Has anyone attempted to cut caffeine before? How did it go? I don't drink a ton of coffee, but I do love a cup in the morning and the occasional Starbucks. I'm debating cutting it out though (for various reasons), but not sure I can do it. I already cut pop a couple of years ago, and have maybe a few sips a year. Looking for input!
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I did before I became pregnant. I just did it cold turkey as that is what works best for me. I took 1 baby aspirin a day and that kept away any headaches. It was surprisingly really easy, I never thought I could! Prior to that, I was drink 2-3 cups a day for about 10 years.
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Could you start by switching to decaf? Decaf doesn't always mean caffeine free, just less caffeine. I try to drink mostly decaf, when possible.
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I switched to half decaf. I have never completely cut caffein! Good luck!
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I did, while pregnant with both my sons. I cut back to half a cup for a week, then decaf for a week, then none. I tried once cold turkey and had the wooooorst migraines.
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Not a coffee drinker, but a soda (mt. dew addict). I quit before LO1 cold turkey and it was way easier than I thought it would be. I just recently cut back again as we are ttc. Sounds like you did the same so maybe cutting coffee wouldn't be too hard either?
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I did when I got pregnant (cold turkey). I had a headache/felt pretty miserable the evening I quit, but was totally fine after that.
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Right before I got pregnant, I switch from diet coke to caffeine free diet coke. I had no issues, but I think I drink pop more for the bubbles and less the caffeine. I still drink caffeine free diet coke 2.5 years later.
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@lamariniere: I tried decaf and find it gross but maybe that was just the brand I bought!
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I cut caffeine from coffee and soda completely during both pregnancies and for about 5 months after #1. It was cold turkey and not a big deal.
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I cut caffeine when LO2 was born and haven't really started again. I do drink decaf coffee (so a little bit of caffeine) and caffeine-free soda sometimes. For me, I never consumed so much that eliminating it caused me much hardship.
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I cut back before I got pregnant as well... started with half decaf then went to decaf (even though it's not totally caffeine free). I got headaches in my 2nd tri, so my OB actually prescribed a cup of joe a day, but now that those are under control I'm back to decaf and just fine with it.
Another trick is replacing your morning cup with a big bottle of water with some cut up fruit. My big thing to stay hydrated is cut up lemons in my water bottle, which I refill constantly throughout the day. It's energizing!
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I've cut out caffeine complete for both pregnancies. With DS #1, I did it cold turkey and with this pregnancy I start by drinking 1/2 decaf 1/2 regular coffee. I totally plan to return to drinking coffe after the birth of DS#2. I only drank a cup a day, and I miss it!!!
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I quit one summer (teacher) a few years before TTC. I have had the occasional caffeinated beverage since having LO and I find I am very sensitive to it now. I just quit cold turkey and was ok. I only used to drink a cup of coffee during my commute to school. DH has been cutting back lately and did half caff and now he will mix half caff and decaf.
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Switch to tea and then decaf tea?
I find its more the warm drink I like than the caffeine. Or even hot lemon water with honey!
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I quit caffeine when I was pregnant because coffee disgusted me - it made it easy! But I've never gone back to it, so now I drink decaf. You might get headaches for the first few days but its not terrible!
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I've cut caffeine twice
The first time I reduced the amount I drank slowly - so going from two cups a day to one cup a day. Then a small cup a day. Then one cup of black tea a day. Then green tea and then I was able to wean off without the headaches. I didn't drink coffee regularly for about 4 years.
Then I started drinking coffee again last year. This time I got super sick and was just miserable and coffee didn't taste good while I was on all the meds so I decided it was a good time to stop. I was already miserable being sick so I didn't notice any side effects specifically related to cutting the caffeine. Now I allow myself a weak cup of green tea.
So you could do it methodically or you could just wait until the next time you're sick
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DH and I have been Team Half-Caff for a few years now. We mix a decaf (usually just Costco French roast in the big green can) with our coffee of choice. We have found McDonald's brand coffee (the kind in bags) and Gevalia decaf actually tastes pretty good but we just use Costco most of the time and buy nicer caffeinated coffee.
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I've "quit" a few times without ever completely quitting (was still having the occasional cup of coffee now). Most recently though I quit completely before ttc. I started by just doing white tea (less caffeinated than black) for a few months with full-strength coffee on the weekend. Then no coffee. Then switched to only herbal tea. I now really like not having caffeine in me, though I need to change herbal teas up or I get bored with same taste. (Funny how that never happens with coffee!) For me, the coffee and now tea is a warm, comfort beverage to ease me into my day. Coffee was wonderful but had too many downsides (digestion, sleep quality, etc) so I'm liking this caffeine-free thing. Liking how you feel without it is a big part of cutting it, imo.
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I cut my Colombian 4 cup a day addiction to 1 cup of half caff when I was pregnant. I didn't even feel human lol, I've never been so happy to have something back in my life ever!
Eta: I also dropped sodas and never looked back and quit smoking cold turkey after ten years, neither of those have been a problem...I can't live without coffee.
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Today was my cold turkey start to no caffeine. It was so hard until I picked up some mixed nuts from CVS. Those nuts worked magic and gave me an energy boost. Maybe try that.
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