DH and I are going to start TTC next cycle. I am a self-proclaimed Starbucks addict, and seriously need to kick this habit! I just don't know when I should stop. Would it be enough to stop once my next cycle starts, or does it take awhile for the caffeine to get out of your system in which case I should start cutting back now? If you stopped/cut down on caffeine while TTC, at what point did you do it?
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I cut back pretty early on during my TTC journey. I started with decaf teas and half-caffeine drinks at Starbucks. Now I occasionally still have full caffeine drinks every now and then - but I mostly stick with no caffeine or half-caffeine drinks.
I also began drinking more sparkling water to end my cravings for sodas. Even though I would cut the coffee back, I would still have sodas - negating the efforts.
I figure my efforts to cut back now will help when I do remove caffeine completely when I'm pregnant.
In the end, it's all about moderation. No need to go cold turkey, in my opinion
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I agree, it's all about moderation. DH and I are also planning on TTC next month, and I have no plans at all to cut coffee out just yet. Until I see that BFP, I will continue to have my 1 cup of coffee in the AM!! I don't drink soda or tea or anything else really caffeinated, so I'm not too worried about my caffeine intake.
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I cut all my caffeine about a month before TTC- my reasoning being that I didn't want to deal with withdrawal symptoms at the same time as morning sickness. Then, we missed our chance the first month, and I gradually added it back in, but I don't let myself have more than 1 caffeinated beverage a day. I figure that way it won't be that hard to cut it out completely or take it down even further when I get a BFP. I was also concerned that I'd have an aversion to coffee in the first trimester, but also have terrible withdrawal headaches, and not be able to take anything for it.
So, now, 1 cup a day and that's it. -
Our first cycle TTC was BFN and I was still hooked on coffee. I cut it out completely for our second cycle and got pregnant that month. I'm now 32 weeks and have slowly introduced a little bit of caffeine back into my diet. I have maybe 3 cups per week.
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We're on our first cycle and I have one cup of black tea a day. I don't ever drink more caffeine than that a day and I'm trying to to worry about it until I see a BFP.
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@lawbee11: Where will we meet up now? We'll have to pick a new, TTC friendly place!
When we started TTC I switched to decaf at home. My problem is Dr. Pepper. I drink a couple 12-16 oz of those a week.
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@Foodnerd81: Ugh, withdrawal headaches are the worst...not looking forward to those.
@Leialou: Girl, I don't know. I won't have enough self-control to walk into a Starbucks, though.
You know how they say it takes a smoker an average of 7 attempts to quit smoking? That is seriously how I feel about Starbucks...I have tried to stop drinking it at least a few times now. I swear they put crack in it.
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@lawbee11: I rarely get Starbucks, since we make it at home, but I know what you mean. I actually quit-- I went almost 2 weeks without ANY caffeine. It was hard! And then I was like, but.... I like coffee so much, so why not drink it while I'm not pregnant? Just a half a cup.... well, this is a small cup so I'll just fill it up.... well, it's only one a day. I just really really like coffee! I rarely have caffeinated beverages besides coffee at least and have even switched from iced tea to just water at restaurants, but I can't kick the desire for a nice, hot, relaxing and awakening cup in the morning. I literally want to go home, sit on the couch in my bathrobe, and have a cup right now.
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your morning cup should be fine! studies like to dramatize things by focusing on extremes like 6-7 cups a day. Every thing I read says <2 is fine. Giving up alcohol will be hard enough, no way I can let go of coffee!!
on side note, are going to completely cut out alcohol during ttc? I've really cut back, but haven't given it up.
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@runnerd: I haven't cut out alcohol, even during my TWW. I drink less, especially towards the end of the wait, but if I cut it out completely I'd get that much more upset with every BFN. Like, I didn't have that nice glass of why for what?? But towards the end, I will only have a drink if I get a BFN that morning.
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Did your doc tell you not to drink caffeine? If not, I wouldn't worry about a cup a day! Have you checked the caffeine content of what you usually order? I think a cup of their coffee contains a lot more than a latte, and you can always order half caf espresso drinks if that's your poison of choice. My doc says to aim for one caffeinated beverage a day, but if I have more on occasion I don't worry about it (200mg is what they tell you to stay under). The first trimester is the most important time to cut back on caffeine, in theory, and you may not have the desire for it at all at that point!
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I have been drinking coffee every day since I was 16 (healthy, i know) so I was really nervous about cutting out caffeine. I didn't stop until midway through my first clomid cycle when I went in for an ultrasound and it didn't look like my follicles were growing fast enough. I figured cutting out caffeine wouldn't hurt and I needed to do it anyway so why not see if it made any difference. So I stopped and had horrible headaches/fuzziness for about a week, but when I went back to the Dr.'s my follicles were finally responding well. so not sure if it made a difference or not, but I've been caffeine free ever since.
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@runnerd: I don't drink very often as it is, so cutting out alcohol won't be as difficult for me. I never drink during the week, and only socially on the weekends. I may have a glass of wine here and there, but definitely no liquor/shots. So, I won't cut it out completely, but I'll be much more mindful of it.
@tororojo: My OB/GYN did not say I had to cut it out completely--he actually said one caffeinated drink a day was fine (other than coffee I usually only drink water throughout the day, so it's not that much of an issue). I guess it's just more about personal preference? I usually get a grande skinny vanilla latte--I did check the caffeine content and it's within the acceptable range, I guess I just feel guilty about having it? I know that's ridiculous, but I can't help it!
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I had one cup of coffee (16 oz) every day until I got the BFP. Then I switched to half decaf.
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@lawbee11: I'm a skinny vanilla latte person, too! We're sisters. I've been getting half-caf vanilla lattes sometimes, or you could switch to a tall if you're concerned since I think it has 1 less shot of espresso than a grande (you might double check with the barista though). Also, I haven't been getting sugar free syrup since they say artificial sweeteners are bad while pregnant. Seriously, don't feel guilty about caffeine if you're within the recommended limits--there are way too many opportunities for pregnancy guilt and a lot of them are uncalled for!
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@tororojo: Thank you for making me feel less guilty
Transitioning to a tall is a good idea (it does only have 1 shot of espresso instead of 2). I also didn't think to switch to non-sugar free...I am so used to sugar-free that I know regular vanilla is going to taste SO sweet!
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@lawbee11: I can't tell the difference in syrup! My reasoning for ordering skinny was that it tastes the same to me, so why not skip some calories. I'm sure you'll adjust just fine!
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@tororojo: You are right about artificial sweeteners, and actually not only while pregnant. The chemicals used to make those are way worse for you than straight up sugar.
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I was very, VERY addicted to caffeine. Like 5 cups of coffee (or more) a day. Strong black coffee. So I started tapering down about 3 months before TTC and by the time we started ttc, I was down to one small cup. I stopped entirely after my BFP...not because of it being 'bad' but because it made me sick to think about it. (Basically everything does though.) At about 8 weeks though, I took a few sips of my husband's caffeinated soda and felt AMAZING for the rest of the day. So i've added a little caffeine back in in the form of soda, and while it isn't coffee, it's helpful.
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