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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Caffeine

20 replies

Madratlady · 04/04/2013 17:35

How much does Caffeine actually affect the likelihood of conception? I have cut my caffeine intake down but I work a lot of nights so I get tired and I'm just addicted to caffeine so I usually have a couple of energy drinks when I'm on nights, or when I go to the pub with DH instead of drinking alcohol.

OP posts:
mummyloveslucy · 04/04/2013 17:54

It does have quite an impact when it comes to trying to concieve. It makes you twice as likely to miss carry too. It also crosses the placenta if you do get pregnant.

EuroShaggleton · 04/04/2013 18:07

mummy can you point to any studies to support the points about the impact on conception and the miscarriage rate? I'd like to read more.

Original poster
Madratlady · 04/04/2013 18:10

I'd also be interested to read up on it. I will try and give up caffeine altogether if I don't conceive this month, if it will make a difference.

OP posts:
mamakirsty · 04/04/2013 18:16

hello I did not realise this caffeine information TTC .. yes please Mummy loves lucy can you put a link to.some information please! I love t and coffee but had no idea this caused fertility problems Shock

Vakant · 04/04/2013 18:17

My understanding is that caffeine isn't actually proven to cause miscarriage, but it is recommended to cut intake to I think one cup of coffee per day when pregnant.

twinklestar2 · 04/04/2013 19:41

Is decaf ok?

Brodicea · 04/04/2013 20:18

I read this today, it's a proper study, although as they say possibly not without other factors considered:
www.nhs.uk/news/2007/January08/Pages/Caffeineandmiscarriagerisk.aspx

crazyhead · 04/04/2013 20:52

As a coffee drinker, I've read loads of different studies on moderate caffeine intake and miscarriage, including one large study that suggested how the entire effect of raised miscarriage amongst caffeine drinkers could be explained by morning sickness - eg morning sickness protects against miscarriage, and people with it are feeling too ill to drink caffeine.

I can't believe what you say about the doubled risk, mummyloveslucy - the NHS will take the well designed studies into consideration in their guidelines and suggest 200mg caffeine a day is fine. Obviously if you're necking 8 Americanos it might be different.

I don't know about conception, I'm sure there is loads of stuff around saying you could try giving up your morning coffee to see if it helps you conceive but it must be gutting giving up small pleasures if you've TTC for ages and when there isn't any real evidence it'll help.

twinklestar2 · 04/04/2013 21:51

I drink about 5 cups of decaf tea and coffee a day. I've got into this habit recently. From tomorrow I'm going to cut back to 2 a day. Eeek.

Thisisfreakingmeout · 04/04/2013 22:01

I presume decaf is ok. Is that right?

twinklestar2 · 04/04/2013 22:02

I'm not sure...

BananaPie · 04/04/2013 22:05

Stating the obvious, decaf has not got any caffeine in it

EuroShaggleton · 04/04/2013 22:10

Decaf does have caffeine in it, just less than the decaffeinated version.

The article posted indicates an increased mc risk if you have over 200mg a day, which is actually quite a lot, and reflects current NHS guidelines anyway. The report also mentions that the mcing women in the study had other risk factors. I think it's sensible to moderate caffeine intake but not to go daft about it.

twinklestar2 · 04/04/2013 22:27

Yep that's right, decaf is decaffeinated not caffeine free.

twinklestar2 · 04/04/2013 22:30

I've just googled and 5-10 cups of decaf is the same as drinking 1-2 cups of regular coffee.

Shoegal30 · 04/04/2013 23:59

What about diet coke? I don't drink tea or coffee at all but have about 1 glass of diet coke a day.

Trinpy · 04/04/2013 23:59

I think there's something in the NICE guidelines about the link between caffeine and fertility, saying nothing's been proven. I can't link to it because I'm on my phone.

I did cut down a bit but after a year off ttc I decided not to stress about it. I also work nights and need my 5am coffee to see me through til hometime.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 05/04/2013 00:58

My GP told me no more than 300mg a day while pregnant and I have checked that elsewhere and that is the guidelines.

I'm not sure but I can't see you needing to have even less than a pregnant person while trying to concieve.

I'd also like to see evidence that just having caffeine and no other contributing factors makes you twice as likely to miscarry. Hmm

Nicelife24 · 05/04/2013 19:00

well on the baby I lost at 21 weeks all I drank was decaff, but my others I drank normal tea, and were fine, so whos to say it stops anything. I can't see it. Im faffing over everything, Im not giving up my tea lol

Knittingninja · 05/04/2013 19:27

There is info on www.glasgowsteps.com/information/health/caffeine.php about amounts of caffeine in different drinks and other things :)

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