Caffeine... Worried!

[Renaissance227]

What damage does too much caffeine do?
I don't drink loads and have cut out Coke, but maybe twice a week (no more) I have a medium Americano from Costa. I also have one small one three times a week.
I know the small one is within recommended guidelines, but I am worried about the days I have a bigger one. Should I cut it out all together? Does it do a lot of damage?

No - its fine as long as you dont overdo it! you can safely have up to 200mg a day - theres a table on this website that explains how much caffeine is in everything, and how many mugs of coffee/ bars of chocolate you can have etc.

www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/nutrition/foodsafety/caffeine/

I decided I'd rather eat a lot of chocolate than drink tea - so i drink decaff now.

My midwife says two normal cups of coffee a day, and just not to have tea after eating meat because it can restrict iron uptake I'm afraid nothing can prise my tea away from me, but I have switched to decaff coffee.

In the first 12 weeks it can affect the development babys heart, - but only if you are drinking a lot every day. One cup once a week isn't going to do anything!

200mg is the daily limit I think. An espresso has roughly 75-80mg caffeine so you are fine.

Thank you for the advice. I think I am borderline with the caffiene I have but now I am worried because I was drinking large, black, americanos in the first 7 weeks, but down to a small one and occasional decaff until the last two weeks.
Does anyone know of any damage too much could cause after twelve weeks?
Thanks for the site MotherPanda.

My baby is at risk of heart problems due to the medication I was taking before I knew I was pregnant, as such I have to have regular scans.

The whole way through my consultant has told me that all the development is done in the first 12 weeks, after that it's just a matter of 'growing' - i.e. any problems will already be there (and then went on a rant about how people should concieve more carefully etcetcetc). You'd have to be really reckless to risk the babys health after this period. I think caffeine can speed up the heart, like it does ours, but unless you were drinking a lot, regularly, it shouldn't affect the actual development.

This is all going from what I've been told about my own personal circumstances though - probably best to checkw ith your midwife. but you won't be the only pregnant woman in teh world who is drinking 2 cups of coffee once a week!

Luckily no problems have been found at the scans, although obviously we have to wait until the baby is born - but it means there are no major defects like a hole in the heart or deformities.

I may well be wrong with this but I think the issue with caffeine is that it is linked to low birth weight. As mentioned above, 200 mg a day is fine.

I have unfortunatley gone right off coffee and I miss it! Have still been drinking diet coke though.

Scheherezadea - Thanks for that. I am drinking more than two cups once a week! How are you btw? Are you feeling happier about things? Did you ever take driving lessons?

silverangel - Thank you for the reassurance.

Scheherezadea - Just seen your response from the last time I asked!! Sorry! How is the SPD? Are you still riding? How come the Drs told you not to work?
Not being nosey, just remember you from before and concerned. x