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Original poster

Where do you all stand on caffeine consumption?

64 replies

LizzeyBenett · 18/10/2023 14:23

Just wondering if you have all continued to drink tea & coffee obviously within reason . I had my first cup of coffee since my BFP last week and it was delicious but not sure it's worth it . Took me 2 years to get pregnant after a MC I'm very nervous.

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JanS17 · 18/10/2023 14:24

I continued to drink coffee while I was pregnant but was very careful to stay under 200mg caffeine a day. Through a lot of my pregnancy I couldn’t drink it anyway cos of morning sickness, but the nhs says up to 200mg is safe daily.

BHRK · 18/10/2023 14:26

I also drank coffee throughout within the guidelines mentioned above.

ES1986 · 18/10/2023 14:30

I have one, sometimes two, cups of caffeinated tea a day. I cut down before pregnancy so it wasn’t a shock to the system. Definitely need the one first thing though, especially with third trimester insomnia 😴

MrsJ6921 · 18/10/2023 14:30

I’ve drank two caffeinated a day throughout my pregnancy usually a latte and then a Pepsi/Coke - I’m now 29 weeks But I’ve also drank decaffeinated tea throughout and this still has caffeine in.

I stopped drinking caffeine all together whilst TTC and if I’m honest it didn’t make a difference. Still took us over 18 months to conceive and we’re healthy 26 year olds with no fertility issues after investigations.

C1N1C · 18/10/2023 14:33

Yeah I'm probably not doing my body any favours.

Probably three cups of coffee a day, a pre-workout hit, and maybe an energy drink...

TheSnailAndTheWaaaail · 18/10/2023 14:33

I went off coffee till I was about 20 weeks both times, just couldn't stand the smell! After that I could drink it again and would have 1 takeaway coffee in the morning and maybe a can of Coke Zero or a cup of tea in the evening. No issues either pregnancy

Ttcmumma · 18/10/2023 14:36

With my son I was 21 and kinda oblivious to all the rules, I wasn't a coffee drinker then but I had fizzy drink and I'm sure energy drinks too. I ate takeaways and junk food a lot. He was born at 38 weeks and 7lbs but he's 5 now and a tall, slim boy with no health issues. With this pregnancy I'm 27, more aware and I had a loss in-between so more conscious of it all. I allow myself a normal coffee in the morning, to function lol and sometimes a pepsi in the afternoon as I've been addicted my whole life 😅 but not everyday and usually don't go over those 2 drinks a day. Just so I know if anything went wrong I couldn't blame myself x

Fandangled · 18/10/2023 14:38

I avoided everything - no tea/coffee, alcohol - if it was on any 'not recommended' list then I stopped it!

However, I don't know anyone else who was as paranoid as me (haha) and since then I think the general rules have relaxed a little...

Cowlover89 · 18/10/2023 14:40

I drink like 3 to 4 cuppa teas not the same every day tho. Sometimes have 1

FirstMondayInMay · 18/10/2023 14:40

I went off tea and coffee until about 20 weeks. Now I’ll have 1 sometimes 2 cups of tea a day, I still drink coke and things like that as often as i want because it’s not loads that I’m having anyway

Alloveragain3 · 18/10/2023 14:45

1st pregnancy- no caffeinated coffee at all

2nd pregnancy- caffeinated coffee when I felt like it (none during 1st trimester as it made my nausea worse, a cup a day during 2nd trimester and maybe once or twice a week in 3rd trimester as it make me feel sick again)

I find it great for relieving constipation!

ASGIRC · 18/10/2023 14:46

I dont drink coffee, but i carried on drinking coke zero as normal.
Might even drink some more now, because I drink zero alcohol.
I dont drink LOADS of it, but a couple/a few glasses a day

DemelzaRobins · 18/10/2023 14:52

I'm quite sensitive to caffeine so always try and minimise how much I have. Before I knew I was pregnant I had one caffeinated cup of tea a day first thing and then had decaff for the rest of the day.

I'm now on decaff only since my BFP. I do sometimes have some chocolate though.

I've never liked coffee so didn't have that to cut out.

fredrid · 18/10/2023 14:54

I stopped drinking any caffeine during my pgs (and throughout bfing, which lasted for 3.5 years each time). Caffeine-free tea and coffees taste just as nice, and tbh I mostly drink water day to day. I never drink any fizzy drinks. It wasn't a big deal to cut it out as I'm not a big fan of hot drinks or sitting in coffee shops.

Walnuthhwip · 18/10/2023 14:58

Decaf only, which is 2mg so well below the threshold. And then things like chocolate have caffeine in too.
I read a report that said really even 200mg could be too much for a lot of women. I assume it’s the same way the nhs say we should have 5 fruit and veg a day, it doesn’t really mean that is what’s ideal, it’s just a number they’ve picked because it’s a good goal and lots of people will try to stick to it and might even come close. If they said 11 fruit and veg a day. for example you may not bother at all because that’s too hard. Equally if they said no caffeine lots of people couldn’t manage that, so at least there’s a manageable ‘limit’ for them to mostly stick to.

Sa11yCinnamon · 18/10/2023 14:58

Either two instant coffees or one 'nice' coffee a day, then switch to decaf.

countrypunk · 18/10/2023 15:01

Expecting Better by Emily Oster is a good book if you're worried about this. A lot of these recommendations are not based on sound science, and pregnant women are often told to completely avoid things when it's perfectly safe to have a little - it's just an easier message to impart.

Having said that I didn't drink any tea or coffee in the first trimester because I went totally off it! Nearly 18 weeks now and starting to enjoy both again. But I switched to decaf coffee years ago because caffeine exacerbated my anxiety.

LavenderSweetPea · 18/10/2023 15:04

I second @countrypunk with the recommendation to read 'Expecting better' it's really reduced my anxiety around all the pregnancy 'rules' like caffeine, cheese, baths, sleeping position yadayada.

FoleyHuck · 18/10/2023 15:10

Third vote for Expecting Better! I'm reading it now and I found the coffee / nausea link really interesting.

I've been having two instant coffees (or one 'proper' coffee) a day. Partly because I'm knackered, and partly because my colleague and close friend makes all our coffees at work and she'd be enormously suspicious if I suddenly switched to decaf Blush

Emsxox · 18/10/2023 15:15

I never have more than 2 caffeinated drinks in a day but if I fancy a cuppa I’ll just have a decaf if I want more - tastes the same to me now xx

neleh87 · 18/10/2023 15:16

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I had one caffeinated tea or coffee a day once I felt like it again (2nd trimester) and had decaf the rest of the time. This seemed like a good balance to me.

Screwballs · 18/10/2023 15:17

My stance is that healthy babies are born in the worst of situations, so my morning coffee really isnt an issue. On some days I've had a coffee and a couple of cups of tea. Most days I have one coffee in the morning and one tea in the evening. Basically I really havent changed my routine.

OopsieeDaisy · 18/10/2023 15:21

I generally have one coffee a day whether instant or a ‘posh’ one out and about. Occasionally I’ll have a second, such as if we go out for a meal and I fancy one after, and I often have some chocolate in the evening too. I did much the same in my first pregnancy and it didn’t appear to cause any harm.

gotomomo · 18/10/2023 15:25

It wasn't recommended that you drink caffeine when I had mine (usa) so I switched to decaf

rocknrollaa · 18/10/2023 15:28

It's not harmful as long as you check the guidance and stay below the threshold.

Listen to your body as well, how sensitive are you to caffeine? If you felt fine after it, weren't having shakes/ palpitations etc, then you are fine.