Caffeine - I feel so guilty

[Anonymous]

Everything in moderation dear.

It sounds like this is not a continual habit of yours so I wouldn't fret too much. Plus, you are in your second trimester so I don't think gulping down coffee and cokes are going to cause a m/c. I don't even know if it's enough to make your baby giddy.

Your body is very good at filtering things throughout your body, but if you are still worried that the caffeine will cross the placenta then try drinking two glasses of water for every cup of coffee/coke. You'll surely flush out any excess caffeine...PLUS it will keep you hydrated.

[Anonymous]

I drank a large starbucks cup of coffee every morning through two pregnancies and had no problems either time. You're five months along - the miscarriage study was for less advanced pregnancies.

I second the poster who cautioned against drinking diet sodas. I would stick to black tea and keep it to a couple of cups a day.

[Anonymous]

21:01 poster here - I looked at the dos/don'ts from my dr.'s office and it says I can only have only one kind of artificial sweetener (of course I forgot which one, but I do remember it's one that I never liked when not pregnant). Thanks for the replies though - I had been avoiding it altogether, and never thought twice about it.

I also like tea and so when I get it I ask them to mix half sweet and half unsweet so it's not as overpoweringly sugary.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered a sprite or ginger ale as a pick-me-up during the long hours instead of caffeine? I loved Sprite (especially with a lemon wedge) during my pregnancy and didn't feel guilty about it (although there are a ton of calories).

You may not get the same caffeine boost, but at least you'll get a little bit of zip from the sugars.

[Anonymous]

First kid I didn't do any caffeine at all.
Second kid (pregnant now), I've lightened up on LOTS of things a little bit...all in moderation
I generally do no more than a tall latte (75 mg) OR a coke (34 mg) - trying to stay around there. Last few days at work have stunk so I've been doing a grande latte (150) and today I did a grande and a half decaf tall (estimating 187 mg). Won't do that again, just because I can feel the kid go haywire!

Overall, I go with the moderation theme. Next week I'm going to try and go back to a half-decaf tall latte, but we'll see. I'm wrapping up a project so things are a little crazy. But I'm also in the third trimester (and didn't really do caffeine until the end of the second trimester - that's when I started to really need it)....though it appears a low birth weight is a risk in the third trimester according to various internet sources that I'm *sure* are reliable

Good luck and ask your doctor what they think..opinions vary. I just did a bit of online research and it seems like 200-300 mg/day is ok....though again personally I try to stay under 100.

[Anonymous]

I stayed away from caffeine with my first pregnancy - both before and after I had a m/c.

This time around, I can't keep away from my daily Coke - I have one per day usually at lunchtime and no, I don't feel guilty about it.

All things in moderation....

[Anonymous]

The guilty OP doesn't feel quite so bad anymore ... thanks everyone ... points well taken about job balance and watching the caffeine intake no matter how "OK" it is at lower levels. I am relieved to hear your "normal baby" stories, and still want to cut back to 1-2x week max for myself, if not the baby. Bring on the yawns ...

[Anonymous]

though it appears a low birth weight is a risk in the third trimester according to various internet sources that I'm *sure* are reliable

Purely anecdotal evidence to counter that -- I am a Diet Coke addict, and while I probably rarely exceeded 200-300 mg., I'm sure I came close on quite a few occasions, especially in the third trimester. An enormous fountain Diet Coke was my best friend and saving grace during those last few weeks, and I had a nine and a half pounder.

[Anonymous]

Of all of you drinking caffeinated drinks, I wanted to ask - has anyone (strangers, coworkers, friends, family) given you grief when they see you with it? I have an occasional Coke but I find myself "hiding" it b/c I don't want to hear any comments about it. I could be just acting crazy though.

[Anonymous]

I've gotten a few "confirmations" at Starbucks - as in, "You want that skinny caramel latte decaf?" and I say no. I'm 8 mo along and CLEARLY pregnant so their messaging is clear. But I ignore it. Last pregnancy I had a glass of wine here and there when we'd go out - no problem in Italy or Paris but when I did it in the states, boy did I get banged up looks. That was fun