Caffeine intake during pregnancy

[anniz91]

Hi people

What did you guys do to find alternative sources of caffeine during pregnancy?

Is decaf really allowed? How did people wean themselves off caffeine?

NHS says you can have up to 200mg a day

www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/

Most of my friends switched to decaf coffee with the occasional "normal coffee". I feel lucky that I'm not a tea/coffee drinker so it's not hit me too bad!

Decaf coffee is nicer than decaf tea in my opinion!

You can still have caffeine, just not so many cups a day of whatever you're used to, if it's a lot. Not big deal.

I bought some good quality decaf coffee beans from pact and drank herbal tea or decaf earl grey as well.

After the first week you get used to it and frankly with the 1st trimester tiredness the caffeine withdrawal didn't make much difference.

You’re allowed 200mg. I have my normal cup to start the day and occasionally a second cup. Otherwise it’s decaf (why wouldn’t that be allowed!?) and it’s easy to buy nice decaf coffee.

There’s no point looking for an alternative source of caffeine. The caffeine is the problem - that’s what you’re supposed to be cutting out. So you can drink decaf, or tea which is much lower in caffeine.

Have one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It's fine

I only drink decaf anyway, so just continued with that when pregnant. But be warned, the tannins in tea effect iron absorption and this is still a problem with decaf. Therefore don't drink it with or near to meal times or taking iron tablets as it will reduce absorption of iron.

I have a proper coffee in the morning and then drink decaf tea (and raspberry leaf tea now I’m in the final stretch!) if I want a hot drink later in the day.

I went off tea and coffee till I turned about 12 weeks. Up to then I substituted with hot chocolate. When I wanted tea and coffee again I would have a normal coffee and then switch to either decaf coffee or normal tea. I never bothered switching to decaf tea. If I really wanted a normal coffee I'd just make it a bit milky.

I like caffeinated drinks and didn't want to avoid all caffeine in pregnancy. What I did was halved the amount of (instant) coffee I was using in my morning cup, which gave me enough caffeine to get going, but with enough left to have another tea/coffee in the afternoon.

Sometimes I also top up a half-finished coffee/tea with hot water, so my hot drink lasts longer but gets gradually more dilute.

Got to admit though, at 35 weeks and with a big deadline approaching, my caffeine intake has definitely increased over the last week or so!

Thank you had no idea!

I tried to cut it out completely but relapsed back into drinking 1 cup in the morning which is making me feel so guilty 😔

Yes i suppose it's difficult. I have bought some high quality decaf from my favourite brand so I am hoping to make a move on that.

Please don't feel guilty - NHS advice is that it's safe to have 200mg per day. I drank 2 cups of tea a day (3 on tough days!) throughout my first pregnancy and it caused no problems. Doing the same this time round. Enjoy your morning cuppa! Decaf coffee is much nicer than decaf tea for drinks later in the day but you could try herbal tea like peppermint or redbush. I've also been enjoying the odd hot chocolate now and again!

Don't worry about it, have one or two normal cups a day and there won't be an issue! The guidelines are to stop people drinking 8 strong coffees a day etc.

I have 1 normal takeaway coffee a day and occasionally a tea in the evening, currently 23 weeks and no issues thus far. Did the same in my last pregnancy too and also no problems

I just cut out tea cold turkey. I only had 2-3 cups a day anyway so didn't have a huge caffeine intake. Didn't have any withdrawal or anything.

I still have the odd glass of coke at social occasions but like 1 a week at most.

One cup is absolutely fine. I never really bothered about it that much tbh with either pregnancy. Some days I might have two cups, some days none, some days a large coffee from Starbucks, some days a can of Coke and some chocolate, other days none. I wouldn't stress about it. Just don't be necking 10 espressos a day.

Nhs guidelines are up to 200mg a day which is something like two normal coffees and a can of coke. I really wouldn’t worry. I’m drinking 1-2 normal coffees a day and the odd can of coke. As long as you don’t go overboard and have like 8 coffees etc I really wouldn’t stress. I drank quite a lot of Pepsi max in my last pregnancy too and no issues.

Drank 1 medium coffee (take out) daily from around 17 weeks (felt too sick before then) in both pregnancies. I also had 1 can of Coke zero daily. Not one bit of harm done. Babies weren't small either which I read is apparently the issue with caffeine. 8lbs 1oz and 8lbs 6oz babies

You can still have a bit of caffeine. I vomited a lot early on so went off it but over Christmas I was having 2 cups to get me through the days as I was just so tired and we had family staying and since feeling better I generally have one a day but will have a second if needed. My friends all did the same and their babies are fine!

First pregnancy I just went off black tea and coffee completely and drank herbal tea or hot squash or fancy cordial type things. Second pregnancy went off tea again but still drank my normal cup of coffee in the morning, no problem. Just limit it to one or two and you will be fine! Sometimes you just need it!

1 cup of coffee is completely fine. Stop worrying

I went from drinking 6-8 cups of tea and coffee a day to finding out I was pregnant and cutting down to 1 a day. The caffeine withdrawal and migraine was bloody awful. My nausea and food aversions mean I can no longer drink anything except water (which I hate) so no alternatives sadly 😭