Coffee

They were pretty tough on what we could and couldn't do while going through IVF, but around 2 cups a day was considered perfectly acceptable. I stuck to one (mostly because two would send me spinning for the ceiling ), and I found that actually if I skipped my coffee, kiddly lodged a rather serious objection. He's only just gone off it as a regular thing in the last few weeks.

The other thing we were told quite specifically was if you're a coffee drinker and want to have one, drinking decaf isn't necesarily a way around the caffeine thing because of the chemicals/processes used to decaf it - it kind of cancels out the whole perceived benefit thing.

I think you'll find though that opinions on everything, as I'm sure you've come across once already, when it comes to pregnancy are many and varied and everyone thinks they're right

When I was building up to starting IVF, I asked the clinic whether I should be taking folic acid (as in, could you please give me a prescription??) and they pretty much shrugged and left it up to me! Hello??

I couldn't stomach coffee right at the moment, I have had one coke zero while pg as a big treat. I try to stick with water as much as poss I don't want to put too much artificial crap into my body esp when pregnant.

I was having one a day/every second dayish. I did go through a stage of drinking decaf but then got told its made decaf with chemicals similar to petrol so went back to the real stuff. Now down to 1 or 2 a week but only because its so hot

I changed to decaf with Jake and have drunk it ever since. I had already dropped my coffee intake to about one real one a day max (for other health reasons), and went off most hot drinks at the start with Jake anyway (not this time). I also stopped drinking diet coke, as much because of the artificial sweetener as the caffeine. I did have the odd real coke or frozen coke later on though, as i had cravings for it (not diet coke which I used to drink - weird!!).

I'm a food tech, and I don't think the decaf process is so bad, so yes everyone will tell ya something different. Also the most recent aspartame seminar that Nikki Hart and a leading overses researcher spoke at, said aspartame has actually been shown to be safe in pregnancy. (I'm still generally avoiding it ... but if they only have sprite zero at McD's I'll still drink the odd one! )

Lol Fiona, I went off coffee for the first trimester. However I persevered and still made myself my morning coffee when I got to work.
Some days I would have 2 sips and some days I would drink the lot.

I went off coffee in the first trimester when i was pregnant with Caden, but I liked it again towards the end.

Coffee is fine in moderation, I found if I had coffee it would hype Caden up and I wouldnt get any sleep cos he was all hyper lol, but it did him no harm he is fine.

Caffine can decrease your iron levels though, so if you are low on iron then really cut back on the caffine. I didnt last time and my iron was only just high enough to stop me having near heart failour when I lost a lot of blood during my C Section! It was scary as! Iron is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO important!!!

I found if I did have the odd coke, it really hyped Jake up - he went crazy in there - so that put me off it!! You wouldn't give coffee to a young bub, so I thought it was best not to give it to him while still inside.

I have a caffinated drink most days - but I try to limit it to just once a day.  I'm a real Cola addict from way back.  I don't drink tea or coffee.  During my first trimester with nausea I couldn't handle the taste of Cola.  I agree with staying away from the artificially sweetened versions too.  I'm not sure what's in those chemicals so I figure at least the real sugar is a bit more natural.