Have I harmed my baby?

[momofonex]

I've done something so stupid

I am 6 weeks pregnant and currently very unwell. I have never felt this ill before - very much cough/cold like symptoms however the headache + the leg aches/pain is just on another level

The only thing that has been helping the pain is soluable Solphadine (not the coedine one, the paracetamol + caffeine one)

I stupidly read somewhere that the caffeine in these tablets is 30g caffeine per tablet (so around 60g for two). However I stupidly stupidly didn't read the packet and it turns out it's over 60 PER TABLET.

I've had 6 in the last 12hrs so that puts my caffeine up to 360+, add in a can of coke and a tea to that within 24hrs my caffeine must be close to 500mg for the day 😢 that's more than double the recommended dose!

I've been in so much pain and feeling so ill that I didn't even check properly and now I'm panicking that I've increased my risk of miscarriage? I've had losses before and this baby is pretty much our last shot before we give up. Please tell me a one off caffeine increase is okay?

Call 111 they can alleviate your worries as they’re professionals (unlike most of us on here!). I doubt you’ve caused any harm but best to check and be fully reassured.

In the meantime drink plenty of water.

You can call your maternity services in the morning, today. Do you have s local midwife or Day Assessment Unit nearby?

I'm sure it'll be fine, just drink plenty of water and avoid Solphedine in future 🙂

Feel better soon !

No, that's fine, love. It won't have affected your baby at all.

I’m sure one day of excess caffeine won’t do any harm. Try and rest and not worry, people do all kinds of things in early pregnancy, often not realising they are pregnant.

I’d speak to your midwife for reassurance. I’m sure it’s fine but I’m not an expert and have no experience in this.

That will be totally fine, those things are just daily guidelines it really won’t hurt the pregnancy honestly xx
(People telling you to go to day assessment or call 111 are being silly)

Hope you feel better soon ❤️ and try not to worry xx

As people have said drink plenty of water but your baby will be absolutely fine :)

I didn't know I was pregnant until 10 weeks for one pregnancy and had about the same intake of coffee as that every day until I found out! Child is perfectly chilled and healthy. Guidelines will be much lower than the actual safe amount just so people don't push it too much.

Also I might be wrong but this early in pregnancy I thought baby not connected by placenta yet and still feeding off the yolk, so perhaps wouldn't have even been passed any caffeine anyway? (I'm definitely no expert so could be wrong)

I'm quite sure it won't have done any harm, I think persistent use over a pregnancy could to some extent but how many generations were fine with our mothers drinking several pots of coffee a day!

I would say cool it eith the stimulants if you're feeling so unwell though and try and rest/sleep if you can to give yourself a chance to heal. Early pregnancy feels awful enough as it is.

OP when you’re pregnant with no.2 and a small one running around you will doubtless exceed the daily caffeine limit just to survive the day. It’ll be fine.

I smoked for a few weeks before finding out about DD 😬
12 years later she's fine!

I really think you will be fine. People do all kinds of things before they even realise they are pregnant.

I recall reading when I was pregnant that when it comes to caffeine and miscarriage (1) there isn't any clear evidence of a link and (2) where studies have shown higher risks of miscarriage, it's because most people's caffeine consumption is as a result of coffee drinking, and it's not necessarily that higher caffeine increases miscarriage risk, it's that women who can stomach drinking 4-5 cups of coffee in early pregnancy may have lower hCG levels and pregnancies that were already not viable.

Either way, I really wouldn't worry - I'm sure your baby will be totally fine.

No way would it be 60 g ( grammes) per tablet- that’s almost two ounces per tablet and they would be physically massive -
That has been misread, surely?

At this stage and for one day I doubt you've done any lasting damage. The effects of caffeine seem to be linked to poor growth and development over time. One day won't make a difference.

How on earth are you sleeping with that much caffiene in your system?

It surely can’t be 60 grammes (g) per tablet
That would be a phenomenal dose.

1 day of excess caffeine won't have done anything. Especially so earlier, the placenta isn't even fully formed yet and that how the caffeine would be getting to baby.

@momofonex It’s 65 milligrams per tablet, not Grammes- that’s nothing to worry about for one day
Think of all the mothers who love their espresso coffees - Italy and France - put your mind at rest ,phone your midwife, she will reassure you.

Easter Bank Holiday weekend 2006 - I went out drinking on the Friday night, Saturday afternoon/night and Sunday afternoon/night. I found out the following week I was pregnant with my first child.
Obviously not ideal but he is now 18 years old , 6'4 and working in engineering, no harm done.
Babies are born in all sorts of less than ideal circumstances and whilst it is great to minimise risk the odd slip up now and again isn't catastrophic, you maybe pregnant but you still have to live your life.

I used to have a double strength coffee and 3/4 cups of tea every day. I was very fit and healthy and exercised a lot in pregnancy. All fine.

What I don’t want you to do OP, with your history, is blame yourself were anything to happen. Because it won’t be you and it certainly won’t be this.

65MG not 65G. Each one is 0.065 of a gram, not 65 grams!

This!
But OP get used to only being able to take plain paracetamol when feeling like crap. Solpadeine, Lemsip etc all say can't be taken in pregnancy

Thank you all for your responses you've made me feel alot better!

Sorry yes I meant the limit is around 200mg and the tablet is around 65mg