Caffeine? « Back to Group Discussions

[rachieface]

So, last night I was doing some research on caffeine during pregnancy, and felt really uncomfortable with what I saw.  I didn't think much about it during my first pregnancy (I hardly ever drank caffeine then), but this time around I'm consuming a bit more and now I'm freaked out about it.  And feeling a little selfish, because I reallllly don't want to cut it out all together.

I don't like coffee, so my caffeine mainly comes from soda or tea.  Usually soda.  I limit myself to one can a day, so 12 ounces.  The sodas I drink (Dr. Pepper or Coke Zero) have about 40 mg of caffeine per 12 oz.  That is all I have during the day, and I know that a lot of sources say there are no issues during pregnancy if you consume less than 200 mg a day.  But ugh, I'm still a little worried since caffeine does cross through the placenta...

What are your thoughts on this?  Have you cut out all caffeine?  Why or why not?  I am leaning towards continuing to consume my little bit of daily caffeine, but am having momma guilt!

By the way, here is an interesting chart showing the amount of caffeine in a bunch of different drinks...

http://www.energyfiend.com/the-caffeine-database

[Teles]

Yeah, I cut out caffeine completely when I first even suspected that I was pregnant. I'm now drinking rooibos tea exclusively, since decaf just makes me sad (and also isn't very good for you unless it's decaffeinated using a swiss water filter or the like). Luckily, I don't really like pop so it's not a struggle, but I do eat chocolate from time to time still.

The studies out there about how caffeine affects the embryo/fetus vary quite a lot, but I was reading a couple where women miscarried as much as 50% more often in the first trimester while they were drinking caffeine. It's my view that I can give up coffee for a couple years for the sake of baby (preg and breastfeeding) - plus it'll be all the better when I get to drink it again :). I certainly wouldn't judge anyone for drinking a can of pop here or there either.

I'd be more concerned about the articifical sweeteners than the caffeine in the Coke Zero, but that's my opinon.

[Adaline'sMama]

I'd love to cut it out, and Im working on it, but it is so hard. I am such a diet coke addict. Ive switched to caffeine free, but its just not the same.

[iamkateiam]

I basically gave up caffeine a couple months ago when we started TTC- and I had been a 3-4 cup of coffee a day type of girl so it was not a fun process.  Yesterday I thought I would treat myself to a chai tea latte from Starbucks (according to their website it has about 50mg of caffeine).  It kept me up ALL NIGHT!  I finally got to sleep around midnight and was up every two hours.  So, of course this morning I am exhausted and just want a cup of coffee.  But I know it's a vicious cycle I don't want to get into.  So I'll just suffer through today.  I guess me and caffeine aren't friends anymore

 

[loveandgarbage]

I usually don't drink caffeine the first trimester. With DS1 I drank it everyday in the 2nd and 3rd tri so that I could make it through work-- usually in the form of green tea.

[rachieface]

Yeah, Teles, I haven't had much Coke Zero since finding out.  That does worry me some.  I did see the study about women consuming caffeine being twice as likely to miscarry, but that was drinking around 300 mg a day, I think.  I saw it cited that 200 mg a day seemed to cause about 25% more miscarriages, so I imagine the 40 mg a day I drink to cause far less.  But it is definitely still disconcerting to me. 

Well, I went ahead and had my Dr. Pepper this morning.  However, I'm going to try to cut back.  I know they have those little tiny cans of Coke different places now....maybe I'll wean myself using those? 

[mamabear023]

We are so alternative, I don't even know where to start trying to explain.

The food people eat contributes to what is going on in our bodies. If you put the wrong fuel into a car it will break. If you put the wrong fuel into your body, its just a matter of what you want as far as quality of life. Most issues (I believe ALL, but understand that is extreme) can be reversed by changing your diet, its up to us to decide what we want to live with or not.

My hubby has allergies, he's changed his diet and they have become MUCH less...he's happy enough to have just a slightly stuffy nose...even though if he would really work hard, he could repair the damage and have no allergies...he's just not interested in finding out how much work it will take. Its his nose, and if he wants it only "slightly stuffy its his breathing passage, but I will say, I don't want to hear him complain about it!

What are your real concerns or what are you trying to avoid? For example, if miscarriage is your main area of focus, then I dont' think caffeine or soda is going to cause miscarriage...I dont' even think soda on its own will cause...say, Learning issues...but the accumulation of what people eat and the state of your gut flora passed on to the child at birth and the first 21 days of life DOES effect them GREATLY. The foods you put in your body can greatly impact your child for the good or for the not so good. It is your choice to do what you feel is acceptable.

If you want caffeine, I'd try to get it from the most natural source with the least amount of extras. Soda has lots of extra ingredients.  If you are interested, I can explain how 1 can of soda a day doesn't give your body enough time to balance back from what the ingredients do to the body.

[mamabear023]

Something I wanted to add, is that it is VERY hard to quit, but once  you are over the addictive effect of the foods/drink....its like someone flips a switch in you. I think for my husband the idea that his life was going to suck forever because he hated all the foods we were eating and all he wanted was....pasta, bread, sugar...whatever he couldn't have....He really thought his life would be a continual struggle of sacrifice. But day 10 came and it was almost like someone flipped a switch in him. It was still a little bit hard for him for another week or so, but after that he was completely changed. Not only did the cravings for the bad stuff go away, but he actually started craving the stuff he was supposed to be eating, and started enjoying it.

[etsdtm99]

I have read all that stuff about caffeine .. I did give it up in the first trimester in my first pregnancy, and i think i made it a week with #2 & #3 ..  i don't remember if i was drinking caffeine the pregnancy i did miscarry .. hm  anyway, I finally decided that i didn't want to be a slave to my soda addiction anymore last year - even one can a day, i didn't want to go through another pregnancy drinking all that sugar and caffeine ( i don't do artificially sweetened soda while pg/bfing, that wasn't hard to do at all with the sugary stuff available lol)  ..  that is why i cut it all out last fall because i knew i didn't want to be pregnant and going through all that comes with giving up soda and sugar ..  I don't drink any caffeine now because i know how bad the withdrawls were from cutting out my one soda a day - that was all that i consumed and it was still 2 weeks of head aches and feeling like poo after i quit .. i don't think one soda a day causes miscarriage, but i really just didn't want to put that in my body anymore.. as much as i love it ..   I also have a blanket rule about sugary drinks, i won't even take a sip of sprite or lemonaid because i know drinking sugar is something that is super addictive for me .. i also don't keep any candy in the house..  if i have to have chocolate i have a few chocolate chips and a big hand full of almonds or mixed nuts..  I also lost 15lbs in one month after cutting out my 1 soda a day.. ;)  
 

[satorifound]

I quit completely.  I figure why risk it, plus if I have any I want more.  LOL  I was a latte junkie and it was hard, but here I am caffeine free for one week.  :)

[mamabear023]

Way to go, sounds like you made it through the tough part!