Caffeine consumption guilt

[Sasharon]

I'm 25 weeks pregnant. Baby is very active nowadays. I didn’t consume caffeine in 1st trimester. But i couldn’t stay awake without a cup of milk tea in 2nd trimester. But i feel so guilty after drinking one cup and my mind gets filled with too many tensions. Can you people help me to feel relax about this issue?

Tea was the staple household drink for years. Millions of women have drunk it throughout pregnancy. You’ll be fine. X

Anxiety is usual
this level could escalate, which isn’t helpful
a cup of tea is fine - you could have two cups and would still be ok

I conceived this baby with endometriosis. Sometimes i get very obsessed over my baby and overthink my overthinking. Your advice will help me a lot <3

Thanks for your kind words.

I didn’t drink caffeine in the first trimester but I did from 14 weeks. I’m now 33 weeks and drink 1 x caffeinated tea and 1 x can of Pepsi max per day with no guilt. I have growth scans for a medical reason and baby is right where they need to be.

Enjoy your tea guilt free ❤️

I drink a LOT of tea (see my username). I went cold turkey during the first few weeks of my pg with dc1 after a previous miscarriage but I started to get headaches. My friend suggested it was caffeine withdrawal. So I had a cup of tea and the headache went. And very soon I was back to drinking tea and coffee throughout my pg., not quite as much as usual (I drink one after another in normal daily life!) but maybe 6 cups a day or whatever the guideline says (dc1 is 20 years of age now so it was a while back!). Enjoy your tea! ☕

One cup of tea is absolutely fine. No need to feel guilty. You don't need to avoid caffeine altogether in pregnancy just keep it under 200mg.

I drank caffeine throughout both my pregnancies (one large latte every day plus occasional second coffee or teas). Zero issues whatsoever, doctors and midwives also had no concerns. Not sure where the advice around no caffeine comes from, as far as I know there is some evidence that excess caffeine might cause low birthweight but drinking it moderately is fine, in any case, both my babies were over 8lbs when born so definitely not small.

During my 1st pregnancy my grandmother couldn't believe I wouldn't have more than one cup of tea. She never drank water (had the occasional cordial) and basically lived off tea 10 + cups a day. She had 5 kids.

3rd pregnancy and im a one/two coffee and a couple of teas to get me through the day gal

Suspect the anxiety is worse than the tea and coffee

Feeling a little bit relieved

Try not to panic OP! 3rd pregnancy here and I always have a cup of coffee daily (apart from in 1st trimester with number two, when I couldn’t stand the idea of it). Often have a second cup of coffee or a tea in the afternoon. My first two were both 7 pounds something and had to be coaxed out with induction.

I think I need to stop overthinking as soon as possible

It’s easy to feel super anxious about these things but they keep the caffeine advice to a minimum to give a significant threshold in case you did go over.

I remember once suddenly working out that the copious Easter eggs I’d eaten in one day plus coffee meant I was way over the limit. Nonetheless, baby was absolutely fine because if you’re under the limit, it won’t hurt them.

as long as you’re not downing energy drinks you’re good!

Average cup of tea has about 20mg of caffeine, coffee about 100mg of caffeine (very broad averages advised by the midwife in my first pregnancy).
I had about 5 cups of tea a day when pregnant and then left the rest for my chocolate fix.

Try not to worry and just enjoy your one cup. :)

You can have quite alot of tea for the 200mg guidance! I think it's almost 10 cups!

If you find yourself getting really anxious about this please talk to your midwife. Pre and post partum anxiety is a real thing and getting help early can stop it getting really bad.

Mine is an ivf pregnancy and I’m still drinking tea and coffee. Been drinking one half caffeine coffee a day plus 2 cups of tea most days as well.

One cup (more than that even) is safe; I drank at least one cup of tea every day and on tired days a couple. It’s not anything to feel guilty about

My DS1 and I drank my usual amount of coffee( don't like tea) throughout my 3 pregnancies.
All were born healthy and a good weight so please don't worry or feel stressed

Back in the 60/70's they actually used to recommended a daily Guinness for the iron
Although guidelines change, as more knowledge is gained pregnancy doesn't
My opinion obviously.

I meant DS1 is 30 now

One cup of tea is well under the limit.

I usually had a takeaway latte or cappuccino in the morning and then a few teas [2/3] before 6pm. Tried not to have tea after 6pm as my sleep was not great anyway. Both babies fine.

Think it's more of an issue if you are mainlining sugar to be honest. I went with everything in moderation and all was well.