Caffeine Intake

JamieK1882 · March 2016

Sorry for my second post of the day, but just wondering if any of you are currently drinking caffeine, and if so, how much? If not, when will you allow yourself to start having caffeine again?

I don't like coffee, but I'm a huge pop drinker. I know it's bad, but I'm totally addicted. I've limited myself to caffeine-free pop this first trimester, but I'm finding it all gross, and I'm absolutely dying for a regular coke or pepsi.

With my first, I remember the doc saying a pop a day would help with headaches in the 2nd tri, so I'm trying to wait until then, but I'm still unclear on when 2nd tri officially starts, I guess. Or when it's ok to cave and have one So wondering where everyone else stands with this!

kmalls · March 2016

So I tried to totally abstain from caffeine during 1st tri, but when DS slept horribly (thus EVERYONE slept horribly) I'd have a half-decaf coffee in the morning. Now that I'm in 2nd tri I'll still do half-decaf, but more like three or four times a week. The caffeine trick totally works for headaches, and I had a glass of Coke yesterday that was like magic when my head was pounding.

MRSCORKER · March 2016

My doc Ok'd a diet coke a day. I haven't been having one every single day but I have been drinking iced tea nearly every day. Up to 200 mg is fine and a coke has around 50 I think. If you want a coke, have your coke girl!

kmtz89 · March 2016

Meh, I'm still drinking a cup in the morning. From 7w-9w i couldn't stand it so if I was having headaches I'd have a coke. But now I'm back on coffee again. It's under the 200/mg a day so I feel okay with it.

vcabbyw · March 2016

So the guidelines that I've been told regarding caffeine is to keep it limited to under 200mg in pregnancy regardless of trimester. Maybe others can correct me. So I haven't cut back my coffee or occasional soda. But I suppose
if I had a history of MC I would think differently about it.

BTW 2nd tri is 13-27 weeks.

emmaaa · March 2016

I have one cup of coffee every morning. I tried to skip it but had terrible migraines. The doctor told me that one a day was fine.

LizaKate1213 · March 2016

I follow the 200mg guideline as well. Problem is, I have a complete coffee aversion. Sometimes I can tolerate a cup of tea but I ended up weaning off completely over the past few weeks and I don't miss it at all.

mommymaggieh · March 2016

I drank 5-6 cups of coffee, or the equivalent, a day before I found out I was pregnant. I've cut way back and now am having one cup a day, maybe 2. My doctor gave me the same guidelines everyone else seems to have gotten, and I'm staying below that. I just read a really interesting study about caffine and pregnancy, and the impact of vitamins. I'll see if I can find it.

ETA: the focus is more on preconception and early first trimester so not necessarily relavent, but still interesting, I think.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/couples-pre-pregnancy-caffeine-consumption-linked-miscarriage-risk

annabenanna · March 2016

Like the above posters, I follow the 200mg guideline too. I have one cup of coffee a day in the morning.

socks2819 · March 2016

I have been avoiding caffeine entirely for the first trimester like my first pregnancy. Just trying to be careful while everything develops. I 100% will be having a cup of regular coffee a day come second tri and beyond though. It's killing me now lol!

owlcup · March 2016

Before pregnancy, I was basically a coffee or pop only drinker. But this pregnancy has created terrible aversions to both. It's getting better now, but still I could give or take coffee/pop. Anyway, if I do drink coffee now, it's usually only two cups (that are also half full of milk!) and rarely pop. I'm mostly drinking it now to avoid the withdrawal headaches.

nlane0723 · March 2016

I also follow the 200 mg/day rule. I have horrible migraines and since I cannot take my medicine (Topamax), I drink at least a diet coke or white chocolate mocha each day.

LGW2015 · March 2016

I haven't had any caffeine so far except for a couple of sodas, mostly when ok trying to settle my stomach. I usually don't finish the whole can though bc then it gives me gas pains! I used to drink tea regularly but it just doesn't taste right anymore, very bitter. When I occasionally have coffee I go for decaf.

Also, I know there's conflicting information out there (which is really odd to me), but from my research and according to the bump: weeks 1-13 are 1st tri and 14-27 are 2nd tri.

MRSCORKER · March 2016

To chime in on the 2nd tri coversation... my OB told me I would be in 2nd tri on 4/16 which is exactly 13 weeks.

ETA: 40 divided by 3 = 13.33. I'm celebrating on 4/16!

sjo_thetwins · March 2016

I drink a cup/cup and a half of coffee (regularly caffeinated) each morning. My doctor had advised two cups a day was fine, but I can never finish two cups. If you have coffee that is 100 mg of caffeine per day, two cups should be your match. On the days that I only have one cup, or throw up all of it (which I have been known to do), I'll drink a Coke. Which is way less caffeine than a cup of coffee. I get bored with water so sometimes I just want a soda.

ladyshark311 · March 2016

I was a regular Pepsi drinker before I was pregnant but I slowly weaned myself off in the months before TTC. I am a Starbucks chai addict, however, and I just had one two days ago after reading it was under 200 mg for a Venti. I am only having one a week and it's like a "treat" on the days I'm feeling well. I think as long as you stay under that it's fine, I just waited until I felt a bit more safe in my own mind I suppose. I'm 11 weeks now.

AshleyGemini24 · March 2016

I probably drink too much caffeine but I have one to two dr peppers a day. And usually at least one cup of coffee.

thepicklemonster · March 2016

My doctor recommended no caffeine at all, but given that everyone else seems ok with 200 mg or less, and the fact that I would not be able to get out of bed without a cup, I've been having one small cup a day and sometimes half a Coke later in the day. I used to have 2-3 large coffees a day and started weaning while TTC, but still miss it.

von1976 · March 2016

From reading Emily Oster's book, Expecting Better, it seems that the studies linking caffeine consumption to miscarriage, preterm labor, and low birth weight did not bother to control for nausea. If you're nauseous, are you really going to want that cup of coffee? Probably not, so your caffeine intake will probably be less. Nausea=sign of healthy pregnancy=lower risk of miscarriage. So the studies are flawed. In one of the studies she reviewed for her book, caffeine consumption up to 500mg/day showed no increased risk when controlled for nausea.

The American Pregnancy Association recommends no more than 200mg/day.

My OBGYN said no caffeine at all.

I'm staying around 200mg/day, but I'm not stressing if I go over. My OBGYN is a dimwit.

klv · March 2016

I need my iced coffee to function in the morning and that's usually all I have for the day.

ammiddleton3 · March 2016

My first pregnancy I quit caffeine cold turkey until about 11 or 12 weeks. I started getting pretty terrible headaches and my Dr recommended drinking some coke when they hit. This pregnancy I really haven't cut back much at all and I wish I could. Lol. It is such an addiction. But with a 2 year old, and babysitting 4 others 2 and under, I am absolutely exhausted!

clb1984 · March 2016

I usually drink 2 or 3 cups of tea a day pre pregnancy, but since being KU I just can't stomach it, no desire at all. I was also a big diet coke addict and have cut that out fully, but mostly because I'm worried about all the bad things associated with diet coke rather than the caffeine, which is under the daily recommended amount. If I start getting bad headaches later on I'd ask my doctor about a cup of tea a day, but if I don't need to I'm going to try to keep caffeine free. Aside from being wanting to keep everything as safe as possible, I've tried to quit caffeine before pregnancy and just couldn't do it, the only plus of MS and incredible paranoia about diet coke is that it's helped me quit cold turkey, and I'd like to keep it up if possible!

cbamama641 · March 2016

I've had a slurpie or two a week the last couple weeks..but otherwise nothing.. I stopped drinking pop at the beginning of jan. And now I've just been drinking pop without caffeine.

simcal18 · March 2016

I was also told the 200 MG rule. Before my BFP I was drinking about one cup of coffee in the morning (sometimes a big one) and a fair amount of diet coke in the afternoon/evening. Since my BFP I have cut back to an occasional cup of tea in the morning and one can of diet coke on the weekends (although this weekend I caved and had one both days). It hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be -- I had some caffeine withdrawal headaches the first couple of days I cut back but nothing since then. Coffee just doesn't sound good to me right now, and I try to stick to sprite or root beer when a soda craving hits mid-week. I would love a big caffeine energy boost right about now but even putting MC concerns aside, it never did much for me even before I got pregnant, so I doubt it would be that big of a help right now.

mrszoess · March 2016

I just nurse this beautiful cup a day.

mrszoess · March 2016

it's half decaf! posted too soon!

ashleyp625 · March 2016

My doctor also follows the 200 mg rule. I'm drinking water as much as possible, but sometimes I just need something else. I've been trying to stick to one sweet tea and one soda per week.

jhburton · March 2016

I've switched to decaf coffee, but even then I rarely bother to make it anymore. I do allow myself one diet coke a day. Considering how much caffeine I drank pre-pregnancy, I'm calling it a win.

LGW2015 · March 2016

@vcabbyw@MRSCORKERJust wanted to say I just remembered my doctor made a comment in passing last week about needing to do first tri screen (if we opted for it) by this week, which would make me 13 weeks so my dr's office must count it the same as yours! So weird that when you look it up, there's like 12 different answers.

TheBeeCharmer · March 2016

Still drinking a full caff cup a day (gasp). On my fourth kid so no ones making it through the day alive without me getting coffee. Also, one cup is still less than 200 mg.

duckmay · March 2016

@von1976, I was coming into this thread to post about Expecting Better. That book is my all-purpose anxiety remedy.

I am desperately waiting for my coffee aversion to pass so I can have a cup in the morning and a cup after dinner with dessert again. I miss it!

TheBeeCharmer · March 2016

certainly didn't cause low birth weight for mine. drank it with all of my pregnancies and my kids were over 8 pounds, 9 1/2 pounds and just over 10 pounds.

Blonde1817 · March 2016

I drink one small (6 oz) cup of coffee every morning. I'm sure I couldn't function without it! My OB agrees this is absolutely safe. I don't drink soda and I prefer herbal tea, so that's my only caffeine each day. I have not seen any evidence that it's better to cut out all caffeine. Also, decaf coffee is made through chemical processing, so it's probably better to just have a small amount of caffeine.

missmaehurt · March 2016

I was an avid 1 coffee each morning person before the BFP, but since then I've only drank decaf except once when they got mixed up and gave me normal. I figure I'm short enough (5'1"), I need to do anything I can to give my kid a chance at being taller hahaha

TurtleMomma · March 2016

Prior to pregnancy, I had a cup a day of coffee and was fine. Since getting pg I can't stomach coffee, makes me nauseous. Maybe I'll restart with 2nd tri if the aversion lets up.

vanessa11411 · March 2016

I have a medium coffee on weekdays. I have an early start at 5:20a.m. then I have to drive to work for an hour. I wouldn't be able to make my drive without my coffee.

nsquaredlife13 · March 2016

My first pregnancy I had a coffee aversion in the first trimester. I drank my share throughout the rest of my pregnancy, however. This time around I'm thankful I don't have one because I also have a toddler (meaning I need the coffee). My midwife has said that one cup of coffee per day is totally fine and I definitely take advantage.

dillybean2 · March 2016

I believe a coffee a day is the general recommendation. I would assume that meant a pop a day is fine as well. I have significantly decreased my intake of caffeine, but only because it's supposed to decrease your risk of ore-eclampsia. I will still have one or two caffeinated drinks a week though.

emmaaa · March 2016

I will say that the coffee aversion in the middle of this 1st tri was bad. I usually drink my coffee black. Since being pregnant, i have to have something sweet in it so it isn't so bitter or add some milk even.

coffee89 · March 2016

My current OB's "rule" is 16oz a day. I'm not sure why they think measuring something that comes in milligrams as ounces helps, but they are pretty awful anyway. My last OB said 150-200 mg of caffeine was fine, just keep chugging the water as well and everything turned out fine.

I have a coffee in the morning and depending on how my day is going, I'll have a second cup or a soda in the afternoon. It is a personal choice, just like having a glass of wine or not heating your turkey sub up. Do your research and do what you feel okay with.

nsquaredlife13 · March 2016

dillybean2 said:

I believe a coffee a day is the general recommendation. I would assume that meant a pop a day is fine as well. I have significantly decreased my intake of caffeine, but only because it's supposed to decrease your risk of ore-eclampsia. I will still have one or two caffeinated drinks a week though.

Only difference is that most colas have 30 (or more) grams of sugar, equal to about 6 teaspoons. I would just consider that when drinking pop and try to cut any unnecessary sugar elsewhere, if you have any concern about gestational diabetes. Definitely not saying don't drink a soda if that's your caffeinated beverage of choice, but just be careful until you pass your glucose test.

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