Struggling to cut down caffeine - any tips for tiredness?

[Longislandicedme]

I’m 17 weeks (tomorrow) and everything seems fine so far with baby but I’m finding it so hard to cut down on caffeine. I’m crippled with fatigue I feel like my energy is being sucked out of me. I work quite long hours sometimes and unfortunately my work haven’t been able to support me in changing my hours (I.e splitting a long shift into two shorter ones spread across two days) , or even mixing my breaks up so I can take shorter breaks more regularly. I work in an open office and being on a computer / phone all day sitting down doesn’t help me regain any sort of energy.

I feel like the only thing that helps is a strong coffee. I’ve tried changing my diet and eating a lot better which has helped but I think it’s just eliminated any sluggish feelings after eating which is helpful but not combating any sort of tiredness.

I have 3.5 year old DS and my partner is very supportive so I don’t have to do too much. My concern is any affects caffeine has on the baby. I don’t eat much chocolate it’s just cups of coffee to keep me going.

Has anyone got any tips to feel a little more energised?

I try to get out and fight it as much as I can but it’s getting to the point where I’m struggling to drive because I can’t concentrate with how exhausted I feel. My memory is suffering now too! I get a good amount of sleep every night and my blood tests have ruled out anaemia.

Any advice welcome!

Can't offer anything hugely helpful. You can have one cup of filter coffee a day within the safe limit, presumably more of instant coffee (which would alllow you to spread it through the day a bit). I didn't drink any coffee during pregnancy but would have half a can of coke if I was so tired I didn't think I was going to manage the drive home from work.

Given that you're 17 weeks, the tiredness should hopefully ease off relatively soon!

Drinking enough water? My exhaustion is worst on the days I can’t drink 3 litres in the day.

I was a coffee addict and felt like I couldn't get through the day without it.
I cut it out completely and amazingly I am less tired than I was when drinking coffee
I drink water now all the time and the odd time I do feel sleepy I'll get a cold fruit juice that wakes me up

Also struggled with this... tea instead of coffee at strategic point in the day helped. Pre-pregnancy tea did absolutely nothing for me energy wise, but now I really feel it. Also lots of water and fruit.

Second pregnancy I didn’t give it up. I have 1-2 cup to bean coffees a day. The evidence of damage caused by caffeine is patchy anyway, particularly after the 1st trimester. Like you, I just couldn’t function without it

God just have some coffee

As pp have said you can safely have some coffee. Time it for when you need it during the day and if you possibly can try having a coffee nap - you drink the coffee, take a fifteen minute nap, and then when you wake up the caffeine will have kicked in and you'll get a double benefit from the caffeine and the power nap.

Even if your iron levels are OK I would also suggest taking a gentle iron supplement like Floradix or Spatone. The former also contains B vitamins, and you should also be taking a vitamin D supplement.

Thanks for your replies! I think drinking more water is a good shout. I’m just trying to not rely on so much coffee to get through the day given that i still struggle anyway. Hopefully this phase will end soon and I’ll be full of energy in no time!

Drink water
Sleep
Make sure you aren't anaemic

Get your iron tested. I had really low levels when pregnant with DD2. It was amazing how much energy I had once the tablets kicked in.

Sorry, missed the bit where you have had your blood tested.

If you’re sleeping well and still feeling very tired, it’s worth talking to your midwife/doctor to get your thyroid function checked. It’s not something that is part of the routine blood tests so won’t have shown up unless they’ve specifically requested that test. I’m just over 12 weeks now and have been struggling with fatigue since week 5, and have just had an underactive thyroid diagnosed. I had no other obvious symptoms other than the tiredness and my doctor did the extra blood tests just to rule everything out - so I’m glad she did the tests now! There are some other things that can cause tiredness that also aren’t part of the routine tests and I think it couldn’t hurt to get them ruled out.