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[Serafina33]

Is there any solid reason to believe that a mug of black tea, i.e. small amounts of caffeine, are definitely harmful to the baby?

[onematchfire]

I was told up to 20 oz of coffee per day is fine, so I've been drinking that and herbal tea (including some with nettle and raspberry in them).

My dentist mentioned pregnancy gingivitis and suggested extra diligence in brushing and flossing.  Yay, wacky symptoms!

[LivingSky]

For those having trouble with prenatals - have you looked at Juice Plus? My prenatal was making me feel awful, and after reading the independant research on Juice Plus, I switched to that and gave up the prenatal entirely. Here is one article: http://drmitraray.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Dr_Ray_Prenatal_2010.pdf
Dr. Sears recommends taking Juice Plus+ AND your prenatal, but I felt much better once I stopped the prenatal!

As to Tylenol, I've had to take it a few times this pregnancy. I take it as rarely as possible, but if it comes down to not sleeping due to headache/feeling awful, or taking a tylenol and sleeping, I'll take the Tylenol and get some sleep! When not pregnant I almost never use Tylenol as I find Advil much more effective for me, but since that isn't an option during pregnancy, Tylenol will usually make me feel just enough better that I can sleep, and then the sleep will make me actually feel better

[SuzieSmiles]

Originally Posted by Serafina33 

Is there any solid reason to believe that a mug of black tea, i.e. small amounts of caffeine, are definitely harmful to the baby?

I have looked into this extensively as I tend to do about most things pregnancy related that are of interest to me. I prefer to go on the safer side if there is anything potentially negative or dangerous that I come across. With the coffee/caffeine situation, most sources seem to agree that refraining entirely from caffeine is the best but that 200 mg or less per day is fine. We need to keep in mind that one cup of coffee or tea can be stronger or weaker depending on how it's made or brewed, etc...

Here's an excerpt from an article from webmd:

*~*~*In general, 200 milligrams of caffeine is equal to one 12-ounce cup of coffee, but coffee drinkers should be aware that there can be tremendous discrepancies in different brews. For example, a grande 16-ounce Starbucks brewed coffee has 320 milligrams of caffeine.

Eight ounces of caffeinated tea and most 12-ounce soft drinks have less than 50 milligrams of caffeine; 1.55-ounce chocolate bars have less than 35 milligrams, according to information cited in the new report.

The new opinion statement is based on a literature review of recent studies looking at the effects of caffeine on pregnancy. The authors also looked at how caffeine affects risk of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) during pregnancy. While there is no definitive evidence that caffeine increases risk of IUGR, more study is needed to better understand this relationship, the new paper states.

Sami David, MD, a New York City-based reproductive endocrinologist and pregnancy loss expert, tells his patients to play it safe when it comes to caffeinated beverages during pregnancy.

"One cup of coffee a day, which is about 8 ounces and has around 100 milligrams of caffeine, or two cups of black or green tea per day is OK," says David.*~*~*

And, here's a bit from Dr. Mercola:

*~*~*Caffeine is an addictive, stimulant drug that passes easily through the placenta to the developing fetus. It is also transferred through breast milk.

In babies (newborns and unborn), the half-life of caffeine is extended. It stays in your baby longer, and a developing fetus has no ability to detoxify caffeine.

Research has shown that ingesting caffeine during pregnancy can result in a wide range of problems for you and your baby, including:

• Increased risk of miscarriage

• Low birth weight

• Birth defects such as cleft palate

• Increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

• Decreased levels of iron and calcium in the expectant mother

There are also studies of it causing lower birth weight, increased risk of miscarriage and about caffeine being a potential fetotoxic substance. The one thing I've come across that really bothers me and makes me feel guilty about even having my 1/3 cup is the fact that caffeine crosses the placenta to the baby and they can't handle the caffeine like we can and that it may decrease blood flow to the placenta... I won't bother switching to decaf because of the chemicals they use to make it decaf are likely worse than the caffeine itself! 

Edited by SuzieSmiles - 3/20/13 at 4:44pm

[CDsMom1031]

I need to show that to my DH. He always gives me crap, jokingly, for drinking my half cup of coffee every morning. It's the only caffeine I have... Ever.

[amanda bee]

suzie: thanks for posting the caffeine info.

I was a total espresso junky before i got pregnant & had to stop cold turkey as soon 

as i found out (even though my OB said i could have 200 mg a day & 400 mg once i hit the 2nd trimester). 

i gave it up because i did not think i could have just one shot a day...

i read similar studies of increased miscarriage, low birth rate etc. & figured with my history

of miscarriage why risk it.

***this being said i have been CRAVING soy lattes lately!

[SuzieSmiles]

Thanks CDsMom1031 and amanda bee - I'm always worried about posting too much or too long of a post:) Glad it didn't bug you guys:D

[nettlesoup]

On the gum subject I was going to say, I heard there is pregnancy related gum issues and it only started after I got pregnant. So I assume that means I won't have preterm issues as it's just another pregnancy symptom.
 

[Serafina33]

So my tea has 50mg and if I have a bit of chocolate there is a dozen or two (I'd never eat a whole bar at once) mg of caffeine there.  If the safe limit is 200, then how can a daily mug of tea and milk or occasional bites of chocolate be harmful?    You think there's a chance that even 15-50mg of caffeine is negatively affecting the baby?   Would that level be as dangerous or more dangerous than the flame retardant chemicals and synthetics I sit on, in my sofa (and 99% of all of us have non-organic sofas), or household exposure to non-organic cleaning detergents (we don't have exclusively organic household products in our home), or the general pollution in the air when walking down a city street?

I'm honestly asking, and wondering, how the caffeine risk compares against other general icky, non-beneficial 'stuff' in the world and in the air that gets into our system.   I don't want to give up a bite of chocolate or a warm mug of soothing tea unless it really is necessary.  :)

[serena76]

I was a heavy coffe drinker, about 10 cups a day. When I got pregnant the first time I didn't give it up coz I didn't think it would make that much difference, but I lost the baby at 6 weeks, I definitely think that contributed to my loss.

[amanda bee]

serena: i was a heavy coffee drinker too...minimum 6-8 shots of espresso a day...at least 1200 mg of caffeine a day....plus a total chocolate fiend.

for me i know i consumed excessive amounts (i'm a grad student 2000km away from my DH & parenting solo...espresso has kept me functioning for past 3 years on little sleep)

& it was easier to cut it off then have one latte a day....

[MamaMash]

I've always been a one cup a day coffee drinker. I gave it up during the first trimester but since the second tri I have been having a cup a day. And a lot of times I will only drink half the cup honestly. I think there are a lot worse things I could be doing than having a cup of coffee

[SuzieSmiles]

Originally Posted by Serafina33 

So my tea has 50mg and if I have a bit of chocolate there is a dozen or two (I'd never eat a whole bar at once) mg of caffeine there.  If the safe limit is 200, then how can a daily mug of tea and milk or occasional bites of chocolate be harmful?    You think there's a chance that even 15-50mg of caffeine is negatively affecting the baby?   Would that level be as dangerous or more dangerous than the flame retardant chemicals and synthetics I sit on, in my sofa (and 99% of all of us have non-organic sofas), or household exposure to non-organic cleaning detergents (we don't have exclusively organic household products in our home), or the general pollution in the air when walking down a city street?

I'm honestly asking, and wondering, how the caffeine risk compares against other general icky, non-beneficial 'stuff' in the world and in the air that gets into our system.   I don't want to give up a bite of chocolate or a warm mug of soothing tea unless it really is necessary.  :)

Honestly, I don't think that having a touch of caffeine is anywhere near as harmful as a whole slew of other things (and sorry if my comments about caffeine made it seem that I was attacking caffeine - although it's not the healthiest thing as we all know). Pre-pregnancy, I did way too much baby/pregnancy research into all of the harmful/dangerous every day things we are exposed to (including the things you mentioned and on and on) and got myself all freaked out. I didn't want to be a pregnant worry wort (because that's not good for baby either). So, since being pregnant, I told myself that I can't control everything and if I tried, I'd drive myself crazy. I do my best each day to be calm, joyful about being pregnant and find peace in knowing I'm doing what I can to be good (mind, body & spirit) and healthy without going overboard and stressing myself out (if that makes sense). Sorry for all of my rambling... basically, my vote is to enjoy your warm mug of tea and bites of chocolate, we have to live in this world and certainly can't avoid everything that's dangerous, right? Moderation is key in my opinion:)

[amanda bee]

Originally Posted by SuzieSmiles 
 I do my best each day to be calm, joyful about being pregnant and find peace in knowing I'm doing what I can to be good (mind, body & spirit) and healthy without going overboard and stressing myself out (if that makes sense). Sorry for all of my rambling... basically, my vote is to enjoy your warm mug of tea and bites of chocolate, we have to live in this world and certainly can't avoid everything that's dangerous, right? Moderation is key in my opinion:)

[onematchfire]

Originally Posted by SuzieSmiles 

...we have to live in this world and certainly can't avoid everything that's dangerous, right? Moderation is key in my opinion:)

Amen.  Never mind that "experts" seldom agree on anything and medical organizations' official opinions generally operate from the absolute most a risk averse position, often based on minimal solid evidence, for fear of being sued.

In parts of the world they recommend that pregnant women avoid raw vegetables due to risk of listeria or eat sushi with abandon or consider wine to be good for pregnancy, but you certainly won't hear doctors in the US saying those things.

The list of foods and activities out there that pregnant women are supposed to avoid (and the condescending tone so many resources for pregnant women take) drive me batty.  I'd rather have my provider explain what the potential risks (and benefits) are and let me make a decision like a grown up. 

[Bromache]

Totally with you on the moderation and not stressing thing! 

I think I spoke too soon about feeling better... It hasn't been a great week for me. Nausea's back, and the feeling that I MIGHT throw up (though I haven't). Today has been pretty good, though, so I guess I'm down to some days will be good and some will be bad. I think I can handle that for another couple of weeks. 

[nettlesoup]

You know what's ridiculous? I am already having trouble putting wellies and boots on! If I'm having trouble this early, how am I going to cope in a few months time!?

[Bromache]

Originally Posted by nettlesoup 

You know what's ridiculous? I am already having trouble putting wellies and boots on! If I'm having trouble this early, how am I going to cope in a few months time!?

Not sure about in Scotland, but I'm looking very forward to flip-flop season here in Canada! Best part about being pregnant in the summer. 

[nettlesoup]

Haha, it's never flipflop season here unless you want trench foot! We used to have nice, relatively dry summers but that seems to be a thing of the past now. I think it'll have to be slip on shoes for me once it's warmer!

[LivingSky]

Moderation - yep, it's all about moderation. I frankly believe that most health professionals in Canada and the USA say "ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL" (or whatever else they're saying you can't have during pregnancy) because North American culture is SO much about excess. Too many people won't just have a glass of wine, they'll drink a whole bottle - so it's safer just to tell people they can't have any at all.

I think a small amount of most of the "forbidden" things is perfectly fine - and for a lot of things, even beneficial. Especially when you consider the stress of not having that thing. Like a few of you mentioned I find it easier not to drink coffee at all rather than to cut down to 1 cup or half a cup a day - but if I'm really exhausted or really craving it, I go ahead and have a cup. A lot of time it relaxes me just to know that i can have a cup if I really want it, kwim? The same with alcohol - sushi - or whatever. A half a cup of wine once or twice a month, or a couple pieces of sushi at a clean restaurant is just not a big deal, imo. Of course I'm not a doctor