• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Eat Right Mama

A healthy slice of eating advice for moms & moms-to-be.

  • Home
  • Pregnant
    • Vitamin & Mineral Supplements
      • Tips for Shopping for and Taking Your Prenatal
      • Do You REALLY Need a Prenatal Vitamin? Five Reasons Why You Might
      • Vitamin D and Pregnancy
      • Which Individual Nutrient Supplements Might You Need during Pregnancy?
      • Iron Deficiency Anemia during Pregnancy
    • 5 Easy Ways to Curb Pregnancy Weight Gain
    • Pregnant? What if You’re Not Gaining Enough?
    • Food Safety
      • 4 Step Food Safety Guide To Keep You Safe During Pregnancy
      • Food Safety Tips for Pregnancy
      • Should You Eat Fish While Pregnant?
    • Morning Sickness
      • Making Morning Sickness More Manageable Online Course–Grab Yours Now!
      • Morning Sickness Recipes to Beat the Queasies!
      • Must Try Morning Sickness Survival Tips for Moms-To-Be
    • Healthy Eating during Pregnancy
      • 5 Reasons Why You Should Eat Strawberries While Pregnant
      • How to Fight Sugar Cravings during Pregnancy
      • 5 Tips to Shop Smart when Pregnant
      • Are You Getting Enough Calcium While Pregnant?
      • “Baby Brain” is Real–Try These Tips to Help Your Brain Work Better During Pregnancy
      • Seafood Sources of DHA for Pregnancy
      • 5 Reasons Why You Should Eat Peanut Butter (Even When You’re Pregnant)
      • Glycemic Index 101
      • Pregnant or Trying to Be? Here’s What You Need to Know about Zika
      • 8 Great Almond Recipes–Plus Why You Should Eat Them When You’re Pregnant!
      • Healthy Seafood Recipes…for Pregnancy & Beyond!
      • How to Cap the Caffeine during Pregnancy
      • Caffeine Content: a Mom Need-to-Know
      • Alcohol-Free Drinks for National Margarita Day!
      • Moms-to-Be: Another Reason to Can the Diet Soda?
    • Healthy Living during Pregnancy
      • Realistic Advice from Dietitians About Your Pregnancy
      • Eat To Sleep
      • Should You Drink Coffee While Pregnant?
      • Positive Attitude During Pregnancy Could Affect your Child’s Risk of Overweight
      • Zika: Still a Worry for Pregnant Women
      • Pregnant? Here’s Help to Be Smoke-Free
      • Pregnant? Steer Clear of Environmental Chemicals
      • Realistic Advice from Dietitians About Your Pregnancy
      • The Power of Being Unplugged: Do You Need a Digital Diet?
      • Pregnancy Apps You Need Right Now!
    • Happy Mother’s Day
  • Breastfeeding
    • Breastfeeding Roundup: A Must Read for Moms
    • What is a Healthy Breastfeeding Diet?
    • Can You Lose Weight While Breastfeeding?
  • Trying to Conceive
    • Eating Your Way to Increased Fertility With Veggies
    • Smoking and Fertility: What You Need to Know
    • Zika: Still a Worry for Pregnant Women
    • Exercise… Too much or Too little When Trying to Conceive?
    • Welcome to The Fertility Project!
    • Happy National Chocolate Day: Chocolate for Fertility
    • A Healthy Lifestyle is Job One When Trying to Conceive!
    • How Weight Affects Fertility: What You Need to Know
    • Eating for Fertility
    • Insulin Resistance, PCOS, and Fertility
    • Why Healthy Gums are Important for Fertility
    • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome & Diet: What You Need to Know
    • The Road to Pregnancy with PCOS
    • Male Fertility in the News: Reliable Reads
    • Dad’s Diet Important for Fertility says Dave Grotto, RDN
    • Trying to Conceive? 14 Foods to Fuel Your Fertility!
    • Avocado–Slice One Today!
    • Is Your Body Ready for a Baby? Take Our Pre-Pregnancy Quiz!
    • Pregnant or Trying to Be? Here’s What You Need to Know about Zika
    • How to Cap the Caffeine during Pregnancy
    • Program Your Baby For Good Health…Starting before Pregnancy
    • Glycemic Index 101
  • Healthy Kids
    • Just Say No to Juice for Babies says American Academy of Pediatrics
    • How You Feed Your Baby: The First Step in Preventing Obesity Later in Life
    • 13 Good for the Gut Recipes You Need to Try This Summer!
    • 3 Healthy Apps Your Kids Will Love!
  • Healthy Eating/ Recipes
    • It’s Soup Season! Try this Easy Creamy Veggie Soup
    • Ho Ho Hold the Carbs!
    • Say “Cheese” for this Late Summer Appetizer
    • Make Crepes your New Family Tradition
    • Pizza on the Grill—-When It’s Too Hot to Cook!
    • Fueling Your Immune System during the COVID-19 Pandemic
    • Is Your Diet a Fixer Upper?
    • Peanuts for Everyone! 25 Ways Eat Some Today
    • 5 Sandwich Fillings that Avoid Processed Meats
    • Meal Prep for Quick Family Meals
    • Steelhead Trout with Jicama Slaw–Great Leftover!
    • Quick Avocado Breakfast Tostada
    • 13 Good for the Gut Recipes You Need to Try This Summer!
    • Surprising Nutrition Advice from a Registered Dietitian
    • Go Green with a Registered Dietitian: It’s National Nutrition Month!
    • 12 Healthy Nut Recipes You Can’t Resist!
    • 8 Great Almond Recipes–Plus Why You Should Eat Them When You’re Pregnant!
    • 5 Reasons Why You Should Eat Peanut Butter (Even When You’re Pregnant)
    • Let Us Eat Chocolate!
    • Five Things You Can Do TODAY to Cut Your Heart Disease Risk!
    • Avocado–Slice One Today!
    • Channel Your Cravings into Something Healthy!
    • Healthiest Restaurant Main Dish Salads
    • Vegetarian Shopping– The A to Z Guide
    • Main Dish Salads For Supper–Deconstructed!
    • Eat More Veggies–Shopping, Storing, Cooking
    • Veggies: 13 Ways to Eat More
    • Building a Better Sandwich
    • Back to School Lunch: Tips to Avoid Tossing or Trading
    • Think Outside the Sandwich for Lunch
    • Blueberries for Breakfast!
    • Caffeine Content: a Mom Need-to-Know
    • Alcohol-Free Drinks for National Margarita Day!
    • Got Allergies? Try these foods!
    • Glycemic Index 101
    • Trying to Lose Weight? Try These Tips
    • 5 Reasons Why You Should Eat Sunflower Seeds
  • Healthy Living
    • Pregnant During Covid-19? Tips to Stay Healthy
    • Is Your Diet a Fixer Upper?
    • Eat To Sleep
    • Why You Should Try Pasture-Raised Pork
    • 5 Heart Health Myths for Women
    • Happy Healthy Heart Month!
    • Choline for Everyone: The Important Nutrient You’ve Never Heard Of
    • New Year, New You in 5 Easy Steps!
    • Food Safety Mistakes to Avoid!
    • Just Say No to Juice for Babies says American Academy of Pediatrics
    • Pesticides: A Risk Factor for ADHD?
    • 4 Skin Moisturizers You Can Eat!
    • 3 Ways to Clean Up Your Beauty Routine
    • 3 Healthy Apps Your Kids Will Love!
    • Hurricane Harvey–Safe Cooking from the Pantry
    • March is National Nutrition Month!
    • Earth Day 2022:  17 Ways to Eat More Sustainably
    • Earth Day–Enlightening Ideas for Kids
  • Healthy Travel
    • Healthiest Restaurant Main Dish Salads
    • Top Twelve Healthy Travel Tips
  • Parenting Advice
    • 10 Must-Have Baby Products for New Mamas
    • Positive Attitude During Pregnancy Could Affect your Child’s Risk of Overweight
    • Best Parenting Books for New Parents
    • Back to School Lunch: Tips to Avoid Tossing or Trading
    • The Power of Being Unplugged: Do You Need a Digital Diet?
  • About Bridget
  • Bridget Swinney MS, RDN: Work with Me!
  • Contact
  • SHOP!
Home » How to Cap the Caffeine during Pregnancy

How to Cap the Caffeine during Pregnancy

August 16, 2016 by Bridget Leave a Comment

Like it? Share it! Thanks:)
Share on Facebook Share
Share on Pinterest Pin it
Share on TwitterTweet
Share on Google Plus Plus
Send To Devices Send

Caffeine, the most widely consumed “drug” on the planet, stimulates the central nervous system, acts as a diuretic, and interferes with mineral absorption. Blonde woman drinking beverage with caffeineAnd if you’re one of those who can’t function without your morning cup of coffee or tea, you’re already aware of its addicting properties. What’s worse, caffeine does affect your baby’s growth—by decreasing blood flow in the placenta—and the larger the dose, the greater the effect. Also, the effect of caffeine is greater in women who metabolize it the fastest. This can happen because of genetics or the presence of nicotine. Caffeine intakes above 200 mg are also linked with a higher risk of miscarriage. (There’s 140 mg. of caffeine in a cup (250 ml) of brewed coffee.) Find caffeine content of your favorite foods and drinks as well as suggested limits for kids and adults here: Caffeine Content–A Mom Need to Know.

There may be one more reason to can the caffeine; a small double-blind Canadian study suggested that it negatively affects blood sugar and insulin levels in women with gestational diabetes (GDM). If you have risk factors for diabetes (being overweight, a history of large babies, excess pregnancy weight gain) or have been diagnosed with GDM, watch your caffeine intake even more closely. And if you’re trying to conceive, it’s best to cut  your caffeine now, before you get pregnant. It may take some time!

Refreshing club soda with lime.The best advice: Instead of relying on caffeine, get more sleep and take a brisk afternoon walk for a pick-me-up. Have some bubbly mineral water with a squeeze of fresh lime or simply spritz your face with water. If you must have your caffeine, consume as little as possible using these tips:

Experts around the world agree: cutting #caffeine during #pregnancy is wise. bit.ly/2bwgNHk Click To Tweet

Here’s How to Cut Your Caffeine

  • Limit your caffeine to 100 mg during the first trimester and up to 200 mg after.
  • Switch to a lower caffeine drink. Iced tea has much less caffeine than coffee and is ideal in the summer.A cappuccino or espresso has less caffeine than brewed coffee. Tea has about ⅓ the caffeine of coffee—and a boost of healthy antioxidants.
  • If it’s the ritual of drinking something hot that you crave, try steamed milk with vanilla and honey or other flavoring; hot cocoa, tea, or apple cider.
  • Try decaf. Some decaffeination processes use solvents to remove the caffeine, which could leave a chemical residue. If the label doesn’t specify the method, it’s probably done that way. The Swiss Water Method (also called Water Processed), using only water in the decaf process, is the healthiest for you. Caribou Coffee processes their decaf coffee in this way—buy online here. Find local coffee shops that carry water-processed coffee by checking www.swisswater.com/find. Tea can also be water processed; Lipton is one brand that uses this method.
  • Watch how you caffeinate. Instead of having a large amount of caffeine all at once, try having smaller amount a few times a day. This way you and baby can avoid the big “jolt” of caffeine and you can stay alert throughout the day.
  • Use caution with anything that claims to give you a boost of energy, like energy shots or drinks. They are most likely full of caffeine or herbal stimulants and could be dangerous. Several recent deaths have been blamed on (but not proven to be caused by) the consumption of energy drinks.
Experts around the world agree on this: Limit your caffeine to a “moderate” intake of less than 200 mg. So says The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, The March of Dimes, NSW Health (Australia) and The National Health Service (UK). The bottom line: have as little caffeine as you can get by with.

 

Note: This page contains Amazon Affiliate links, which means I either use the product or have done the research to feel comfortable recommending it. In fact I am drinking Lipton decaf tea while typing this!

✕

Choose Healthier Fast Food!

Need grab-n-go with a side of healthy? Grab our fast food guide to help you navigate the drive-thru!

Healthier fast food choices are a click away! Check your email for your free download!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit
Like it? Share it! Thanks:)
Share on Facebook Share
Share on Pinterest Pin it
Share on TwitterTweet
Share on Google Plus Plus
Send To Devices Send

Related

Filed Under: Pregnancy, Trying to Conceive Tagged With: Bridget Swinney, caffeine, caribou coffee, club soda, cut your caffeine, decaf coffee, decaf tea, fetal growth, placenta, pregnancy, risk of miscarriage, Trying to Conceive

Previous Post: « Pregnant? Here’s Help to Be Smoke-Free
Next Post: Caffeine Content: a Mom Need-to-Know »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hey there–I’m really glad you stopped by!

I'm Bridget...and I'm a mom on a mission to help you and your family eat healthier. I'm also a registered dietitian and author of three books on family nutrition.

Check Out My YouTube Intro!

Read More about Bridget…

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • Earth Day 2022:  17 Ways to Eat More Sustainably
  • Earth Day–Enlightening Ideas for Kids
  • 5 Reasons Why You Should Eat Sunflower Seeds
  • March is National Nutrition Month!
  • 5 Reasons Why You Should Eat Peanuts When You’re Pregnant

Latest reader feedback!

  • Bridget on Earth Day 2022:  17 Ways to Eat More Sustainably
  • Ashley Petrie on Earth Day 2022:  17 Ways to Eat More Sustainably
  • Earth Day 2022:  17 Ways to Eat More Sustainably | Eat Right Mama on Earth Day–Enlightening Ideas for Kids

Categories

Check out my latest book!

Archives

pregnancy

alcohol-free holiday drinks avocado breastfeeding Bridget Swinney Bridget Swinney RD calcium-rich CDC cheap home workouts cheese chocolate Chrissy Carroll RD cocoa crustless quiche recipes DHA eating for fertility eggs Elizabeth Ward RD Emily Kyle RD exercise family time fertility fruits healthy chocolate recipes healthy eating holiday eating tips Jessica Levinson RD Jessi Haggerty RD morning sickness nutrition nuts overweight peanut butter pregnancy pregnancy nutrition prenatal nutrition prenatal vitamin salmon screen-free activities seafood Trying to Conceive Twelve days of Christmas vegetables veggies ways to stay on track over the weekend whole grains

Copyright © 2022 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress