Caffeine - I feel so guilty

[Anonymous]

I have read the past boards about caffeine use and everyone's differing views. Initially I was drinking no caffeine, but now I'm 5 months and am extremely busy at work (often 14-15 hour days) and I'm finding it virtually impossible to function work-wise without it. I have begun having some green tea and/or a Coke (I am not a coffee drinker). But on a few days, I've had 2 large Cokes or Diet Cokes. The recent "miscarriage study" involved over 200 mg/day of caffeine, and I don't exceed 100 mg ever, but I still feel so guilty that I might be doing damage.

The other option seems to be to drag all day, not get my work done, then end up staying late to finish it or simply not finishing - all because I was like a zombie during the day. That becomes a vicious cycle, too. For that reason, it seems like having caffeine is best if it helps me focus and get home sooner, but is this a horrible justification? Can anyone make me feel worse so I stop drinking caffeine altogether, or make me feel better?

[Anonymous]

Any chance you can try and take a nap for half an hour instead of the caffeine? My company has a room with two beds where you can lay down -- I know a lot of pregnant women use them. Or my DH's colleague used to go nap in her car for 30 minutes or so when she was pregnant. I drank a cup (or two) of coffee everyday for both pregnancies and my two are fine. I'd say two large cokes sounds like a bit much - but talk to your doctor.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate your dedication to your career, but I hope you can find some balance.

[Anonymous]

Think of it as baby preparation...it'll be awfully hard to have a child AND work 14-15 hours a day, so start getting your body/mind ready for it now!

(I have a diet coke every now and then...no need to be a nazi on this stuff, IMO).

[Anonymous]

I try not to drink caffeine on a day to day basis, but if I'm dragging at work I'll have a coke, or sometimes get a grande chai from Starbucks (has 200 miligrams of caffeine). My doctor said it's fine in moderation. Plus as far as I remember those studies were geared more towards first trimester caffeine consumption, and even in the first trimester the study shows that up to 200 mgs does not have an effect on miscarriage.

The point is that I would not worry about an occasional coke, etc. I can understand how you might feel guilty sometimes, but it's not necessary. You are only consuming in moderation. Talk to your doctor and see what s/he says and hopefully they'll ease your mind.

[Anonymous]

With my first I had no caffeine, and now during my second pregnancy I'm having some. I'm not a coffee drinker either, but have a serious iced-tea addiction. I've been drinking green tea a couple times a week and decaf other days. I also enjoy the occasional coke.

I wouldn't worry too much esp. at the levels you're having. I know lots of moms who still had a cup of coffee every morning while pregnant.

[Anonymous]

With my first I had no caffeine except for the occasional chocolate. This time around I have a cup of coffee in the morning. My migraines were returning(the went away after the first pregnancy) and when I would have about a 1/2 cup of coffee in the am I would be fine all day. My ob said this was fine... she also said that she attended a lecture about migraines called, "a Coffee and 2 Tylenol". I wouldn't feel guilty.

[Anonymous]

Especially at 5 months, I would not feel too guilty. My understanding of the miscarriage risk is that it is of most concern in the first tri. You are not consuming huge amounts of caffeine. I am at 6 months now and have a small cappuccino every morning, plus on bad days I have a diet Pepsi during the afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Don't worry about it. You're out of the first trimester, and you aren't drinking that much anyway. I drank Diet Coke throughout my pregnancy with my OB's blessing.

[Anonymous]

Please don't torment yourself. Yes, there is some evidence that caffeine poses risks. But lots of us injest some amount of caffeine throughout our pregnancies with no ill effects. I have a cup of coffee every day in the AM, and on 3 or 4 occasions have downed lots of Diet Coke to plow through for a work-related deadline. Is it ideal? No. But everything we do entails some risk, and I can't wrap myself or my baby in a bubble for 40 weeks. I am more than just an incubator! My current pregnancy follows a m/c and originally I experienced some complications this time too. As much as I fear all the possible things that can go wrong in a pregnancy, I accept that there are never any guarantees, and I just try to do my best. Hope you can do the same...

[Anonymous]

I would skip the green tea as I remember reading somewhere that it can be bad during pregnancy. Have black tea instead.I would skip the cokes. Talk to your doctor, but I had 1 1/2 regular coffee mugs full of tea and milk a day when I was pregnant with my first and he's fine. My doctor said a little caffeine won't hurt.

[Anonymous]

I have a question related to this - is it ok to drink diet drinks? I was told no artificial sweetener at all...so I switched immediately from diet coke - so when I have a coke it's a non-diet one.

I do have the occasional coke, b/c I have had hyperemesis and it has been a lifesaver - settles my stomach and doesn't come back up - I have no guilt about it.

[Anonymous]

What you should worry about is long hours and stress! Maybe see if you can cut back. I'm a big firm lawyer and suspect you may be too, so I know that sometimes it can be tough, but hopefully you can try to start slowing down as you hit your last trimester.

[Anonymous]

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/artificialsweetner.htm

According to this the only artificial sweetener to really avoid is Saccharin (Sweet & Low).

[Anonymous]

This post made me fondly remember my pregnancy last winter (my daughter is now 7 months), when I stood in the Starbucks line every day and ordered a regular--NOT decaf--tall skim latte. Actually, come to the think of it, I had a latte the morning of her birthday. Anyway, I had a little coffee, coke, diet coke or other caffeine each day. My dr. said everything in moderation except alcohol. I think you should just aim for some caffeine level that doesn't make you feel guilty, because that can make you crazy. I was also super busy with work when I was pregnant, and I often like I needed a little caffeine. Good luck.