One cup of tea every few days - 21 weeks

[meg2811]

Hi all!

I understand that you should restrict your caffeine intake when pregnant, I've never been a huge tea/coffee drinker but every few days I'll have a cup of caffeinated tea - only ever one small cup.

I have just been reading some studies though and apparently even that could be harmful! Has anyone had any experiences regarding this? Or thoughts on if I should just stop drinking it altogether?

Thanks!

M x

I had a cuppa every day. My 1 year old is fine.

I went straight back to 8 cups of tea after he was born, and don't recommend that. The caffeine really affected me and I barely slept.

I also read "Expecting Better" and definitely recommend it. This is the caffeine piece.
www.google.com/amp/s/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/take-back-your-pregnancy-1376087501

I’ve completely gone off the taste of tea and coffee, but I have one, very occasionally two cups of normal tea a day for the much needed energy boost. It totally changes my mood once I have my tea! The only other caffeine I have is a little bit of chocolate.

I stocked up on decaf tea when I found out I was pregnant, but I’ve found that’s pointless because all it does it make me feel sick and not give me any bonus energy. Not worth it!

I drank milky weak tea by the bucket load while pregnant and no harm came if it. Relax and enjoy your tea, drink it daily if u wish.

If in doubt, ask your midwife

I cut down to one (sometimes two) cups of coffee a day. I already gave up alcohol and soft cheese, I wasn’t losing my coffee!
I did a blind taste test with decaff and it tasted disgusting!

I think you're absolutely fine. I've swapped to decaf tea just because (back in the good old days of Going Outside) it would mean I could join colleagues at the pub on Thursday and mates at the pub on Saturday and have a couple of diet cokes each night without worrying I was going massively over on my caffeine. I think I read that one or two instances of going over 200mg isn't an issue either, it's just about high sustained consumption.

I made the mistake of mentioning this to my mum who pointed out that she drank 10 teas a day, had a couple of wines a week and smoked about 5 cigarettes a day when she was pregnant with me in the mid/late 80s.... she pointed out that I weighed 9lb and got a first from a Russell Group so she doesn't feel particularly concerned about any physical or mental developmental issues

Obviously we know more now and that's not to encourage people to ignore all the guidelines but I'm sure that the heightened anxiety around the 'rules' doesn't help maternal health. Just follow guidelines as best you can, try to temper the urge to freak out with some common sense and most of all enjoy your pregnancy as much as you can.

The things you pregnant women are given to worry about now!

I know I sound like someone's grandmother (and actually I am old enough to be a g-ma) but it wasn't the dark ages when I had my children. They were both born after 2001.

Some day soon they'll be telling you to be careful about apples or water or bread ffs.

I thought 200 mg was safe so about 2 cups of instant coffee and 3 teas. I drank had much with my first daughter and she turned out totally fine

Just enjoy your tea. Soon enough you won’t have time to drink a whole cup before it goes cold!

If there was any substance in the claims the nhs would have such guidelines- they don’t. You can still have a daily coffee ....if there was any damage I’m sure 3/4 of newborns would be at risk.

I have a cup of coffee every day!

Agree with @Foggymist just drink the tea! I know it’s difficult but try not to over worry about every single thing. You’re fine to drink a couple of coffees a day, as per the NHS guidance and frankly even if you had more than that, the chances of harm are remotely small.

I used to have a real of no more than two caffeinated drinks a day. So one coffee and one tea. Or one tea and one can of coke. Or whatever. Very occasionally I might forget and have more.

Also I basically do the same now and my child is nearly two. I just got into the habit of less caffeine.

Go with the NHS advice. Don't read anything else you'll drive yourself nuts!

The NHS guidelines are that you should stick to less than 200mg caffeine a day (including tea, coffee, pop, chocolate etc). If there was any doubt, they would tell you to abstain completely as they do with smoking and alcohol.

I have 1 cup of normal coffee every day then stick to decaf if I fancy another hot drink after that.

Just drink the tea. I normally have a cup of normal tea first thing and then switch to decaf. Cannot wait till the coffee shops reopen and I can buy an over priced delicious flat white.

Ooh what’s the verdict on a Starbucks iced frappe really fancy one of them right now - from the glass bottles

@Zaalfruit just googled it quickly. Didn't find that exact thing but there's 150mg in an iced latte or iced cappuccino so I imagine it's similar.

The daily guideline is 200mg so that would be fine. You'd just have to be aware of anything else like chocolate or pop that might have caffeine in too.

Honestly, please don't worry. There is no health advice which says pregnant women must avoid all caffeine. I drank decaf coffee but had a few cups of normal tea a day at work! Don't panic. Some people still have the odd glass of wine too! I wouldn't do that personally, but a cup of tea every few days will be absolutely fine. Otherwise, your midwife would be telling people at every appointment to remember to avoid tea. Enjoy your yes without worry or guilt.

*tea

Thanks everyone - my DH is so worried That he went shopping he didn’t buy a single crisp or fizzy drink 😡
But he brought himself a Starbuck frappe

Your "D"H has no business controlling what you do or don't eat.

Hi @meg2811 I have a cup of black tea every morning. It's fine to have one cuppa a day, even two, its within NHS guidelines x

I drank 3 cups of Yorkshire Tea a day whe I was pg, but I don’t drink coffee or cola And couldn’t stand anything sweet like chocolate when I was pg.

Relax, enjoy your tea. ☕️