and I am actually feeling quite ashamed. As of today I am not having any more caffeine. I never thought I would be one to put this developing little angel in any kid of jeopardy, but I have had a little bit of caffeine 2-3 times a week for about 1-2 months now (Im 5 months pregnant). I usually have one or two tea bags of black tea 2-3 times a week and the occassional green tea with Thai dinner.
I just read that 150mg or so a day is considered OK by most "professionals" - but putting this sacred love in the position of having to attempt processing this foreign substance feels just wrong to me. yet, i continue to do it and justify it being okay because there are women that drink espresso and coffee and their babies are not underweight and make it full term.
it scares me that i am behaving this way. justifying toxic behavior. I am extremely healthy in pretty much every other way, but there is something about a little tea with milk that i am having a hard time kicking. I didnt do it for the first three months of pregnancy because i was being careful not to add to the chances of miscarrying.
i would love any support around this. am i an insensitive, selfish Mama or what?! and yes, i am being hard on myself..I feel really guilty to consider myself alternatively-inclined and pretty conscious, yet a simple little drug like caffeine has power over me.
I just read that 150mg or so a day is considered OK by most "professionals" - but putting this sacred love in the position of having to attempt processing this foreign substance feels just wrong to me. yet, i continue to do it and justify it being okay because there are women that drink espresso and coffee and their babies are not underweight and make it full term.
it scares me that i am behaving this way. justifying toxic behavior. I am extremely healthy in pretty much every other way, but there is something about a little tea with milk that i am having a hard time kicking. I didnt do it for the first three months of pregnancy because i was being careful not to add to the chances of miscarrying.
i would love any support around this. am i an insensitive, selfish Mama or what?! and yes, i am being hard on myself..I feel really guilty to consider myself alternatively-inclined and pretty conscious, yet a simple little drug like caffeine has power over me.
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California
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Re: I know this is bad....
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 12:35 PMyou can have a cup of coffee every day without negative effects... once you have 7+ cups you run the risk of miscarriage and other complications.
Don't be too hard on yourself. Cut back if that's what you want, but according to everything my doctor has told me it sounds like your caffeine consumption is ok -
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Re: I know this is bad....
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 12:50 PMRelax!
The March of Dimes says no coffee, but it takes a lot before the miscarriage factor kicks in. I didn't drink it in my first trimester because the smell made me sick (it was my biggest aversion) but now in my third I do have a half-caf half-decaf cup a couple times a week. I have read it's 4-5 cups that's the danger zone, but even then, that's a lot.
Heck, you're already past the time when miscarriage risk is greatest.
Plus, studies go back and forth on the effects of coffee. Some studies say it's good for staving off Alzheimers. So look at it this way, the small amount you drink during pregnancy may be sparing your child dealing with a mom with Alzheimers later on. Or look at it this way: pregnancy is tiring and if a little bit of caffeine helps you commute to work with full faculties, you are preventing an accident caused by falling asleep at the wheel.
Moderation is a key not only in pregnancy but in everything really. There are only certain substances, like some street drugs, that have absolutely no redeeming value. Caffeine does have some redeeming qualities, such as helping fight headaches, and is fine in moderation. -
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Re: I know this is bad....
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 1:47 PMI also cut out caffeine while pregnant for similar reasons. I get wired from it and had to wonder what effect it could have on my babe. Is it the caffeine that you like or the taste of coffee? if its the taste, Caffix is a great alternative. It has that yummy roasted taste and a caffix latte is yummmmy.
I also started making a decaf chai with decaf black tea (although there may be a little bit of caffeine in it). -
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Re: I know this is bad....
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 2:58 PMthanks y'all for the sound feedback. I do get a little hardcore about these things.
I definitely dont do coffee and never really did cuz it upsets my stomach at a minimum. I just do black tea. and yeah the amounts are small so i will chill out about it. i could do decaf and still get the flavor and a smidgen of caffeine.
thats what I'll do...phew..you know, we want the best for our babies. and when she comes out all big blue eyed and wrinkled, I will be happy! sidenote: I read in the "Birhting from Within" book that worry is the work of birthing..worrying is OK. heehhee
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Re: I know this is bad....
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 5:44 PMI had a cup of coffee every day when I was preggers. I'm *hopelessly* addicted to the stuff, and simply couldn't cut it out completely (hello caffeine induced headache). Your mileage may vary, but yeah, I did it.
I told myself I'd stay at my "new lower levels" of caffeine consumption once the boys were born. Did I? Nope. I slowly and surely crept right back up to where I was before. Damnit. -
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Re: I know this is bad....
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 6:05 PMi don't mean to make light of your situation because we all (hopefully) want what's best for our babies...in or out.
But I can tell you right now, if you start beating yourself up and being over chastising and critical of yourself because you drank some tea while pregnant, you just wait until all the other mistakes you will make as a mother. And you will. I can promise you that. We all do.
Over criticizing your actions when you are doing so many other rights is... in a nutshell... unhealthy. Ease up on yourself.
with love,
stef
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Re: I know this is bad....
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 6:07 PMI still like to have a Chai every so often, and I do get the decaf when I feel it's been a bit of an overkill... (Tazo's concentrate freakin rocks!) As long as I keep things within moderation I know that I'll be just fine... but I can def tell if I've had a bit too much caffeine in my system, I'll get irritable and it keeps kickin fer hours! I might have an 8oz cup of coffee around 9ish in the am and still feel it round dinner time... but then I used to be a coffee feind so this may be why... I cut it out straight for a few months and just started with the Chai about 8 weeks ago... It's still nice to have a small cup o' Joe once in a bit... but I do have to watch myself... Caffeine is very much a drug and I have to remind myself of that...
So is chocolate for that matter!! mmm....
Sounds like yer within your normal limits, go with what feels right... -
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Re: I know this is bad....
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 8:48 PMI cut out caffeine in the first trimester due to risk of miscarriage and then began to drink coffee again after that. I'm also hopelessly addicted so my one cup a day really helped me cope. Really, it's OK!! -
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Re: I know this is bad....
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 9:14 PMI did the same as Queen~E: I stopped drinking coffee for the first trimester (more for the smell making me sick to my stomach), and resumed a 16 ounce cuppa joe a day until I had her. PK was born big and healthy, with no complications.
Don't beat yourself up for this dear. Just remember that its all about moderation!
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Re: I know this is bad....
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 10:08 PMi was a caffeine JUNKIE until i got pregnant .. i had zero during my 1st trimester, then the occasional (two-a-week) 12oz. latte until i stopped working a month before abigail was born, then zero caffeine all the way through until she was, 9-ish months old ... then i realized it was okay and it wouldn't adversely effect my breastmilk ... then, full-on french roast, baby!
it's like, my saving grace every morning for those 6:30/7am wakeups.
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Re: I know this is bad....
Tue, May 6, 2008 - 10:36 PMI drank caffeine every once in a while during my pregnancy, but only in soda form...and not everyday. I wouldn't worry about it as long as your not going overboard with it.
