Coffee in Early Pregnancy

Hi FionaS - it's really hard with headlines like that because they are "exciting" rather than being based on all the science that's out there. Discuss the risk with your LMC - it's only one piece of research that has attracted headlines, but there will be plenty of other research out there that reports the risk differently. Your LMC will have the skills to interpret ALL the research out there and will make recommendations that aren't based on exciting headlines.

Sorry - I get really annoyed with the media's reporting of research as it is not actually done in a scientific way, but is done in a way to attract attention. Also the people reporting it probably don't have the skills in interpreting it to know if it was a good valid study or a crap one!

So, in the midst of the rant, I think you should have faith in your specialist's advice from last year and don't be too hard on yourself!

BTW - I went completely off coffee and am now starting to drink it - maybe 2 cups a week!

Edited by Flissty

Don't worry Flissty, I'm very aware that these kinds of studies come up all the time and are sensationalised and then 5mins later a study says the opposite so it's important to take these things with a grain of salt. I will discuss it with my LMC (just out of interest really as they all have different opinions) but as I'm so early into the pregnancy I won't be seeing her for at least 3 weeks.

In the meantime, it's good incentive to cut back.

I went off coffee in the first trimester so it wasnt a prob for me, but now Im feeling better I have a few cups a day. In one of my magazines I was reading a thing about coffee and it said that instant coffee should be kept to under 6 cups a day(so thats still quite a lot you can safley drink). I try to not worry myself with things like this other wise Id go crazy lol, I stay away from the really bad stuff like booze and smoking(I dont do either normally) but I think a few cups of coffee a day isnt going to hurt.

Edited by Sheza

i love a coffee, its the first thing i do when i wake up in the morning. i try and keep it down to 1 a day anyway, but especially when im preggers. too much of anything isn't good for you, so just think moderation!!!!

Me!
I didn't go off coffee either time really. While pregnant with Gina I did cut it down to 1-2 a day - I used to drink 5+ cups a day before. And I tried to have decaf as much as possible.
This time, I've had 1 cup of normal coffee a day and 3-4 cups tea pretty much from day one with no obvious side effects.

I usually have one in the morning, then sort of midday and then the evening, my tummy cant handle too much coffee. Other wise I have a cup of tea which is quite refeshing, with some gingernut bikkies!

Edited by Sheza

Fiona, I have decided to cut back as well, but I don't think a little is too harmful. I usually have a couple of espressos per day (we have a cafe series machine at home!), but now I am just having one in the morning. I need it to function.

In the afternoon I have opted for decaf espresso and I have removed the Coke Zero i used to drink and replaced it with water and Sprite Zero.

My MW said 2 cups of 'proper' coffee was fine. I drank 1 a day for my whole pregnancy (our work has an espresso machine).

Going for 9 months with no coffee would probably have done me in.


Edited by Bobbie

I never went off coffee when Preg with Alize and was still drinking anywhere up to 15 coffees per day until the end of the first trimester as the MW said limit it to 3 per day so I did (just survived) . I did go onto decaf with the support of the NOv mums while I was breastfeeding and I am now onto regular coffee again since he isnt bfeeding as much.