This caffeine thing is ridiculous

apollonia10

Ever since I hit 2nd trimester I get a headache every day. They're not migraines but if I ignore them, they do trigger migraines and then there's nothing I can do. On good days I get a headache right before bed, so I can sleep it off, but on bad days (like today) I wake up with one.

They're not related to water because I've been religiously drinking 80 oz of water every day, so I'm assuming they're hormonal. I don't want to take Tylenol because I know it won't work - Tylenol has never worked for me before. The only thing that works, as I've mentioned before, is caffeine. But the idea of pumping caffeine into my baby's heart (even if it's not very much) always gives me pause.

I spent all day convincing myself that if I drink water and focus on other things, my headache would go away. It doesn't. It persists and gets worse and starts to affect my balance and eyesight. So on the way home from work I picked up a small latte (like 100 mg of caffeine) and not 1/4 of the way through it, my headache starts to disappear. I feel like a happier human but a terrible mom!

smileon

200mg is fine.  Its the 4 cups of coffee habit that's an issue. You are fine.  Especially if it helps with the headaches.  PrePregnancy I used to drink about 1 cup a day, but had to give it up because the though of coffee made me gag (out of all the food aversions, thats the one I had).  I get headaches once in a while and dont want to take meds for it.  Still cant get a coffee down though.

 I think a small latte here and there is fine.  Just try to spread it out and not have it more than once a day.

https://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/nutrition_caffeine.html

 

MrsJax2011

My doctor just about insisted that I keep drinking my coffee.  He quoted several medical journals and studies that showed how drinking coffee (in regular amounts -- not a whole pot or anything) during pregnancy reduces the risks of post-partum (sp?) depression.  I did cut back, but more out of thirst for water rather than finishing the 2nd cup of coffee. 

StokedWifey

I have a prescription waiting for me to pick up after work- Tylenol 3.  Maybe you can try it.  It's not to be taken on a regular basis, but I'm hoping it'll help with my severe, occasional headaches.

apollonia10

Thanks ladies! I feel better about it. My doctor is totally fine with an occasional coffee and encouraged me to have one for headache relief rather than medication - I just feel bad because it's been more often since I hit 2nd trimester. Some days I can deal but other days, like today, I can't function with these headaches. I really liked the studies in the March of Dimes site and about the post-partum depression. Very enlightening!

jellyjellybean

MrsJax2011:

My doctor just about insisted that I keep drinking my coffee.  He quoted several medical journals and studies that showed how drinking coffee (in regular amounts -- not a whole pot or anything) during pregnancy reduces the risks of post-partum (sp?) depression.  I did cut back, but more out of thirst for water rather than finishing the 2nd cup of coffee. 

 Mine too. We talked about how much I typically drink and she was totally okay with it knowing that I also get headaches if I don't have something. I very much have an "everything in moderation" OB and I love her.

Kayte317

smileon:

200mg is fine.  Its the 4 cups of coffee habit that's an issue. You are fine.  Especially if it helps with the headaches.  PrePregnancy I used to drink about 1 cup a day, but had to give it up because the though of coffee made me gag (out of all the food aversions, thats the one I had).  I get headaches once in a while and dont want to take meds for it.  Still cant get a coffee down though.

 I think a small latte here and there is fine.  Just try to spread it out and not have it more than once a day.

https://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/nutrition_caffeine.html

 

Just like PP said, you can safely have up to 200mg's of coffee a day.  I was surprised at how much you can actually drink before it's bad.  Good luck!   

maykious

If only a quarter of a latte works, then go for it girl! You're not doing any damage with such a small amount.

Tylenol never, ever worked for my headaches until I got pregnant. Maybe it's because I stopped taking meds (my headaches stopped altogether during most of my first tri), since I know I've had issues in the past with taking so much Excedrin that it would eventually stop working, or maybe it's just the weird pregnancy hormones, but Tylenol early enough can stop a headache for me. If I make it to full-on migraine, that's a different story, but even then, Tylenol can take the edge off. But like every one else here, I share the same hesitations and concerns with popping pills. It just isn't comfortable.

Mike_Patti

Just going to add to the other comments about not stressing too much about caffeine. My OB said up to 4 cokes a day is fine so I continue to consume caffeine in moderation. Most of the research on caffeine even in higher amounts is inconclusive, but I've been trying to limit it to 3 just to be safe. Good luck! And you could always try tylenol. It might not work but then again you never know. Your body is changing so much with the pregnancy you might find it helps.

cpete5

When I told my doctor the Tylenol wasn't working, he suggested I take it every six hours - not just when I start to feel the headache coming on. I started doing that, and it has helped tremendously. If I wake up with a headache, I have my 200mg of caff right away. If the headache starts to develop later on, I have my caff then. That, with the regular doses of Tylenol, seem to be working pretty well.

 My first tri was a mess until I started this!

MommyPace

I have suffered from migraines since high school and prior to being pregnant was on preventative medicines. I have been getting headaches lately and Tylenol doesn't work...but lately when I take Tylenol I vomit. I'm not sure why but I have always been fine taking pills. I also get sick when I take pill prenatal vitamins.

 

Does anyone else have this problem?

andhow

I tend to have long days, so I've taken to drinking green tea instead of coffee. Check the caffeine content, but my green tea is 50 mg a cup, so I can space out four cups over a day, and avoid a caffeine crash from having 180 mg at once. I used to have a super caffeine addiction, and now a regular coffee makes me jittery - so I enjoy spacing out my intake