Question about Caffeine - did you cut it out entirely?

MomtobeNJ · October 2011

Let me preface this discussion by stating clearly that I DO NOT blame my miscarriage on caffeine intake.

My OB told me that up to 300 mg of caffeine per day is just fine throughout pregnancy, which seems to be consistent with most recommendations I've seen online. I had one small/medium cup of coffee every morning when I was pregnant and that was pretty much the only source of caffeine I had.

Now that I had my M/C and I'm doing research on miscarriages and TTC after a loss, and the majority of recommendations I've seen include eliminating caffeine entirely.

Just curious what your OB recommends and what you personally choose to do, regarding caffeine intake, now that you've had a loss? Have you changed what you did from your first pregnancy?

Thanks for your input!

amyrdz522 · October 2011

When TTC I normally only drink decaf coffee when I do drink it (there is a small amount of caffeine in it). I will have an occasional glass of iced tea as well. I think it is up to your preference and if your doctor says 300mg is fine then I would trust his/her judgement.

ElizaSquan · October 2011

OB had no comment on caffeine one way or the other. I drank my one small/med coffee daily just as you did, but I am also prone to migraines and find that a cup of coffee helps. So when I was pg, if I got a bad headache late in the day I would have another cup.

I'm still drinking the same amount now and will continue to through the next (fx'd) pregnancy.

ccam · October 2011

My RE did not mention anything about eliminating caffeine when we found out I was pregnant. I did decrease my intake to 1-2 cups of half decaf/half reg every morning though.

jglandon@hotmail.com · October 2011

First pregnancy: I completely cut caffeine out = miscarried.

Second pregnancy: continued to have caffeine (1 cup of half-caf coffee every morning) = miscarried

So my personal opinion is it doesn't make a difference (as long as you're staying under the rec. amount).

jerryliljess · October 2011

My OB told me that I needed to limit my caffiene intake to either 300mg a day or no coffee whatsoever. She also stressed that soda and chocolate have caffiene and advised me to have a journal to keep track of how much I had so I didn't go over.

Before and after the miscarriage I used to drink 3-4 cups of coffee a day but quit drinking soda completely. Coffee is my go to drink in the mornings. However, I slowly decreased my amount to 1/2-1 cup of coffee. I'm thinking of switching to either decaf or hot tea.

ChiTown Bridget · October 2011

My doctor always said a small amount of caffeine while ttc and pg was okay and I did consume some caffeine (1 cup of coffee) while pregnant and ttc.

mrsgaines100 · October 2011

I switched over to green tea when ttc & cut out coffee & soda, but ate some chocolate. I conceived on the first try, & my miscarraige had nothing to do with it, it was a chromosomal issue that happened upon conception. Good luck!!

ella.mabel · October 2011

For my first pregnancy, my OB was very liberal with most of the commonly-avoided things - hot tubs, hair dye, soft cheeses, occasional alcohol, etc... all ok. The only thing that she told me to watch was caffiene. So, i limited myself to a small 8 oz. cup per day and had a healthy pregnancy.

Second pregnancy - had my 8 oz./day again and miscarried.

So, i'm not sure it makes a difference as long as you're limiting it, but for the next time around, i think personally, i'm going to completely eliminate it just for peace of mind.

HBlevins87 · October 2011

I always heard 300mg, but I am trying to limit caffeine as much as I can before hand and continue to do so after I am able to get pg. I try to drink mainly water (with crystal light for some flavor sometimes), but sometimes also tea. I've cut out soda and coffee because of a diet but even when I was pg before the mc I tried to limit the soda and didn't drink coffee at all. Really its up to you and your doctor. If its ok with your doc to have caffeine as long as you stay at 300mg or below then go ahead.

CashewsMommy · October 2011

I personally switched to decaf.

{I say that as I drink a cup of full caffeinated coffee... oy i'll have a headache later!}

I don't really have a reason why I switched to decaf. It's not because of the loss or because of TTC. In the back of my mind, I'm probably thinking, what could it hurt to switch? So I just did.

I went to half-caff for awhile, and then down to decaf. It was an easy transition. Every once in a blue moon, like today, I'll have a cup of full caffeine.... but I pay the price.

ETA: During my pregnancy with Aurora, I rarely drank coffee or soda at all. But now TTC - everything is decaf and caffeine free.

1220winterbride · October 2011

After my MC I completely quit caffeine 100%, cold turkey. i felt like shiz anyway so it wasn't that big of a deal to me to go through withdrawal while I was in mourning. since then and since I've never gotten another BFP I have gotten back on it in moderation. I also tried to stop chemicals in food, beauty products etc b/c it made me feel better about being the most responsible i can be. I have since gotten a lot more loose w/ those rules primarily b/c I know I didn't cause my MC due to some gentic stuff.

do what makes you feel confident!

Twizzle · October 2011

I didn't drink any caffeine once I found out I was pregnant with this most recent pregnancy but I did while TTC. After my loss, my RE recommended I cut caffeine out entirely. Part of the reason for my m/c could have been due to a lower quality uterine lining at time of IUI, and caffeine can affect your lining. So now I have only 1-2 sodas a week.

When I got pg with DS, after I found out I was pregnant I gave up caffeine until I was about 22 weeks or so.

MomtobeNJ · October 2011

Thanks, everyone.

I think it is more of a "peace of mind" thing for me as well. Caffeine and artificial sweeteners are the two things I feel a little leery about. I cut out all AS last time and will do so again. I will probably ween myself off of caffeine as well.

Gator687 · October 2011

midwestmartins:
First pregnancy: I completely cut caffeine out = miscarried.

Second pregnancy: continued to have caffeine (1 cup of half-caf coffee every morning) = miscarried

So my personal opinion is it doesn't make a difference (as long as you're staying under the rec. amount).

Gator687 · October 2011

midwestmartins:

First pregnancy: I completely cut caffeine out = miscarried.

Second pregnancy: continued to have caffeine (1 cup of half-caf coffee every morning) = miscarried

So my personal opinion is it doesn't make a difference (as long as you're staying under the rec. amount).

I have to agree with this only, mine was the other way around. During my first pregnancy I continued to have caffeine in moderation, and I miscarried. During my second pregnancy (and before I even got pregnant the second time) I cut it completely out and still miscarried. So my personal opinion is also that it doesn't really make a difference as long as it's in moderation.

lc&jw · October 2011

I chose to cut it out completely with all of my pregnancies. I have felt like I have so little control throughout this process of TTC and dealing with losses, that when there is a choice I can make that I think might decrease my chance for loss, I've definitely been sticking with the most conservative decisions. I think it gives me a false sense of control over an uncontrollable situation, and it's debatable how helpful that is. I just don't want to look back and question caffeine as a cause of miscarriage.

My RE on the other hand, said that it was fine to continue to drink small amounts of caffeine each day despite my history of losses. He actually suggested that it might help counteract the lethargy that the prometrium was causing when I was taking it in the morning. I think the bottom line is that is probably doesn't matter one way or another as long as you're not consuming huge amounts of caffeine every day.

amandachs · October 2011

I did this past spring, but I'm not so sure I would cut it out all the way the next time. I think as long as you stay under the recommended amount your kind of ok. I know that doesn't give any consolation to those that lost a baby and think that the caffeine might have played a part. I just know that I cut it out completely so it wasn't the reason for my loss.

marieinmonaco · October 2011

My first pregnancy, I had a lot of caffeine for the first 2 months not knowing. I was mostly drinking 1, sometimes 2 large iced-coffees (with the coffee concentrate), caffeinated teas and cola's just about every day. Once I found out I was pregnant, I cut out everything except for small amounts of cola to settle my stomach. I had major caffeine withdrawal since I eliminated it all at once. At my first dr.'s appt. I was advised to limit caffeine. I did not have a m/c, rather a TFMR. I did ask my specialist if caffeine (and other things I had done early in my pregnancy not knowing) had caused my baby's condition and was told "no." In our case, it turned out to have nothing to do with anything I had done. In the next pregnancy, I will try and avoid caffeine all together though.

pb127 · October 2011

I didn't cut it out completely, but I kept it < 100 mg and often had no tea/chocolate/cocoa at least 3-4 days/week. I still miscarried, so I don't think I'll change from that next time. My OB didn't recommend anything either way, but my first loss was a late one so it wasn't really a factor.

melly918 · October 2011

For my first pregnancy, the one with DS, I weaned myself off coffee beforehand and was able to go thru the first trimester with no coffee at all. I did have chocolate probably every day. 2nd and 3rd trimester I had coffee occasionally. I had a healthy pregnancy.The recent pregnancy that led to m/c, I tried to wean myself off again but I was lazy and kept falling off the wagon. I drank a cup of caffeine or half-caff on average 4 days a week and drank decaf whenever. Personally, for the next TTC cycle which I am hoping will be a month from now once I get my lower back in shape, I am going to cut out coffee altogether and see what happens. No way do I believe coffee contributed to my m/c but like others have said...peace of mind. So far, I haven't fully weaned myself but my need for caffeine has gone down.

AustinBride06 · October 2011

My OB and my fertility acupuncturist both said that the recommended max (200mg) is fine. However, I really wanted to try to cut out as much as possible so I am. Been fighting mild headaches ever since and I'm drinking black tea to take the edge off but I feel a lot better about kicking the coffee habit, even though I didn't drink all that much in the first place.

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