Caffeine intake?

[pretzel0]

I currently drink about 5-6 cups of coffee a day and also have some tea in between as well. Thinking about it now after a friend mentioned to me it's quite a bit when thinking about TTC.

I was wondering how much caffeine or cups of coffee is recommended or safe? How many cups of coffee did you have before (when TTC) and during your pregnancy?

Also, what tips or advice can anyone offer me to help me cut back on my coffee and caffeine intake each day?

Which type of teas are good for conception that I might be able to drink before TTC and during TTC?

Thanks heaps ;)

[~Temet Nosce~]

I drink no more than 3 a day, moderation is recommended, 2-3 cups per day should be fine. Green tea is very good for you too.

[mrsHNF]

Hi pretzel0,
I'm also addicted to coffee. I drink 4-5 sometimes 6 cups a day. I've tried to cut back but I failed:hissy:. Tried hot cocoa instead...still it didn't help. We (DH and me) are TTC for our 1st :baby:since 2007.
I agree with Amethyst that green tea is good for you...I mean, us all...hmmm.
Well, I think it's all up to us if we really want to give up on something. I was a heavy smoker once but then one day I woke up and tell myself,'Today I'm going to quit smoking...and I did. Just like that' It was a few years ago. But why can't I cut back my caffeine intake...that's still a mystery:confused:
I know I'm not helping but...I hope you will be able to give up or cut back your coffee.
:fingerscrossed:

[MrsLH]

I too have been wondering this... I read on the net that 1-2 cups per day is ok... I am not a heavy coffee drinker myself (only a couple a week) but was concerned cos i had heard that any caffeine is bad when ttc/during pregnancy. I drink Peppermint tea (no caffeine in it), haven't heard anything bad about it, also green tea is also s'posed to be good. Perhaps try having weaker/smaller cups of coffee if you're trying to cut back? Good luck! :)

[Amara]

I know they say caffeine is bad for TTC but I actually concieved my son the month I was practically living on coffee & chocolate after years of avoiding coffee. I had to then go cold turkey on it as I couldn't trust myself to just have one coffee - and just drank a max of 3 cups of tea a day until I gave birth.

I see that some have recommended green tea. Be careful with that. Although some people recommend green tea for ttc, I found some research that said that if you drink it you must take folic acid as green tea can deplete your body of folate. The research was done in a region of China where they found a lot of spinabifida and other conditions thought to be caused by folic acid deficiency & it was being blamed on the green tea they were drinking. It said that taking folic acid reduced the risk.

[crazymuma]

I am a coffee addict - a minimum of 4 - 6 a day - some days more - and it was this way when I fell pregnant with both of my children - while pregnant I would have 3 or 4 cups a day and both kids turned out completly normal :yelclap:

[Opinionated]

200mg of caffeine per day when you are ttc.

Coffee has 60-12mg per cup

Tea has around 50mg per cup

Green tea has around 20mg per cup.

I am an addict and get headaches on days when it has been too many hours since my last hit. (yes, hours)Try reducing the amount you have slowly, or getting some de-caff.

[rachaelbrisbane]

Sorry ladies all of the advice that i have recieved says cut it out!!! it is the worst thing for egg and cell development......worse than alchol and cigareetes.

i am a very jaded 5 time ivfer and an x coffee addict, and have been holding onto my 1 cup a day. of course the herbalist said to stop, but so has my FS and the nutritionist said if i had too then 2 cups a day tops!

soooo not fair, but i do wonder if its been the thing responsible for my inability to conceive.????

[dreamtobeamummy]

I cut out my coffee intake for well over 12 mths whilst on this silly TTC roller coaster... Have only recently taken it up, but I have maybe 2 cups a day MAX... and some days I have none..

I got sick of seeing people I know falling pregnant with worse diets then me, and coffee intakes incredibly high and just wanted to enjoy a cup of coffee!!!

Hasn't made any difference to me.. I am still TTC after 19 months..

[~Temet Nosce~]

Um.. I REALLY doubt it's worse than alcohol and cigarettes.

[samken]

Don't worry *Amethyst* us coffee addicts tend to block out information like that.

I drank (and was drinking) about 2-3 a day, plunger coffee, while getting pregnant this time. The first time I was drinking more as I had given up getting pregnant.

I found with DD that during the pregnancy there will be a point where you will go off coffee....it lasts as long as it lasts and then you find you can start drinking it again.

A thought for those who say you shouldn't drink it while BF: If your baby, after being born, is having problems thriving they will use caffeine to move it along. It is common for premmie babies.

Anyway, I stand by what my OB said, everything in moderation and DD is a bright, healthy, active, bubbly little girl and stands up to against all other toddlers her age.