Anyone still drinking caffeine?

Janelle - posted on 03/16/2009

Nope your not alone, I only took up drinking coffee when I was pregnant with my first (She's now 3). I have noticed that it makes bub very active.

Kristina - posted on 03/15/2009

Heck NO!  Caffeine is my save haven ... I have a 1 and a 2 year old and I need a little to keep me going every once in a while.  During my first pregnancy I was really cautious and drank only decaf and tried to stay away from all caffeinated drinks but that wore off close to the end of my pregnancy and then my second pregnancy I was a little less cautious and let meself have fully caffeniaed coffee every now and then ... THIS TIME ... I have a cup almost every day and don't feel too guily about a glass of pepsi or coke every now and then.  I am a much healthier person then some other pregnant people I have known and my first 2 children turned out allright so I treat myself!  My mother in law said she drank a glass of coke every morning during her pregnancys and that it was the only thing that would settle her stomach...I have a wonderful husband so I really wouldn't worry a whole lot about it.

Kimberly - posted on 03/06/2009

im drinking it...i'm trying so hard to only drink 1 a day but sometimes its not that easy but...i've got 9 more weeks to go!

Casey - posted on 03/06/2009

I like to drink those starbucks frappaciono things.. they seem not to have much caffiene but it helps my mood when I'm sleepy.

Kristina - posted on 03/04/2009

You are deffinately not alone! Caffine tends to dehydrate you but only if you drink a lot of it. It's perfectly fine to drink a cup a day as long as your drinking your water too. Believe me I don't think I could keep up with my 3 year old step son without my daily dose!

Catherine - posted on 03/03/2009

you're not alone.. but no it's not good and I hear ya with keeping up with the toddler what I do is every other day do half and half and every other day do decaf your body will adjust and often create a placebo effect and you will still feel like you got enough caffeine. Also it depends on the type of coffee if you're brewing starbucks in you're coffee maker, ditch it! it's like 18mg per cup. But no once and a while won't hurt. It does speed up your child's heart rate which can cause problems if done on a reg. basis so try those things so you get your daily coffee fix but wean it down to just a teeny bit and the days you don't got anything going on like shopping or something..skip it or just stick to decaf

Amy - posted on 03/02/2009

don't sweat it....I have 1 cup a day as well...that's about all my tummy can take, otherwise I get good old heartburn like crazy...

You are not alone

Sara - posted on 02/28/2009

I did a lot of online research about caffeine consumption because we heard an arrhythmia (irregularity) in the fetal heart beat around 22 weeks, and caffeine had been cited as a factor affecting fetal heart beats. From everything I read, one cup of coffee, especially if it is ~6oz (as opposed to a super tall grande size) sounds more than safe. I wouldn't have been worried except that, like you with a three year old (and a one and a half year old) I had been consuming at least one coffee, and sometimes with a couple of cups of tea in the afternoon, almost every day. I've since cut down to only one cup of tea a day (and sometimes a coffee instead), and have had a normal fetal heart beat in my last two appointments - not sure if it's related or not. My midwife assured me that arrhythmias can arise and resolve themselves, so not to go 'blaming' myself over a few cups of coffee, but it was easy to cut down when I was afraid I was possibly affecting the baby's heartbeat.



So enjoy your one cup of coffee - it's well below the recommended daily allowance! Just add some extra milk/cream for a calcium boost. :-)

Heidi - posted on 02/28/2009

My Dr said I was able to have 2 cans of pop a day, don't remember how much coffee because I don't drink coffee. I went cold turkey when I thought I was pregnant because I use to drink a lot more than 2 cans a day, now I just have a can every once in a while as a treat and if we go out for supper I just get water. When I do have a can of pop I stick to Sprite/Sierra Mist and stay away for the colas/dr peppers. I don't need that much of a sugar rush when I haven't been drinking it for so long.

Anna - posted on 02/26/2009

The first 4 months of pregnancy i didn't drink coffee but that was moer a choice my bady made then my mind.  Now I will have a cup or 2 if I am eatting out or happen to drive by a Starbucks but not very often do I brew any at home for myself.

Dana - posted on 02/25/2009

I am a caffeine junkie. But since I have been pregnant I have cut back. I limit my self to one pop or cup of coffee a day.

Kimberley - posted on 02/19/2009

I have a cup or two of very weak tea a day.  I think 200 mg is the acceptable limit, and one cup of coffee is within that.  I do miss coffee.

Barb - posted on 02/19/2009

I still drink one cup of coffee per day. It's only in the first trimester that drinking a LOT of coffee can sometimes lead to miscarriage, and drinking a LOT of coffee throughout pregnancy can result in lower birth weight babies, but I've read that up to 4 cups of coffee per day is acceptable.

Heather - posted on 02/18/2009

I drank some caffeine while breastfeeding for 6 months - maybe a cup a day, never more than 2. It didn't seem to have much of an effect on my son. However, I was supplementing with formula, so I suppose that has to be taken into account.
This time around we're hoping to exclusively breast feed for at least a year - which means if my baby seems to be feeling effects of caffeine, I'll cut way down or stop completely.
But handling a 3-year old and a newborn without coffee... We'll see ;)

Rebekah - posted on 02/18/2009

I breastfed my son for about 7 months and drank very little caffeine while I was nursing. Maybe it was all in my head, but it seemed to diminish my milk supply and make my nipples hurt more. It also made it much harder to fall back asleep after the night time feedings... But that's just me. I didn't really notice any problems with him... my son has always been hyper!

Rebecca - posted on 02/18/2009

Someone brought up a good point, can you breastfeed  and consume caffeine? Or will it make my little one hyper? I didn't breastfeed for more then two weeks with my first but I definitly wanted to try to stick with it longer this time.

Jennifre - posted on 02/15/2009

I  still drink caffine, i will say that i don't near what i use too, but i do have a starbucks from time to time and i do drink tea just bout everyday, but i think its all based on the person personaly, plus i eat sushi and oysters, and my baby is doing great, she actualy moves alot more after i eat sushi! lol

Megan - posted on 02/15/2009

I tend to have one (coke/soda/pop) a day, I try to keep it down but I dont stress too much about it

Jacinta - posted on 02/14/2009

when i first got pregnant i couldn't drink anything except water coz nothing would stay down but recently i've been craving really sweet things so i've been really naughty and been drinking vanilla coke yes i know extremely bad for the baby but i can't help myself it just tastes awesome.

Sara - posted on 02/12/2009

With my first I had NO caffeine for the first 7 months. then someone reminded me that when I did have it when I was nursing it would really effect her. So I started having one every once in a while.
This time I have been having way more. Which my husband is upset about.
Stuff I've read says "YOU CAN HAVE 2 CUPS A DAY", which I think is totally crazy. If you feel guilty have 1/2 caf or get energy from something else.
Good breakfast w/ the 3 year old, or some fruit. Have you kid stretch with you. Stuff like that.
Our bodies are resilient. Let's hope the babies are to while doing what we can to take the best care of them.

Niki - posted on 02/11/2009

I am definitly still consuming coffee ... I have a 16 month old who has just recently began to sleep through the night but still gets up around 6am daily! Each and every morning I wake up to a freshly brewed cup of coffee waiting for me in the kitchen and it is one of the most enjoyable moments I experience daily =) 2 cups of coffee each morning makes for a much happier me! I stay within the recommendations so I don't feel too guilty. With my first pregnancy I avoided it completely, but I also wasn't chasing around a toddler then...  

Jenna - posted on 02/11/2009

not alone! the 3 yr old definitely warrants at least 2 cups!

Erika - posted on 02/11/2009

According to the latest research by the British Medical Journal (Nov 2008) which tested thousands of expecting mothers and their babies throughout pregnancy, birth, and infancy, caffiene consumption under 300mg per day had no effect on the baby. Caffiene consumption greater than 300mg per day cause lower birth weight in some of the newborns... a cup of regular coffee is about 100mg. i drink one mug in the morning and sometimes a mug of tea at night... if you have concerns with even having one cup maxwell house makes a "lite" which has half the caffiene! i was getting horrible migraines and taking excedrine tension headache (acetominophen + caffiene) and my docs (i have 5 of them LOL) said drinking more coffee is better than taking the meds, hope that helped!

Dina - posted on 02/11/2009

My doctor said it was totally OK especially to combat some of the migraines I get on a daily basis.

Jenifer - posted on 02/10/2009

I have switched to 1/2 caff brewed at home, and will still occassionally have a "real" cup of coffee or a coffee drink (capp, latte, etc) when I'm out.
I drink at least 2 cups of my 1/2 caff a day.
I feel like it would be more harmful to both me and the baby (and my 4 year old AND my husband) were I to actually have caffeine withdraw - before I got pregnant I was a 6-7 cup a day-er. I cut back this same way with my son before (4) and my midwife was very happy and comfortable with my decision then and so am I now.

Lisa - posted on 02/10/2009

I don't think you should feel guilty at all for having some caffeine. Everything I learned at the OB/Gyn office I worked at, caffeine is the least of your worries as long as you aren't consuming several a day. One or two a day is fine. - There are MANY things that are MUCH worse that you could be doing, so enjoy your pregnancy! It is hard enough so have what you want, within reason!!!

Lacey - posted on 02/10/2009

I felt guilty at first, but then realized if I don't have coffee then my daughter would just be watching me sleep!!!  When I was pregnant with her I had at least 2 coffees a day and she's perfectly fine and healthy!!!  this time its more like one coffee a day sometimes none...but trust me don't feel guilty... you need to stay awake!!!

Shushuana - posted on 02/10/2009

Maybe I am really bad!! I have a Latte in the Morning every Morning :+ and on occasion an Energy drink when i can't seem to get any energy to chase my 3 kids around. Due May 2nd. I had been drinking at least 2 rockstars as day when I found out I was 6 weeks. Stoppped doing so many and cut down to 1 or 2 a week ( could only drink half a can, Still can't drink more then that at a time) My first 3 pregnancies I did everything right, this one I have done it all wrong LOL. Had an Ultrasound done yesterday and she is right on track and has good movement everything is good Dr. Says. So I don't know what this whole thing with caffiene is. Been eating foods I shouldn't (on occassion Tuna and shrimp). Freaked out when I found out I was Prego asked the Doc, He said it would be fine just don't go crazy and have a Giant Monster or anything. I do take Vit. B12 to help with being tired works really well with out the caffiene crash too.



God made us to be good at having babies so don't freak out over a little caffiene.

Heather - posted on 02/09/2009

I'm still drinking about a cup or 2 of coffee a day, sometimes switched out with tea, sometimes chocolate (mmm, chocolate).

In fact, with my first pregnancy (full term, healthy, is 2.5yo now), I found that once I got into my third trimester, the amount of caffeine I could handle starting going down by the day, until I really couldn't have more than a few sips of tea close to when he was born. My stomach would get upset, I'd have a racing heart, and my blood sugar would go wacky unless I made sure I ate enough with the caffeine.

I expect that to happen this time around, too. I do so love my morning coffee, though... For the routine as much as anything else. Can't bring myself to do decaf, though some (safe) herbal teas are nice.

Don't feel bad, and hang in there! :)

Aislinn - posted on 02/09/2009

Dont feel guilty at all... I also have a 3year old and Im a full time College student.

Trust me there is nothing to feel guilty about having 1 cup of coffee in the morning, just dont go spiking it with some bailey's till after the babay is born ;)

Genie - posted on 02/09/2009

I don't drink a lot of caffeine right now, but once in a while, I will have a mountain dew or dr pepper. Most of the time, I will stick to water, juice and Root Beer. My husband found some decaffinated tea at the store and makes pitchers of it. I love that! I try to avoid caffeinated beverages so that I can have more chocolate!

Keela - posted on 02/06/2009

I have cut down to one Mt. Dew a day. Yes I feel quilty but I was drinking 6-12 a day before I knew I was pregnant. I dont drink coffee and I do drink a lot of water and juice to offset my one soda!

Brittany - posted on 02/06/2009

Quoting Rebecca:

Anyone still drinking caffeine?

Hello ladies, I am just curious if anyone is still consuming caffeine. I asked my doctor about the risks a few months ago and he told me one cup of coffee a day was ok. I had heard that it wasn't good during the first 3 months of pregnancy but after that it was ok to drink.In which I did not drink it in the first few months. Now being 6 months pregnant I have been drinking one cup a day in the morning , just to keep up with my 3 year old but I feel really guilty. Am I alone?

Up until this week, I drank mostly water since being pregnant. Occasionally I would drink some of my fiance's drinks or a few sips of his coffee. We just moved a few days ago and we went from city water to well water. The well water didn't taste very good to me so I've been drinking sweet tea along with everyone else. I have felt bad about it because I was doing so well. I think I'll ask my new dr. about it on my first appointment.

Patricia - posted on 02/06/2009

No your not alone. I drink coke and if i don't i drink a small coffee and eat chocolate too! I like caffeine

Rebecca - posted on 02/06/2009

That definitly makes me feel a little better that I am not alone.  Like I said I do drink 1 cup of coffee in the morning but the rest of the day I stick with water or the occasional caffeine free root beer. I love my diet Mug root beer. Is there more caffeine in a cup of hot tea or in a cup of coffee? Just curious. Maybe I should switch to tea.

Diana - posted on 02/06/2009

I started out trying not to drink any caffeine, but I was driving myself insane.  I looked through several different baby books, searched several different sites for new moms, and of course discussed it with my doctor, and everyone seemed to agree that the equivalent of a cup of coffee a day was perfectly safe and normal.  Since I don't actually drink much coffee this was good news for me...I could have chocolate and soda, or even my occassional white chocolate mocha on occassion without feeling bad about the caffeine in it.  That said...I try not to indulge those whims too often, but more because of the amount of empty sugar calories that I'm consuming than because of worries about the caffeine.

Rebekah - posted on 02/06/2009

I'll just add that the amount of caffeine in a drip coffee is about 150mg and soda about 35mg. (http://www.energyfiend.com/the-caffeine-...) So you'd have to drink more soda to even equal that of a cup of coffee.

Ann - posted on 02/06/2009

I LOVE my Dr. Pepper and I've tried the caffeine free version but it just ain't as good. I do feel guilty when I get some b/c the med. size at a lot of fast food places are huge and yes I will drink it all. I drive 30 min to work and so i have that time to eat and I don't even think about it. I will try to get a Sprit but it gets old fast. If I do feel like being good, I'll try to swing by Dairy Queen or Sonic and get a Cherry Limade but if I can't then DP it is.

I did give it up when I was in my first trimester and I will need to give it up when I breastfeed but its hard to do.

Rebekah - posted on 02/06/2009

Not during the 1st Trimester, but after 12 weeks I started slowly drinking caffeine again. I work at Starbucks part-time and so it's next to impossible to avoid it all together. I try to drink decaf, but a couple times a week will give into the temptation. And I'm sure the closer I get to my due date the amount of caffeine I consumer will increase... as my energy decreases again.

Brenda - posted on 02/06/2009

Small amounts won't hurt at all.  Large amounts would transfer to the baby but it is perfectly safe to have the equivelant to two cups of coffee worth of caffeine per day without cause harm to the baby at all.  I drink a soda now and then, and every once in a while a cup of coffee.

Amy - posted on 02/06/2009

I don't drink it much. With my first son I only drank water the entire time I was pregnant. That is all that tasted good. This time around I am bored with water! I drink as much as I can but really just want some flavor after awhile! I drink tea instead...(sweet of course but have cut back the amount of sugar added). To make it decaf you can still use regular tea bags. You just boil your water(we use the microwave) then I take out a little bit of the water into a coffee mug or another bowl and you set your tea bags in it for 30 seconds then switch them to the original container and dump out the other water. The first 30 seconds of contact with the hot water gets the caffiene out so you just disgard that portion then you are decaf and it all tastes the same.

Shauna - posted on 02/06/2009

No your not alone. I feel guilty as well, when I have a can of pepsi, I can't even drink the whole thing, without guilting myself. Even though my doctor said it's ok, i still feel bad, so I only drink caffeine like once in a while.