January 2016 Moms

Coffee and Caffeine

So I have been reading around the board and searching the topic, and I see people on these boards are on both sides of the coffee /caffeine debate. 

I know that it is medically stated in most resources that up to 200mg of caffeine a day is okay. I have been having the occasional drink with caffeine but no coffee. Today I am working from home and my husband made coffee and I could not say no. So I asked for just a small half cup. 

Im not asking if its okay, Im just more curious then anything... Where do all you ladies stand on the great coffee/ caffeine debate? What do you drink / not drink?


STM - EDD June 24 '18
DD - January 2016

Re: Coffee and Caffeine

  • I drink 1 cup of coffee every morning. So approximately ~150mg caffeine. Every once in a while I'll have tea in the afternoon too, so an additional 50mg.

    I drank the same amount when I was pregnant with DS and didn't feel it was necessary to cut out caffeine this time either since medical literature still says up to 200mg.
    BFP #1 - EDD 4/18/13 | DS born 5/1/13. 9 lbs. 14 oz., 22 inches long.

    BFP #2 - EDD 1/25/16
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  • I'm a coffee lover and still have my coffee.  Since it's medically stated 200mg I definitely take advantage.  It may seem selfish to some to not give it up, but I drank coffee with DS and he's perfectly fine, handsome, smart, and healthy :)  My sister is expecting and pretty much all she drinks in caffeinated drinks and she's had a healthy pregnancy.  That seems a bit much IMO, but I'll have my 200 mg every day :)
  • Give me the coffee!!!!  I drank 2 cups everyone pre-pregnancy and while I try to just have 1 cup...most often I still have my 2.  I did with my other 2 as well.

    Baby Birthday Ticker TickerBaby Birthday Ticker TickerBabyFruit Ticker
  • I used to drink 2 cups a day but have cut it back to 1 cup about 3-4 days a week. If I have coffee during the day, I take care to not drink other caffeinated beverages that same day.

    *i don't think everyone needs to be quite so cautious, but I read that caffeine can sometimes increase the likelihood for going into labor early and I had my last baby 4 weeks early and surely don't want this one to come any earlier than that!
  • I used to drink 2 cups a day but have cut it back to 1 cup about 3-4 days a week. If I have coffee during the day, I take care to not drink other caffeinated beverages that same day.

    *i don't think everyone needs to be quite so cautious, but I read that caffeine can sometimes increase the likelihood for going into labor early and I had my last baby 4 weeks early and surely don't want this one to come any earlier than that!

    Oooh I hadn't heard about early labor. Maybe I need to increase my caffeine at the end. DS finally greeted us 1 day shy of 42 weeks! I would prefer not to have a repeat performance with this baby.

    *I'm joking about attempting to start labor with a bunch of espresso, but for real, I hope this baby comes sooner than 42 weeks.

    BFP #1 - EDD 4/18/13 | DS born 5/1/13. 9 lbs. 14 oz., 22 inches long.

    BFP #2 - EDD 1/25/16
  • I have a tea or coffee every day. That's what I did with both of my other pregnancies. I see no reason to cut it out completely. It seems like an unnecessary deprivation of something I enjoy.
  • I'm a big coffee lover... Coffee in the am, then wine at night lol. Obvi had to cut that out. My doctor says one cup a day is fine, but I have no desire to drink coffee right now. I do however love coke and dr pepper... So I have one a day.
  • Yup, one cup a day. One good QUALITY cup of coffee. I buy whole bean lavazza grande crema online, and make it in a moka pot. And I use almond milk and enjoy the crap outta that one cup.
  • SummerOHSummerOH member
    edited June 2015
    I suggest thay every pregnant or trying woman should read The Panic Free Pregnancy. It's written by an OB who sifts through the hysteria and conflicting research and gives sound advice. He sticks to the 200mg or less. Even with more, the chance of preterm birth or m/c is small. I mean, women have babies born with amphetamines in their systems!

    Rambling aside, I drink coffee, tea, and soda the same as I did before. It's always a good idea to reasonably limit caffeine, pregnant or not!

    DD 12/20/99, DS 12/14/12, M/C 9/2014, M/C 1/2015


  • I try and stick with one coffee a day and if I'm having coffee I don't have any other caffinated drinks that day.
  • @SummerOH, Love Panic Free Pregnancy. I read it when I was pregnant with DS and it was great for providing evidence-based research to support or debunk all of the various pregnancy "shoulds" and "should nots".
    BFP #1 - EDD 4/18/13 | DS born 5/1/13. 9 lbs. 14 oz., 22 inches long.

    BFP #2 - EDD 1/25/16
  • I was hooked on a certain iced coffee drink, having a medium sized every day before I got pregnant. I reduced it down to a small every other day, but this week I've gained an aversion to coffee and have lost all interest in it. Works for me!
  • Just like my last pregnancy, my coffee aversion kicked in right around the time the morning sickness started. I've been substituting with tea but looking forward to having coffee again. I don't think there's anything wrong with drinking coffee or tea while pregnant.
  • SummerOH said:
    I suggest thay every pregnant or trying woman should read The Panic Free Pregnancy. It's written by an OB who sifts through the hysteria and conflicting research and gives sound advice. He sticks to the 200mg or less. Even with more, the chance of preterm birth or m/c is small. I mean, women have babies born with amphetamines in their systems! Rambling aside, I drink coffee, tea, and soda the same as I did before. It's always a good idea to reasonably limit caffeine, pregnant or not!
    Have you heard of the book Expecting Better? Ive heard it medical proves many theories and beliefs about pregnancy wrong. I'd like to read it as well.
    STM - EDD June 24 '18
    DD - January 2016
  • With DS, my coffee aversion was the weirdest thing about my pregnancy because I'm a big fan of coffee. For the first two trimesters I couldn't even be around my husband when he drank coffee. With this pregnancy I haven't had any aversion and had a difficult time limiting myself to one cup a day. Some days I would cave and enjoy a second cup so I tried switching to decaf, but I was getting headaches. Now I brew half caffeine, half decaf and indulge in two cups.
  • As soon as I can stomach it again, I will start my morning with a cup of coffee!

    Two years, two losses and three IUIs...

    We are having TRIPLETS!

    EDD 1/26/16

     GGB born November 2015!


  • I haven't had any coffee this pregnancy and haven't had any caffeine. I drink lots of water each day and when I get sick of that I'll have a ginger ale or a root beer instead. The thought of coffee makes me want to throw up. I love the smell of it still though so that's weird.
  • I am avoiding caffeine as much as possible. I didn't last time and lost the pregnancy. I know caffeine wasn't the only reason, or reason at all, but I can't help thinking about the what ifs.
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
    Lilypie - FiGB
    Married DH 11/15/08
    Formerly MissMheMhe
  • shaybe90shaybe90 member
    edited June 2015
    I was a huge soda drinker before hand. But I cut back to a single can a day. Dr. Said that was perfectly fine, and I trust her.
    Honestly I don't think I could get through the work day without a little caffeine. Ha!
  • I am a major caffeine addict normally. I slowly cut down while we were TTC and have mostly eliminated it since we got our BFP. I am of the mindset that under 200mg is fine, but I try to avoid it as much as possible because it's a slippery slope for me. On the weekends I do love to sit and relax with a cup, so I let myself have one every now and then. I also sometimes drink an iced tea in the afternoon during the work week when the pregnancy fatigue is getting to me and I need a pick-me-up.
    BFP #1 10/6/11 | EDD 6/15/12 | MMC 11/7/11 @ 8w3d | D&C 11/14/11

    BFP #2 8/22/12 | EDD 5/5/13 | DS1 born 5/9/13

    BFP #3 4/25/15 | EDD 1/7/16 | MMC 7/2/15 @ 13w1d | D&E 7/8/15

    BFP #4 12/9/15 | EDD 8/22/16 | DS2 born 5/18/16 at 26w2d

    Just keep swimming.
  • I have 1 or 2 cups of strong black tea per day, which comes in under 200mg.




  • I've cut out caffeine entirely (I was drinking an energy drink a day before!) except when I get a bad headache that just Tylenol won't kick. So I've had a couple sodas and some tea but no coffee.
  • I've been craving sweet tea like crazy. I made a batch that's about half as strong as usual so I can indulge. I used to drink 3-4 cups of coffee every day, but now it just makes me feel sick after a few sips.
  • So with my older child I craved coffee. I also did not know about the 200mg per day recommendation and I was too young to think that it would affect me (19 when I became pregnant with him). I drank a 2 liter of iced coffee a day and he was born right on time, healthy weight, and other than being a little hyper (we joke there is caffeine in his DNA) he is a perfectly normal and intelligent young man. This time I am limiting my coffee intake only because I'm a bit older and have had a few MC in the past year. Not putting down the research just sharing my story.
  • SovvySovvy member
    The only thing I really drink with caffeine is coffee and kombucha and I haven't cut back on either.
    image

    pregnancy #1 :: daughter lost to chromosomal abnormality at 18 weeks
    pregnancy #2 :: son, born Aug 2011
    pregnancy #3 :: due Jan 2016
  • claireloSCclaireloSC member
    edited June 2015
    @nickicb7 I've read Expecting Better. She basically says she doesn't think the evidence supports cutting back much and she drank 3-4 cups per day. Personally I try to drink 1 cup a day and no more. After reading the book I though I wouldn't limit much but as soon as I got the BFP I figured better safe than sorry...
    Baby Birthday Ticker TickerMarried DW <3 08.2013; AI 2x; IUI 6x; IUI #7 05.2015; DD born 2.2016 o:); Reciprocal IVF FET #1 on 11.18.2020 
  • nickicb7 said:
    SummerOH said:
    I suggest thay every pregnant or trying woman should read The Panic Free Pregnancy. It's written by an OB who sifts through the hysteria and conflicting research and gives sound advice. He sticks to the 200mg or less. Even with more, the chance of preterm birth or m/c is small. I mean, women have babies born with amphetamines in their systems! Rambling aside, I drink coffee, tea, and soda the same as I did before. It's always a good idea to reasonably limit caffeine, pregnant or not!
    Have you heard of the book Expecting Better? Ive heard it medical proves many theories and beliefs about pregnancy wrong. I'd like to read it as well.
    I have!  In fact, I have it on reserve at the library and am just waiting for it to come in.  There's also one called Pushed, but my library doesn't have it and I'm too cheap to buy it on Amazon.

    DD 12/20/99, DS 12/14/12, M/C 9/2014, M/C 1/2015


  • @nickicb7 I've read Expecting Better. She basically says she doesn't think the evidence supports cutting back much and she drank 3-4 cups per day. Personally I try to drink 1 cup a day and no more. After reading the book I though I wouldn't limit much but as soon as I got the BFP I figured better safe than sorry...

    I'm getting Expecting Better once I'm done with my current book, but curious about what she says regarding alcohol. Just wondering how she compares to Panic Free Pregnancy, which I've read. :)

    BFP #1 - EDD 4/18/13 | DS born 5/1/13. 9 lbs. 14 oz., 22 inches long.

    BFP #2 - EDD 1/25/16
  • I am normally a 2 cup of coffee a day drinker. I cut out coffee completely with my first because I was determined to do everything "right." Or at least what my nieve first time mom brain thought was right. With my second I drank a cup every day and had no problems. Both were born the day before the due date. This time I had no intention of stopping coffee, but I just don't really want it. I have had the occasional half cup, but since I am off it completely when I drink only a little I start getting heart palpitations and feeling very jittery. So for now I am not really drinking it.
  • Found this guide guys and thought ye might like it
  • one mug of instant coffee: 100mg
    one mug of filter coffee: 140mg
    one mug of tea: 75mg
    one can of cola: 40mg
    one can of energy drink: 80mg
    one 50g bar of plain (dark) chocolate: around 50mg
    one 50g bar of milk chocolate: around 25mg
  • I'm avoiding caffeine, but I'm 43 and just playing it safe. When I was 27 and pregnant with my son I allowed myself 1 caffeinated drink a day.
  • I usually drink one mug of coffee every morning. If I know I'm going to want more than that, I brew it using 2/3 decaf.
  • I cut all caffiene. I'm a huge soda drinker when not pregnant so I had to suffer through the headaches for a bit, but it just makes me feel better. Although lately I've had a craving for chocolate milk which has am extremely small amount of caffiene (5mg I think) that I do indulge in every now and then.
    Married the love of my life: 11/12/2009
    1st BFP ever : 11/19/2014
    1/9/2015 our miracle baby was welcomed in heaven.
    BFP #2 : 4/21/2015
    BabyFruit Ticker
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