds so pretentious to me. Haha. I'd give someone local the side eye for saying soda.

KAmandaK

I have caffeine daily - some days more than others. Before being put on bed rest I would have a medium coffee every morning and 3-4x a week I would have a can of coke in the afternoon. I make horrible coffee so now I usually just have a couple of cokes a day so I don't get the headaches/shakes.

FWIW, even drinking caffeine, I have a big o'baby!

I agree that I've gotten more lax as the pregnancy has progressed though. In the first 20 weeks I had a medium 1/2 caff. a day.

natkay02

Traycee1242:

You will be very thankful ypu got your babe used to caffeine in utero... I have between 75-300 mg a day... I did with my son too & he had no problems with it hen we were breastfeeding... I seriously could NOT do without caffeine with a newborn. My friend avoided it all pregnancy, and when she tried to drink it exile nursing it bothered her baby... She regrets that to this day (he's 1, lol)

Oh wow! I had never thought about that!!! Well, that makes me feel good.

unm00red

I was great about no caffeine until third trimester.  Then I broke down and started drinking a cup of coffee in the morning (with sugar and creamer) as it was the only way I found to have enough energy to make it into the office in the morning.

kleu9

LaComtesse:

kleu9:

Wow. That's a lot of caffeine pre-pregnancy. You seriously must have been like a hummingbird on coke.

Yes...it was bad. Very bad...so this pregnancy was probably a blessing in disguise as it relates to my health. Surprisingly, I was able to wean myself off without headaches etc and I think the amount I'm consuming now is something I will be able to continue going forward (at least I hope!). I did also drink a ton of water in between all that coffee and diet coke so I try to tell myself I diluted it a bit....ha yeah right

amandabt

I drink one cup of home brewed coffee every single day and have since day 1. If I want a coke later in the day, I drink a coke. Just like you, I have been feeling awfully lax as of late. Even ate a spoon full of brownie batter with raw eggs in it the other day. Gasp! : ) Plus, I'm getting more crabby and tired, so the soda helps me have the extra "umph" I may need.

Tessababy4

I don't usually drink anything caffinated (just don't like it too much) so I have nothing meaningful to contribute. However, I use the word *POP* and would be totally OK if you did as well That is all.

Traycee1242

natkay02:

Traycee1242:

You will be very thankful ypu got your babe used to caffeine in utero... I have between 75-300 mg a day... I did with my son too & he had no problems with it hen we were breastfeeding... I seriously could NOT do without caffeine with a newborn. My friend avoided it all pregnancy, and when she tried to drink it exile nursing it bothered her baby... She regrets that to this day (he's 1, lol)

Oh wow! I had never thought about that!!! Well, that makes me feel good.

I had DH bring me large mochas from the coffee shop across the street while I was in the hospital after having DS...and I drank it while I was nursing. ; )

LaComtesse

kleu9:

LaComtesse:

kleu9:

Wow. That's a lot of caffeine pre-pregnancy. You seriously must have been like a hummingbird on coke.

Yes...it was bad. Very bad...so this pregnancy was probably a blessing in disguise as it relates to my health. Surprisingly, I was able to wean myself off without headaches etc and I think the amount I'm consuming now is something I will be able to continue going forward (at least I hope!). I did also drink a ton of water in between all that coffee and diet coke so I try to tell myself I diluted it a bit....ha yeah right

Good for you, girlie!

JaninneAlvarado

I usually only have one caffienated drink a day and it is usually a soda around dinner time. Today, I was pretty m/s so I had a cup of coffee but my coffee is usually half coffee and half milk. I will occasionaly have a glass of sweet tea but that's hit and miss, maybe a handful a month. I noticed that I do drink more caffiene on days that I have headaches though.

bre86ann

I haven't been strict at all about my caffeine intake. I eased up off the soda mostly because I didn't want to gain THAT weight on top of the pregnancy weight.

If I don't have time for breakfast I certainly have a LARGE cup of coffee as a meal replacement to get me through to 2:30 when I can eat food. I also get in diet pepsi and regular coke once in a while.... some Bojangles sweet tea here and there....

I don't have it every day and I certainly don't ever feel like I NEED it or miss it if I don't drink it but I don't monitor it to make sure I'm not drinking too much.

windsongs

I'm the "bad" one here...

Usually 3 cups of tea/coffee a day for me. I keep them to small 6-8 oz cups... but usually 2 tea and 1 coffee.

 

gwendarling

I inadvertently cut my caffeine intake from four or five big (think Venti-sized) cups of coffee a day pre-pregnancy to one cup a day in the AM. I say inadvertently only because it was never really a conscious decision, it was only because I started actively upping my water intake, and so wasn't reaching for the coffee as much!

When I'm really tired during the afternoon, I won't hesitate to drink another cup, I know my caffeine intake is well below the daily suggested limit anyways. 

I never drink soda. Never cared for it. Chocolate is good, but I prefer vanilla. Man, I'm boring! 

Amanda&EricB

I have not worried to much about caffeine in the last month. I don't go crazy, but if I feel like having a Coke, I have one. Yesterday and today I've been dying for a cup of coffee, but I haven't indulged yet, because both days I've had a Coke.

I am still WAY under my doctor's limit for me, which is I think 200mg.

cheezemonger

I have a cup of coffee every morning. Occassionally I'll also have an iced tea.  

ChrissyLonghorn

I usually drink 1 cup of brewed coffee w/ DH in the morning - mostly b/c it makes me go to the bathroom.

dianamcu

I don't drink any caffeine.  The only way I get caffeine is if it's through chocolate.

missduvy

March of Dimes says you can have up to 200 mg a day -- that's several cans of Coke/Diet Coke.  I was very careful about caffeine for the first half of my pregnancies, but toward the end got a lot more lax.  At this point, i try to drink caffeine free when it's around, but I usually end up having at least one regular strength a day.  Don't sweat it.

Ms5586

It's pop!    I'm not much of a caffeine drinker (don't like coffee or tea), but I love a regular mt. dew on days when I just can't get moving.  That being said, as soon as DH heard that pregnant women have to limit their caffeine intake, it caused a HUGE fight one night, so I haven't touched it because it's not worth the aggrevation.  However, I have one today (didn't sleep at all last night), and the 20 fl oz bottle only has 91 mg...so now I don't feel nearly as guilty!

tblauvelt

Thanks for not using "pop", Nat!

I have about 3 cups of coffee a week. Which is the most I've drank all pregnancy long. It used to be 0 or 1 cup every other week. I'm definitely more lax about it now.

caffinated_tulip

I vary greatly day to day, but some days I'll drink a cup of coffee in the morning, then a couple ice teas through out the day. Basically I was supposed to cut back a lot from where I was (3 or 4 cups of coffee plus a 20oz Mt Dew when ever I was working) and I have, so my doctor is happy.

elynds

I quit drinking caffeine last September when DH did and was doing absolutely great until this summer when I started craving diet coke and iced tea.  Your intake doesn't sound too bad - I just make sure if I drink a coke I have a little food with it and mostly I try to avoid it after about 2 or I can't sleep.  Some days I have none and some days I have more (especially at a restaurant when they refill it, I have no clue how much I've had). 

I do have to brag though, my DH has been caffeine free (completely, no cheats) for a solid year now after a lifetime of many a day.  He has a slight hand tremor due to years of steroid use from inhalers and he knew that he would never be a great surgeon if he couldn't get his hand under control, so he quit drinking caffeine cold turkey and the tremor went away.  He found out this week on an EKG that he has a slight heart arrythmia that he never even noticed (it was a routine EKG with his physical) because they are worsened by caffeine use.  So, I guess this is to say if you are REALLY motivated, you CAN go without it, but I didn't .

KnockedUp38

I've been drinking a cup of coffee every morning since the day I found out I was pregnant. The research I've seen has shown that up to 200mg. per day is fine in the first trimester. (I haven't been able to find anything on the second and third trimesters, though, and would love it if anyone has found anything on that).

Also, I make VERY STRONG COFFEE, so I've been very careful to monitor how much of it I'm having and, with limited exceptions, don't have any more throughout the day. (For the record, I also don't worry about the caffeine in chocolate since I find it to be negligible.)