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20 Apr 2007 07:19 PM

Weaning off Caffeine

by Pattie Hughes | More from this Blogger

Consuming a lot of caffeine during pregnancy has been linked to problems such as low birth weight. In addition, babies born to mothers who consume large quantities of caffeine have been found to show symptoms of withdrawal after birth. For these reasons, women are advised to limit their intake of caffeine during pregnancy.

Let's face it; caffeine is a huge part of our culture. Some people drink cup after cup of coffee throughout the work day. These people often suffer withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop drinking coffee cold turkey. Headaches are common when caffeine is totally eliminated from the diet.

If you are not pregnant yet, but plan to try soon, it's best to cut out caffeine now. Start eliminating it gradually in the months prior to trying to conceive. If you are already pregnant, this won't be possible. You will have to cut it down faster.

Consider how much caffeine you are getting in a day. Include other sources, such as tea, iced tea and sodas in addition to your morning brew. Having a cup of coffee with breakfast, a soda with lunch and iced tea with dinner is too much caffeine. Choose which beverages you can easily eliminate.

Some people must have that morning cup of coffee to function. If this is you, keep it to one cup. Another option is to make the pot with half decaf and half regular coffee. This method helped my sister in law survive three of her pregnancies. She could still have her morning cup, but there was only half the caffeine of a regular cup of coffee.

Others don't care about coffee, but like iced tea or soda once in a while. This was my issue during pregnancy. I am addicted to Coca Cola. I had to limit it to one or two servings per week, rather than two or more per day.

If you are caffeine addicted and can't quit cold turkey, eliminate it gradually. Cut your coffee beans with half decaf to lower the amount of caffeine in the cup. If you drink a soda with a lot of caffeine, such as Mountain Dew, replace it with another brand that contains less caffeine per serving. This gradual approach is better for withdrawal symptoms.

Quitting caffeine isn't easy. Think about the health benefits to your baby. Replace your caffeinated beverages with healthy choices like milk or water. The effort will be well worth it and you will be giving your baby a healthier start.

Related Articles:

Why Soda Should be Avoided During Pregnancy

Is Caffeine Safe?

Plan Ahead for Pregnancy

Learn more about Pattie Hughes

Pattie Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four young children. She and her husband have been married since 1992. Pattie holds a degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University.

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