So I had my first appt with my new OB yesterday, who I really really like, and he said zero caffeine in the first trimester as they believe it increases the risk of miscarriage. This is going to be rough...I had already cut way back to a half cup of coffee in the morning and maybe a soda in the afternoon if I am really dragging, but normally I am a caffeine junkie. To quit altogether, especially when I feel this tired, is going to be painful.
Did your OB's say the same thing? My old OB was ok with a little caffeine as long as I drank plenty of H2O so when this doc told me I can't have any I was really surprised.
Re: No caffeine in 1st Tri?
I think many docs generally recommend no caffeine, or at least very little, throughout the pregnancy. However I see this the way I see many of the other pregnancy restrictions, and I think it's a very personal decision. One thing I have noticed is that many moms are very strict with the first baby, but not so much with the second. I'm not a caffeine drinker (I'm very sensitive to it and it will keep me awake even if I drink a tiny bit in the morning), but I am a wine drinker. My doc says no alcohol, but every 2-3 weeks I have a small glass. My personal belief is that moderation is key and a little bit of caffeine or alcohol here or there is not going to hurt you or the baby. I did this with DD and she's just fine, healthy and smart. I think the docs go a bit overboard with this stuff but that's my opinion. That said, I wouldn't drink a glass of wine every day either. You have to do what works for you and what feels right for you. If you cannot function without caffeine, then it's definitely something to take into consideration. Maybe you can start a slow wean instead of going cold turkey?
Melissa
Melissa,
Thanks for the advice and I do agree with you about moderation. My goal is to follow his advice, but I am expecting some serious caffeine withdrawals. I have a feeling I may cave at some point.
I'm not really a caffeine drinker, either. I have been off it as a general rule for many years now, but will still have the occasional caffeinated beverage (soda or iced tea) when dining out. I've pretty much been sticking to a couple sips of DH's diet coke when dining out, rather than ordering my own, while in 1st Tri, but I relax a little after that, and will have the occasional full beverage whenever the mood should strike me.
During my last pregnancy, I was craving Coke Icees, so I know there was caffeine in those, but at that point, I didn't really care, and DD was totally fine. Bottom line is, do what you feel comfortable with, but other than cigs/drugs, and in my case (it's totally a personal decision) alcohol, moderation and common sense are the keys in determining what to do.
IVF #1: 9/11: ER: 12R, 11M, 10F, No Frosties; 5dt: 2 blasts, 1 morula; DD born 6/3/12
IVF #2: 11/12-12/12: ER: 20R, 20M, 16F, 4 Frosties; 5dt: 3 blasts, DS born 8/9/13
Mommy to DS#1 7/1/04 and DS#2 6/15/07
M/C 2/16/10 at 9wks 5 days~ D&C 2/18/10
BFP#4 5/17/11 C/P.
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My doc, and everything I've read, says <200 mg caffeine per day. I did wean all the way off of coffee over 2 weeks in 1st tri anyway. I started out drinking half decaf, half caffeinated. Then, switched to 2/3 decaf, 1/3 caffeinated. Then off totally. I had NO withdrawal symptoms.
However, when headaches and constipation kicked in when I entered 2nd tri, I started back on an 8 oz cup of coffee every morning. Problem solved!
GL!
6 year old daughter
Fraternal boys born on May 11, 2013 at 36 weeks 4 days
Make a pregnancy ticker
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From what I have read there is not a clear link of caffeine to miscarriage but since its a possibilty they tell you to limit it. My ob said 1-2 cups a day was fine. I had pretty much quit caffeine awhile ago so it didn't matter much to me. I still drink a coke or coffee now and then to help with a headache. If quitting cold turkey will be too hard you could just taper down to a cup a day or something. I wouldn't let this freak you out too much, just go with a rule of moderation.
BFP #1 - missed m/c 4.18.11 found @8w3d, d&c @13w
BFP #2 blighted ovum found 8.2011 @8w, misoprostol
BFP#3 - missed m/c 6.11.12 @ 9w3d, d&c revealed extra chromosome 15
BFP#4 8.10.12, DD born 4/26/13
I think something like 200mg per day is supposed to be okay. I have had a cup of coffee in the morning throughout this entire pregnancy and every once in a while I have a small amount of caffeine in the morning. I was also a major caffeine junky before I got pregnant with his LO and it was so hard to cut back but it only hurts for a few days.
Good Luck!
Advice on this one is all over the map. I was also repulsed by coffee in the 1st tri and flat out didn't want it. Now I sometimes have half a cup in the morning (home brewed, so less caffeine than a Starbucks coffee), but not every day, and my doc is fine with that. Pre-preg, I enjoyed coffee if I was having something sweet or chocolatey, but now I get myself a glass of milk to go with it instead.
I'd be more concerned about the sugar in soft drinks than the caffeine. I have a few of those tiny 8-ounce cans of soda in the fridge for the occasional desperate craving (I love Coke with pizza, for example), but I try hard to keep it to once a week or less.
Over-40 parents...what we lack in vigor, we make up for with cunning.
TTC 10/11. IUI 2/12. BFP 3/8/12. 4/26/12 missed mc. RE consult 5/17/12. IVF #1 ER 7/13/12 53R, 41M ICSIed, 32F, 8 5d, 6 6d blasts - all PGD/frozen. PGD results 1 normal M and 1 normal F, 1 maybe M. FET 9/6, transferred 1 F embie. Beta 9/15 BFN. FET#2 planned for 11/2012 put off until 2013. Surprise BFP 11/21/12!! My son was born on 7/24/13!
Most OB's recommend no more than 200-300mg of caffeine per day.
I haven't cut it out, but keep it to a small cup of coffee or iced tea daily.
Both my OB and IVF doctors said no caffeine in the first trimester. I actually had to go caffeine free prior to starting the IVF process. Caffeine affects the blood flow to your uterus; slows it down.
I was not a heavy caffeine drinker prior so I figured going off would be no sweat. I went cold turkey and suffered withdrawal and felt awful for about 4 or 5 days. It is amazing how addictive that stuff really is.
Once you are off you totally don't miss it. At 11wks I have never felt the urge for a caffeine pick-me-up. I don't plan on drinking any caffeine for the entire pregnancy or while I'm nursing. All I want is to be able to eat some chocolate but am being good and waiting until I get the okay from my OB.
I didn't drink any caffeine the first tri, just because I chose not to. My OB didn't say either way. I won't drink alcohol during my pregnancy either, because I think it's stupid to, no matter what anyone says. I have an occasional soda with caffeine in it, but only when I go out. I never buy it.
Personally, I think if your doctor told you to avoid it, I would. They may be looking at other risk factors that involve your pregnancy that don't concern anyone else.
my 'RE said the same thing..transferred to my OB and he agreed...no caffine for me either.
The very first thing my doc said during my first pregnancy was, "No more caffeine!" I don't really drink it, anyhow, so no big deal, but I've also read about the 200mg thing (the first book I read was The Panic-Free Pregnancy, lol). I've read that cold turkey withdrawal can give mom more stress than a slower weaning, and to keep in mind that there are other foods that also include caffeine other than coffee and soda, so while I did my best to go caffeine free, if I craved a sip of Dr. Pepper or some chocolate, I would have just a bit.
Oh, I also discovered that Trader Joe's has a pretty decent caffeine-free, hfcs-free cola. It ain't Coca-Cola, but it did the trick for me!
My doctors are fine with limited caffeine. I had two early miscarriages before this pregnancy, though--and I was drinking a cup of coffee every morning. I cut all of my caffeine this time.
I know that it's probably not related, but I will never drink coffee while pregnant again.