Caffeine whilst TTC?

[Bringonbaby3]

Hello,

So I am TTC after Xmas but trying to change my lifestyle now to make for healthy eggs! What are your opinions on caffeine? How much do you drink? I know that for pregnancy the current guidelines are no caffeine ? Should I be trying to do this for TTC too?

The guidelines don't say no caffeine at all for pregnancy, just a limited amount. I'm currently pregnant but don't drink tea or coffee and before pregnancy and now I have one can of coke most days.

Hi guys. I'm currently ttc and drink 2 cups of tea a day. Is this too much? I thought as long as your under 200mg of caffiene its ok?

You are allowed caffeine in pregnancy but it should be limited to around 200mg I think

I'm pregnant and drinking 2-3 cups of tea a day (or sometimes treating myself to a Starbucks)

This is what nhs says about caffeine in pregnancy:

Caffeine

You can have caffeine, but no more than 200mg per day.

There is:

100mg in a mug of instant coffee
140mg in a mug of filter coffee
75mg in a mug of tea (green tea can have the same amount of caffeine as regular tea)
40mg in a can of cola
80mg in a 250ml can of energy drink
less than 25mg in a 50g bar of plain dark chocolate
less than 10mg in a 50g bar of plain milk chocolate

I found some brilliant you tube videos by Nourish with Melanie about nutrition when conceiving / pregnant which so interesting. I’m not sure if there’s one on caffeine but hats off to you being so organised! I didn’t drop caffeine until pregnant and was pleased found it easy as a motivation as previously had struggled to give it up. I do drink a little bit like a green tea once a day .

m.youtube.com/watch?v=tFzyyUh2rys
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It's completely untrue that caffeine is not allowed in pregnancy.

My midwife said you can have 2-3 cups of instant tea or coffee per day, or if its from a coffee shop (Costa, Starbucks) only 1.

I did the same when TTC

My fertility consultant said I don't need to cut caffeine while ttc. That might be because we're a lost cause though!

less than 10mg in a 50g bar of plain milk chocolate
So you could have TWENTY

I’m still drinking coffee. I stop at two cups a day normally but it’s the good stuff so over what I’d be allowed in pregnancy, but I’ve not seen anything convincing to say you should reduce during TTC.

Alcohol, however, I’m having a bigger debate with myself about…

I'd recommend you reading Emily Osters "expecting better" as she goes through all this stuff.

The research behind limiting caffeine is actually quite iffy and points towards correlation to miscarriages rather than causation.

Thank you all! I currently have 1 cup of green tea a day but wondering whether it was better to cut it out altogether but seems I don’t need too? I remember something in the new a while back about guidelines changing to recommend no caffeine in pregnancy which is why I was confused!

Alcohol is out, except for Xmas party when I’m allowing myself a few drinks 😅 I won’t be TTC until after Xmas so I’m hoping that’s okay…

Anything else that’s important to avoid or include? Trying to have a healthy diet and exercise more too!

It might be the advice in another country but isn't advice in the UK. Take folic acid and vitamin D

I am pregnant and just drinking 1-3 teas a day (decaf only)

I was also drinking caffeine whilst TTC

I'd start taking folic acid and vitamin D if you aren't already. I didn't change my diet whilst TTC (and had no problems conceiving quickly both times) but I wasn't an excessive drinker etc or massively unhealthy or anything. You could be TTC for a while potentially so don't be too hard on yourself - you have to enjoy things still!

What worked for me was just to avoid anything that I questioned, when TTC and pregnant. If I didn't have it then I didn't worry. Much easier, and provided mental freedom.