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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Caffeine paranoia... what do you do?

37 replies

Orlea · 13/02/2014 18:21

I wouldn't have called myself a massive consumer of caffeine, usually 3 cups of tea a day and the occasional coffee, maybe 3 a week (some of which are double espressos). I also have an occasional can of coke and undisclosable amounts of chocolate

Then I got my BFP (7ish weeks along now) and read about needing to limit your caffeine intake to 200mg a day, fine, but was a bit unrealistic about what that actually means, so was shocked to find that it is 75mg per cuppa and a lot more for a coffee... So my seemingly-innocuous 3 cups of tea a day puts me over the limit and that's before any coke, chocolate or coffee!

I have tried for the last week to cut back: no coke, decaff tea (which does taste different ), less chocolate, and had managed to not have a single coffee until today when I cracked and by god it was good. I honestly thought I didn't have a very high caffeine intake and wouldn't have to make any changes here, especially compared to several friends who seem to chain-drink tea/coffee, but admittedly aren't currently pregnant...

So are there any other accidental caffeine addicts out there who didn't think you had a high intake and then realised you had to cut back a lot more than expected? How are you managing?? twitch

Please don't suggest fruit tea! I do drink this as well anyway (and lots of other hot drinks) and it's not a substitute for normal tea, let alone coffee

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emmajbxxx · 13/02/2014 18:30

I'm still drinking around 4 cups of tea a day! Will try the decaf tea bags but know they won't taste the same.
I can't manage mornings without at least 2 cups of tea. Just set yourself a limit and pace the cups throughout the day, ou'll find you enjoy them more too!
X

mummytobejuly2014 · 13/02/2014 18:35

I had abt 4 cups of tea a day a coke and some choc. As soon as I found out I went cold turkey. Banging headaches for 2weeks but got used to it. Buy a decent brand decaff coffee & avoid tetley decaff. I think the tetley is rough, pg tips & typhoo I've found so far taste better. Have the odd treat of coke but struggle to drink much so I've been buying the kids mini ones/mixer size. Theres no caffeine in orangina, its my new fav drink if I fancy fizzy stuff. Dont think fanta has either, check the label tho

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 13/02/2014 18:37

Try Yorkshire decaf tea, it's the only one I've found that tastes the same!

AnythingNotEverything · 13/02/2014 18:39

Decaf Earl Grey is good too, and I found PG Tips did the best decaf tea.

Plateofcrumbs · 13/02/2014 18:42

Yorkshire's not bad but decaf tea just isn't the same (I'd rather drink decaf coffee).

I restrict myself to a max of 2 mugs of 'real' tea per day - although averaged out I think I have less than one cup a day.

BettyButter · 13/02/2014 18:49

I was like this. I use the asda chosen by you decaf tea bags in the blue box they are the best I've tried. Just needs to brew a little longer.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 13/02/2014 18:59

I don't like the Asda ones at all, they taste...odd I think.

I drink one proper cup a day.

Amo101 · 13/02/2014 18:59

I used to drink 3 coffees a day and in preparation for pregnancy I cut down to one coffee (can't live without my wake up coffee) and large amounts of decaf tea (I bought loads of different pnes to decide which was best and I preferred tetley).
I do also have the occasional coke and chocolate

KitKat1985 · 13/02/2014 19:06

I'm still having 3-4 mugs of tea a day. . I'm so knackered most of the time anyway that if I gave up caffeine I'd be completely horizontal all day. My compromise is I'm trying to make it a weak cup (I.E, I don't let it brew for long). I'm guessing that cuts the caffeine value down a bit. x

LePetitPont · 13/02/2014 19:09

I've cut down to either two cups of proper tea or one coffee a day. Then decaf after that. Haven't factored in chocolate though

Second the decaf earl grey option, twinings everyday decaf is pretty good too.

mellojello · 13/02/2014 19:13

Carte Noir decaf coffee is gorgeous, still drink it now DD is here

Missingcaffeine · 13/02/2014 19:18

Hey,

As you can probably guess from my name, I was a proper caffeine addict. I used to have about 4 coffees before I even started work at 8am and up to 9 coffees a day! I weaned down slowly and I won't lie - it was hell. I had headaches and felt knackered all the time, and that was prior to getting pregnant! I had got down to two cups a day when I found out I was pregnant, and then I managed to get down to one a day. I'm now 7 weeks, and suddenly this week I've completely gone off tea and coffee and don't want it at all. However, when I'm tired the diet coke starts calling my name and I'll have one or two cans if I'm desperate - but trying to avoid because of the damage to teeth with weakened enamel in pregnancy.

Good luck, if you want to reduce your caffeine, you will get there, it just takes a bit of pain in the process! But you can have a reasonable amount. Avoid strong coffee from coffee shops (I think one coffee from Costa takes you over your daily recommended). You can drink a couple of instant coffees or tea a day.

NHS states you can have up to 200mg a day.
The amount of caffeine found in some foods and drinks is:
one mug of instant coffee: 100mg
one mug of filter coffee: 140mg
one mug of tea: 75mg
one can of cola: 40mg
one can of energy drink: up to 80mg
one 50g bar of plain chocolate: up to 50mg
one 50g bar of milk chocolate: up to 25mg

By the way, I found Clipper decaf tea is by far the closest to normal tea I've ever tasted. Didn't think a decent decaf tea existed until I found this.

Rockchick1984 · 13/02/2014 19:20

I went cold turkey on real tea and coffee, and started drinking fanta / sprite instead of coke for the first trimester, simply because I know I'm a bit of a caffeine addict still had chocolate though

After the first trimester I've been allowing myself one proper coffee shop latte as a treat each week, but not too concerned about other caffeine, if a friend offers to make me a drink I have tea rather than coffee but not bothered that it won't be decaf.

Only gave up cold turkey to detox my system a bit, meant although I had a few days of bad headaches I knew I must have needed to do it!

Mim78 · 13/02/2014 20:07

I find it hard to keep to 2 cups of tea a day - often end up having 3 or 4 real ones, plus decaf. Problem is that when I'm working I'm often out and about and not everywhere sells decaf tea other than herbal which I don't really like.

I have replaced a lot of tea with decaf but I find it hard.

Don't really drink coffee or coke anyway so that has been ok. I have become quite keen on chocolate towards the end of pregnancy though sp that will add to it.

Waggamamma · 13/02/2014 20:11

I've limited myself to one caffinated drink per day (coke or tea).

luckily I have completely gone off coffee. I got a new fancy machine for xnast that hasn't been used since new year!

Cutting down was much easier than I thought it would be and I don't deprive myself completely.

I had a miscarriage last year and I didn't know I was supposed to cut down on caffeine so was having far too much. it probably didn't cause my mc but I want to do everything I can to keep this baby healthy and if it means forgoing a few cups of tea that's ok with me .

GingerScouse · 13/02/2014 20:16

I'm a real tea addict as well, so was concerned about the guidelines as well.

Then I read Expecting Better by Emily Oster, who reviewed all the scientific studies on the matter and concluded that as long as you're not drinking 10+ espressos a day then you're at no real increased risk.

I drink what I like and don't stress about it

squizita · 13/02/2014 21:44

I have ONE cup of tea or coffee a day. Usually tea as I find coffee very bitter (hormones) but will drink it if I really need a poo, c'om we've all done it.

Then I have found "Redbush" tea a much more satisfying brew than decaff tea, so I have several cups of that.

MrsA2 · 13/02/2014 21:46

I'm having one small Starbucks latte in the morning then only decaf. I'd rather have one nice drink and then do without any more.

Watch out as lots of decaf (particularly coffee anyway) is only 50% reduced caffeine, not caffeine free. I didn't realise this to start with.

The co-op fair trade filter coffee tastes almost like real stuff though and is very low caffeine.

beela · 13/02/2014 21:55

I am using my daily caffeine allowance all on chocolate.

Scotmum83 · 13/02/2014 22:02

I'm a tea addict lol and have swapped to decaf typhoo instead, I agree tastes a bit different but not to bad. Also swapped diet coke for caffeine free which doesn't taste to different either. I must admit I feel a lot better for not having any caffeine, sleep much better and don't feel as anxious as I used to so think I'll just carry on after baby is born :)

MamaDuckling · 13/02/2014 22:29

Loving all the decaff tea recommendations! Best I've found (so far) is M&S... But I love Clipper tea so will give theirs a go too

Writerwannabe83 · 14/02/2014 06:22

I second African Red Bush tea Yummy!!

x0gawjus0x · 14/02/2014 06:41

I have changed to tetley decaf and yes there's a slight dif but really not noticible after you've had it a couple of days :) I've been eating a bit of choc but don't really have sugary fizzy drinks much anyway, xx

oliviaoctopus · 14/02/2014 06:46

Cry! Been pregnant for a week and yet again Inhave to go 9 months without energy drinks. Its all I can focus on at the moment. I miss them do much

SweetPea86 · 14/02/2014 07:44

I don't drink tea or coffee but made up for it with toooo much diet coke and chocolate, as soon as I found out I was preg I did cut back on coke but then sickness hit and I couldn't touch the stuff so I've went months without it. It was one positive thing that came out of sickness,

Now at 32 weeks I have some diet coke but share a small bottle with my hubby. I'm pretty proud coz I use to drink 5 cans a day

As for chocolate well I'll never be able to give up choc

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