When to stop drinking coffee while TTC

[hazchem]

I'm thinking of stopping drinking coffee to help with conception. I have between 2-3 espressos a day.
Just wondering if I can still drink it while I have my period and then go cold turkey or should I stop for the whole of my cycle.

[RPopz]

I used to have a coffee and 4 teas a day. I've cut down to just one of each a day and having green tea instead. I do this all month round now. Also given up alcohol however and this ban usually only lasts 3 weeks until AF arrives and then its wine o'clock!!

Whatever works best for you I guess.

[Lauren83]

They do recommend stopping anything you plan in stopping 3 months before as that's how long they say it takes to stop affecting sperm and eggs, there's always this emphasis on 3 months but its the ivf world I'm in and ma

[Lauren83]

...maybe its full of paranoid ladies! I cut down to 1 cup from 5 but I do admit I struggled dropping my morning one, my partner quit smoking and started taking supplements 3 months before too, do whatever feels right for you x

[Chottie]

Why does coffee affect conception? I've never heard of this before.

[Inshock73]

My fertility specialist said it is widely known and acknowledged that high intake of caffeine increases the risk of miscarriage. I think generally if you're finding it easy to conceive it's not a problem but if you're struggling and/or have had a mc then you're definitely advised to cut out the caffeine. I drink so much tea, a good 7-8 cups a day, but I've switched from normal tea to rooibos which is naturally caffeine free.

[hazchem]

I tried this morning to have none but I caved and had one! I think I might try to kick the habit. and learn to love the lemon and ginger.

Lauren that sounds like a strict routine. Hoping it pays of for you really soon.

chottie I'm not sure why it affect conception but I recently read this
One study indicated that moderate caffeine intake of 150-300 mg (approx one to two cups of strong coffee per day) is an established risk factor in human fertility. They noted that women who drank more than one strong cup of coffee per day were half as likely to conceive in any given menstrual cycle, compared to those who drank less than one cup per day, and those who consumed 2.5 cups per day were 4.7 times less likely to conceive. from bellybelly

With DS I fell really easily but we have been trying since September, I've had a miscarriage and am fast approaching my 35 birthday and I'd like to have at least two more children. So I'm keen to help nature along

[RPopz]

Maybe try decaf hazchem? Maybe just the taste will trick you into waking up

Must admit I didn't realise the effects were as profound as that. Might try giving up altogether as am getting impatient now!

[MissHobart]

I switched to decaf Yorkshire Tea and have one cup proper ground coffee a day followed by decaf the rest of the time, it does have a psychological effect unless you're really knackered! I up it to two property coffees when on nights!

[MissHobart]

I've been doing this for about a year

[hazchem]

So I only had two normal teas today and no coffee. I feel umm cross and grumpy. I'm sure a day or two and I'll settle down.

MissHobart that sucks!

[Solaia]

I've wondered about this too, we have been TTC for 2.5 years and are on the IVF waiting list. We do almost everything you can imagine (cbfm, supplements, acupuncture, little alcohol) but I do still drink 2 coffees and one/two teas per day...

I am about to go on holiday but I think when we get back I will cut down and see if that makes any difference! Could always give it up for Lent I suppose?

[Luckystar1]

I haven't has any caffeine for months, I just drink hot water (I hate coffee anyway), as I realised I just like drinking something warm. I do sometimes drink decaf tea (I got clipper organic, as I read somewhere what they use to decaffeinate other teas (non organic) csn increase the risk of autism (that could be utter crap though!).

No fizzy drinks either (again I don't really like them anyway).

I just try and eat and drink as naturally as possible. I find it odd that animals in the wild don't seem to suffer the fertility problems we do, so I try and keep that in mind. (but I think too much!)

[Nocomet]

However, me and a DF didn't conceive until we stopped worrying about it, so making lots of changes that keep TTC in your mind may be counterproductive.

[MotherOfInsomniacToddlers]

I gave it up with both pregnancies as soon as ttc

[RPopz]

Luckystar I just drink hot water sometimes too, everyone thinks I'm weird tho lol x

[Luckystar1]

I know. Everyone thinks I'm crazy too, but actually since I've started to do it, I don't really want tea.

[MissHobart]

Hazchem - it does indeed suck! But at least they do decaf diet coke!

I very much doubt they stop drinking espresso in Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, Greece ... ummm, ALL the proper coffee drinking countries! Feels so unfair! But I do want a baby so needs must!

[hazchem]

I used to love drinking hot water but I've got sensitive teeth :( If I don't add cold water to herbal tea I can't drink it.

nocomment it's a fine balance isn't it. I think I might try to get back to doing some meditation/type thing to quite and relax the mind.

MissHobart I've come to love soda water. I might try to find some advice from those countries as I would love to see what they say.

[cletterthedishes]

I've cut down to 1 cup of coffee a day. Though when I was last pregnant, I told the midwife I drank 2 cups a day and she responded 'Oh that's fine, it's just I see a lot of girls who drink those awful energy drinks' So do your best, but don't worry if you slip up and have 2 cups of tea a day. Compared to someone slugging a can of Relentless it's pretty mild.

[hazchem]

I'm doing pretty well. having just one cup at the moment. Having a one or two decaffs and also herbal tea. I've noticed I'm less thirsty now only having one coffee so think I'll try and stick with it as I might have been making myself dehydrated. Also hoping less caffeine will help my cellulite :)