Caffeine and TTC.......do I have to give up my addiction?!?

[firsttimettc]

Since January, my hubby and I have been TTC (we get more serious about it by each passing month) but this is the first cycle I am temping and charting.  But I have not given up my caffeine.  Should I?  I drink 1-2 cups of tea or coffee per day.  I am about to ovulate this week and have a coffee at my side!!  I'm a grad student in the last few weeks till I graduate so I need my caffeine, but if its preventing me from conceiving, I will definitely give it up!  

I would definitely stop all together if I get a BFP, but while we are BDing and in the 2WW, do I need to give it up?

Thanks for your thoughts, you ladies are so informative!!!! 

oh and I haven't been drinking alcohol at all since TTC just in case.  

[aHikaru]

I'm currently in the 3WW  and have decided to avoid all caffeine this cycle and I know it's something that doctors recommend, along with smoking and drinking. I think it's up to you, but it would be something that helps :)

[miss_sonja]

The evidence on caffeine points to possible problems with high amounts. 1-2 cups of coffee or tea each day is not that much caffeine. Give it up if you want to, but you don't have to in order to have success TTC. There are many other factors that will have a greater impact.

[firsttimettc]

Thanks Ladies!  I've cut it down to 1 cup to 1.5 cups per day now.  If I don't get pregnant this month, I think I will quit it all together.  

[TeamViddy]

All the studies I've read mention that 1 or maybe 2 cups of coffee every day doesn't have an impact. If you drink more than that you run a much higher risk of miscarrying, but studies show that 1-2 cups won't make an impact. Cutting those out will make you miserable.

I think in Western society we have some ideas about mothering that value sacrifice even when your sacrifice doesn't make an impact on your kids (and some sacrifices, like not working out or eating healthy because you're too busy sacrificing for your kids, have a negative impact on your family life). For instance, find me a scientific study that shows that a glass of wine- not just one sip, but a small glass- a day hurts your fetus and I will be very impressed. I haven't seen one yet.

Science shows that a small glass daily has no impact on growing a happy, healthy baby, and in Europe it's a lot more socially acceptable to have a glass. Being able to relax and unwind is seen as a benefit and I can guarantee you will find studies that show that stress is very bad for a developing baby.

Of course, smoking and excess sugar consumption are some things that we definitely want to be careful of. And, of course, drinking more than a little bit of coffee or alcohol can have terrible effects.

My point is basically that we probably don't need to be thaaat uptight about what we do when it comes to coffee (and small amounts of alcohol). Some sacrifices won't have much of an impact at all.