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Original poster

If you went off coffee during pregnancy, what on earth else did you drink in the meantime?

46 replies

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 21/10/2009 21:52

I used to be a biiig coffee drinker. I've been off it for at least a month, retch at the thought of it, and mainly been drinking hot vimto but christ I'm bored of it now, it's not the same!

I'm phobic of tea (except fruit teas which contain no actual tea) I've tried drinking cocoa but it's too stodgy to drink all the time.

What can I drink?? and will this go at some point in the pregnancy, or afterwards?

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chewitt · 21/10/2009 21:53

Hot water. That's what worked for me. Got my taste back for coffee when DS was about an hour old!

TheOldestCat · 21/10/2009 21:56

Like chewitt, I wasn't able to stomach coffee until after DD was born, even though I longed for it! So I'm sure even if you can't have it during your pregnancy you'll get the taste back eventually.

You're quite right - nothing else is the same. Hot water with lemon was nice for a while, but now brings on the heartburn. Back to cocoa for me.

Original poster
JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 21/10/2009 21:56

Never thought of plain hot water... I'll try it, but I'm skeptical!

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saltyseadog · 21/10/2009 22:01

My new pregnancy drink addiction is a hot honey and lemon cordial from Waitrose (poncey I know). It's not cheap, but considering that I'm no longer drinking wine or coffee then I reckon it's worth it . It does also feel vaguely healthy.

Original poster
JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 21/10/2009 22:07

Yeah, might be worth looking at some posh cordial - vimto is soo sweet if I do it even slightly too strong it makes me feel sick.

I'm missing caffeine too (I could supplement with coke but since it's bad for the baby I think I'll just have to lump it!) Mornings just aren't the same without coffee are they??

OP posts:
MrsBadger · 21/10/2009 22:10

oh yes poncey Waitrose cordials
The Belvoir Orchards apple & pear one is ace, or the ginger and lemongrass one by Bottlegreen (make sure you get the cordial not the fizz)

do not bother with Robinsons' 'all natural', tis still shite.

saltyseadog · 22/10/2009 07:35

Oooh yes Belvoir and Bottlegreen cordials...

Bottlegreen do a really nice wintery one called Spiced Berry Fruits - perfect for this time of year

foxinsocks · 22/10/2009 07:45

ha! Yes I too went off coffee (used to be a hardcore drinker of it) and now I cannot stand the stuff (over 9 years since first pregnancy!). Even smelling it makes me feel a bit queasy.

I started drinking Rooibos tea (having never had a cup of tea in my life before I was pregnant as I couldn't stand the stuff) but I also have drinks like hot ribena every now and then.

mrsjuan · 22/10/2009 08:02

Tried to get into hot chocolate but it wasn't the same. I also drank quite lot of mint tea which was good for he heartburn & also made the baby kick!

I stared drinking milky coffee again in the 3rd trimester and am now happily back onto the good stuff now DD is 5 months old

LauraKB · 22/10/2009 08:04

If I'm out I sometimes have Steamed milk with flavoured syrup in it which is a nice change. Its a bit difficult to do in the office though!!

StealthPolarBear · 22/10/2009 08:14

nothing can replace it
it tastes really good afterwards tho

Lizzylou · 22/10/2009 08:16

A slice of lemon in hot water is lovely.

I loved my post birth coffee(s)

bubblesincambridge · 22/10/2009 09:34

Got a really nice pink ginger cordial from Waitrose. Great mixed with sparkling water =/- apple juice.

Walnut8 · 22/10/2009 10:14

I miss coffee. I still love the smell when I walk past espresso bars but makes me feel so ill if I taste it.

Was doing hot chocs for a while but the sweetness gets too much after a while. So now I make hot milk with half a mug of milk and half boiling water (and then microwaved for a bit if not hot enough). Or I do hot water with lemon juice and honey. Have tea every now and again but it's just so rubbish compared with coffee.

armbow · 22/10/2009 10:16

hot water with honey and lemon

hot blackcurrant juice

serenity · 22/10/2009 10:19

I was the other way around - hated coffee for years, I was a big tea drinker. I stopped being able to drink it when I was pg with DD, and survived on peppermint and jasmine tea (which just weren't the same) I never got the taste for it back, it just tastes wrong now, but DH managed to wean me onto coffee, so now I'm addicted to that instead.

LuckyC · 22/10/2009 11:31

Hey James I am having same issue. Can't do tea, herbal tea, anything. That hot cordial sounds like a plan. Lemon and hot water makes me feel like I have flu.

Original poster
JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 22/10/2009 11:34

[waves to may 2010 folks]

Lots of suggestions here, thanks a lot, I'll give some of them a try (though we don't have a waitrose round these parts, we do have an MS food hall, I'm sure they have some posh squash!)

OP posts:
Cies · 22/10/2009 11:37

Hot water with lemon and ginger here. Plus fruit teas.

StrikeUpTheBand · 22/10/2009 11:43

I haven't gone off coffee - in fact I crave it badly sometimes - but because I am a worrier and am high risk in pregnancy for lots of reasons I'd prefer to be cautious and avoid caffeine in pregnancy. I don't much like the idea of drinking decaff either because it still has some caffeine plus other stuff added to remove the caffeine. I am also severely (gestational) diabetic as well so can't have fruit juice or anything sugary. I'd rather not have too many sweeteners either.

Sorry to hijack but anyone got any ideas of what I can have besides water?! This is my 3rd pregnancy and although I'm lovely and hydrated it's very boring!

And yes, I agree that coffee is unique and nothing else hits the spot quite the same way!

Original poster
JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 22/10/2009 11:46

Fruit teas are always a bit disappointing though, I find! They sound so yummy on the packet "zesty lemon and lime with orange flower extract" etc - you smell the bag, smells gorgeous and zingy! you make up the tea, which smells good, but it tastes like faintly sour bathwater which has had a tangerine peel and an old sock floating in it.

Resounding meh.

And I don't think I could stomach peppermint tea. Mint, eucalyptus, teatree etc all make me feel nauseous.

OP posts:
Poohbearsmom · 22/10/2009 11:56

Hav ya tried a mild de-caff? I used to love proper coffee but cudnt stomach it from da 1st wk i got morning sickness but towards the end of my 1st preg i was able to enjoy mild de-caff again. Dont 4get ur raspberry leaf tea for ur last few wks too...

Kathyis12feethighandbites · 22/10/2009 11:57

green tea - v different from normal tea.

AngeChica · 22/10/2009 11:58

I totally went off ALL hot drinks and it took a while to come back, but now I need my coffee to power me through the day either at work or looking after my crazed toddler. I drank milk, milk, milk when PG .... even caving in to whole pints of full fat milk . I swear my DS was swimming in milk not amniotic fluid. I often suspect this may also be the reason why he was so humungous when born!

I also went off lager - I mean obviously I wouldn't have been drinking it anyway but even the smell made me feel ill. DS is 21 months and I still can't face it now.

alana39 · 22/10/2009 12:14

Bottlegreen lime cordial in the day - and cobra 0% alcohol beer in the evening. Then rediscovered orangina and am swigging that back like nobody's business.