Coffee during pregnancy

[pixie04]

Ok, I got my BFP 8 days ago now. I normally have 3 or 4 cups of coffee a day (well maybe 4 or 5) along with 2 or 3 cups of tea and a glass of coke or two.

The guidelines I can see say that up to 4 cups of coffee a day is ok, I've cut down to one morning cup of coffee (just freeze dried stuff) and maybe a glass of coke in the evening.

What I want to know is what does too much caffeine in pregnancy do? Do you have a child with attention disorders and hyperactivity?

Anyone any advice or experience of the why and hows?

X

I think that the guidelines will probably give you more information about this... I haven't heard anything about attention disorders etc, but from what I know, caffeine can reduce your ability to absorb folic acid and other vitamins, so that alone would be a reason to cut down.

Sorry I can't be of more help, but it's probably a good thing to stick with the guidelines as much as possible!

it's been linked to miscarriage so go easy. The most credible research seems to be that up to 200mg a day is ok but over that there is a significantly higher risk of miscarriage. This is particularly the case in the first trimester. I was just doing some research into this and a typical double espresso/latte (many coffee places make lattes with a double shot) has around 160mg.

An 8 oz. cup of brewed coffee has around 133mg. 8 oz. instant is around 100mg.

this is from a BBC report on the 2008 research:

Compared with non-users, women who consumed up to 200mg of caffeine a day had an increased risk of miscarriage - 15% versus 12%.

For women who drank more than 200mg, the risk increased to 25%.

Hi Pixie, I think the advice is to cut down on caffeine because it can cause miscarriage in high doses. There was someone on here a few weeks back who had a mmc and counting back realised she'd drunk a shedload of diet coke at around the time the baby died, so I guess there is truth in it. A cup in the morning and a glass of coke won't do you or LO any harm though, sounds like you're going the best way about it.

I drank coffee during my pregnancies, but I did limit it to two (real) coffees a day, plus the odd cup of tea.

Your daily intake sounds pretty high anyway and this might be a good opportunity to cut down for your own general health.

I have 2 cups most days occasionally 3, but I have replaced the majority of my intake with hot chocolate.
My 1st pregnancy I couldn't drink coffee or anything hot really I went off the taste. This didn't happen with my previous or this one.

according to my big purple nhs book it can result in a low birth weight, which can increase the risk f health problems in later life, and can also cause miscarriage in too large doses.

recommendation is 200mg

caffeine contents in food and drink
1 mug instant coffee: 100mg
1 mug filter coffee: 140mg
1 mug tea: 75mg
1 can cola: 40mg
1 can energy drink: upto 80mg
1 x 50g plain choc upto 50mg
1 x 50g milk choc: upto 25mg

I've switched entirely to decaf so that I can still enjoy a bit of coke and the odd cup of tea. Have started to go off the taste of coffee anyway. But decaf has been helpful whilst giving up my coffeee habit, as I normally drink loads of strong black coffee. Giving it up was hard for about three days, keep hydrated helps with the headache, but I can manage fine without it now.

Wow lots of really useful information there, thanks ladies. I honestly didn't know that caffeine intake was linked to miscarriage!

I'll think I may try and cut it lower again, I've never been a big tea drinker so that's not a problem but I think I'll switch to decafe coffee so that I can still enjoy my first morning cup or two.

Thanks again :)

Hi pixie, I like my coffee too so decided to try decaff and too be honest can't tell the difference it's definately worth a go for lo's sake. All the best xx

I think the advice was to be cautious, as it happened once I got pregnant I went off coffee, weirdly just tasting it but craved the smell

try not too worry too much and enjoy some coffee, chocolate etc

congratulations