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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Are you still drinking tea and coffee?

45 replies

Poweredby200mgofCaffeineaday · 11/11/2011 18:54

I am still pretty baffled by a lot of the many many rules regarding what foods are and aren't safe but the one that's bothering me the most is the caffeine one! I am only 6 weeks pg and so far I have stuck to no more than four cups of tea a day (would usually have more like six). But when I told a friend this she said she gave up hot drinks completely. And after much googling I keep finding conflicting into on how much caffeine is in as cup anyway. Just wondered what everyone else is doing?

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lightsandshapes · 11/11/2011 19:04

yes, I've switched to decaff versions of both. I also have barleycup so I don't have too many per day.

spannermary · 11/11/2011 19:08

I have a big cuppa in the morning...and that's about it. It allows me to eat chocolate without feeling guilty!

I think 4 cups of tea is fine...as long as they are tea cup size. I'd say 2 mugs would be fine.

But really, it's all up to you!

ShockinHolyTempers · 11/11/2011 19:10

I gave it up but only because it doesn't appeal to me any more. I used to drink up to 15 cups of tea a day but all I want now are ice-pops and melon slices. So thirsty!

Initially though when I was still drinking it I changed to decaff teabags.

DizzyKipper · 11/11/2011 19:12

I gave up coffee and switched to decaff before I'd even conceived - I was just drinking it far too much and knew the level I was drinking it at wouldn't be good for the baby (think some one who could quite easily drink 3 cups of coffee in a row). In general though I don't think it's likely to do any harm if you're not overdoing it - most sites do say in reality the risks are quite small.

Original poster

Poweredby200mgofCaffeineaday · 11/11/2011 19:13

Oh crap. No I mean four mugs. I think it is too much... I fecking hate decaf bags though! I thought I'd be alright as I don't drink coffee but maybe I should cut out one more.

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Crosshair · 11/11/2011 19:14

I gave up in the first 16ish weeks, partly due to going off it. Have 2 mugs a day atm(32 weeks).

notcitrus · 11/11/2011 19:22

I think the FSA (Food Standards Agency) has some of the clearest advice - it's along the lines of 2 large espressos/shop coffees, or 3 cups of instant or 3 mugs of tea, all depending on strength.

Last pregnancy I was probably drinking a bit more than that as exhausted and didn't know I was pregnant anyway (usually only have a couple cups a day); this one I've felt sick if I have more than one weak tea or coffee, so that decided it for me.

Maybe just make yours a bit weaker than usual and stick to 3-4 cups?

GwendolineMaryLacey · 11/11/2011 19:24

I don't drink coffee but do drink loads of tea. I've tried to limit it to 2 mugs per day but some days it goes up to 3 or 4. I'm certainly less strict now that I'm further on (32 weeks)

I fecking hate decaff tea as well. All of them.

Original poster

Poweredby200mgofCaffeineaday · 11/11/2011 19:29

Gwendoline great name, I used to love the Mallory Towers books (or is it St Clare's?)

I just don't think decaf is any substitute! I will try to cut down more but I'm starting to feel like the worst pg woman already :-(
I knew you couldn't drink alcohol but I never even realised there was a limit on tea. I wish my body would make me go off it!

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PotteringAlong · 11/11/2011 19:35

Nope, not given up or cut back. Drink very little tea and no coffee anyway but coke is my downfall...!

feekerry · 11/11/2011 19:37

i was going to post a similar post the other day. i was a massive tea drinker- think 15 cups of sugary tea a day- but went off it in the first trimester. i have since started drinking tea again but seem to like it very strong. try to limit to 4 mugs a day. sometimes its less but i try not to drink more than 2-3 mugs a day as i do like a little bit of chocolate too.......

pruney1977 · 11/11/2011 19:47

I switched to decaff when I found out I was pregnant but went off tea and coffee during 1st trimester anyway. I've only just started having hot chocolate again at 34 weeks. I have wanted fat coke quite often but have resisted apart from when instructed to have a sugary fizzy drink by the midwife so she could find the baby's heartbeat a few weeks back. I sort of thought that there is caffeine in things you wouldn't even think about so cutting out the obvious would limit any risks.

whenskiesaregrey · 11/11/2011 19:50

I've found the PG Tips decaf is the best by far, I can't tell the difference. In fact, I think it makes a stronger cup if tea, which I like.

Pastabee · 11/11/2011 20:23

I have one large coffee in the morning and decaf the rest of the day. It is really hard to start with.... Found it the hardest thing to give up. Much harder than alcohol IMO.

twojumpingbeans · 11/11/2011 20:27

I just have one proper cup of tea a day and the rest decaf. I have disc

twojumpingbeans · 11/11/2011 20:28

Stinky I phone. What I was trying to say is that Tetley decaf is really quite nice!

HugosGoatee · 11/11/2011 20:33

I've switched to decaf as I was a 6 big mugs of tea girl before. PG Tips decaf is ok, just tastes like usual tea IMO.

I was more concerned to cut out caffeine that alcohol actually - caffeine is proven to increase miscarriage. I still have a glass or two of wine each week.

Couldn't touch anything but chocolate milk for first 20 weeks anyway but have weaned myself back on to tea and wine now

pootlebug · 11/11/2011 21:12

I still have several mugs of tea. I don't have it very strong though (that's just how I prefer it, not a deliberate modification for pregnancy). I did through both previous pregnancies too.

PamBeesly · 11/11/2011 21:16

I gave up both for the first 20 weeks, especially since I felt nauseous thinking about them. Now I have a cup of coffee maybe 3 times a week, I make it mild and very milky though. I have a rare cup of tea too. I think you are allowed something like 2 cups of instant coffee and 3 cups of tea but obviously not together, there is also caffeine in chocolate, cola and energy drinks too so be careful :)

MarkStretch · 11/11/2011 21:20

I have a huge cup of tea in the morning, another cup or two of ea or coffee during the day and then decaff coffee or tea in the evening.

I haven't changed my caffeine intake that much but I do limit myself to one cup of coffee a day. I went to my friend's the other day and she made a pot of fresh filter coffee, I couldn't resist that...

IssyStark · 11/11/2011 21:32

I have about 3-4 mugs of very weak tea a day plus one cup of filter coffee a day and make the rest decaff. I rather like the Yorkshire tea decaff or the Twinnings Early Grey (as long as I can have a sugar with it).

The recommendations reduced between my first pregnancy five years ago and now and I am probably drinking slightly more than the current recs, however in my first trimester I really went off hot drinks completely and wasn't having any.

Remember you need to include coke and chocolate in your caffeine intake as well.

Personally I think the FSA advice is the clearest.

And you can have alcohol after the first trimester: RCOG and RCM both say 1-2 units, once or twice a week is fine.

MiauMau · 11/11/2011 21:34

I'm completely intolerant to caffeine, which sometimes makes me sad as coffee is a big part of my country's culture. The few times that I've tried I literally started climbing walls!
So, I'm glad that the few herbal teas that I like are still allowed :)

LilPud · 11/11/2011 21:42

Coffee and the smell of coffee have made me puke from about 8 weeks so a big wide berth has been given. Never liked tea so no problem there but diet coke was a different matter. Have managed to knock that down to one can a day tho. It's just another thing on the not allowed list

madmomma · 11/11/2011 23:50

I'd go under without tea. I'll give up stinky cheese, alcohol etc etc, but don't take my tea! Life has to have some joy in it!

Rollon2012 · 12/11/2011 00:02

Argghh there attacking tea too now how will we stay awake???

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