S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine

andyandhillary

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:a7b29c6d-afcf-4fb1-ad78-621a79596a34">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]  Do you know my friends doctor told her that she should only cut back on smoking while pregnant?  She said that quitting completely would just stress her out and therefore stress out the baby.  WTF?  Who actually says that?  Of course she totally quit smoking, but man - how many other women actually listened to her that it was ok? 
Posted by Stackeye210[/QUOTE]

I actually knew a woman who smoked regularly throughout her pregnancy.  At work other women(smokers) would trash talk her but then when she needed cigs and asked to bum off them they gave her one.  Seriously? 

mainemommy

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:a6186435-24ea-45ae-87f5-a83762d02cf0">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine : I actually knew a woman who smoked regularly throughout her pregnancy.  At work other women(smokers) would trash talk her but then when she needed cigs and asked to bum off them they gave her one.  Seriously? 
Posted by andyandhillary[/QUOTE]
 Wow, see smoking, drinking, & drug use during pregnacy are totally unacceptable because there is study after study showing the terrible affects on the children for their entire lives not just physically but mentally too.  

swtasa

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:a7b29c6d-afcf-4fb1-ad78-621a79596a34">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]I had a serious Mountain Dew addiction before pregnancy........it was pretty easy to give it up the day I found out I was pregnant.  I think during the entire pregnancy I had maybe 5 cans of pop.  I know I could have gotten away with just cutting back on my intake, but I'm an overly paranoid mom and didn't want to risk it.  Do you know my friends doctor told her that she should only cut back on smoking while pregnant?  She said that quitting completely would just stress her out and therefore stress out the baby.  WTF?  Who actually says that?  Of course she totally quit smoking, but man - how many other women actually listened to her that it was ok? 
Posted by Stackeye210[/QUOTE]

Well that actually depends. I know it seems a little crazy, but quitting smoking can actually increase your blood pressure and heart rate. If the stress on your body is too high it can send you into preterm labor. It happened to my mother actually we would have had a 3rd sibling, however when my mom tried to quit she was about 4 months. After 24 hours of not having a cigarrette her blood pressure was ridiculously high. Her heart beat spiked and the babies plummeted. She started having contractions and they were never able to stop it. I know that probably seems like MUD however we do still have the hosptial cards for what would have been our only brother if anyone would like to see them.

It depends how much you smoke( my mother was a 2 pack a day smoker and tried to quit cold turkey) the ultimate goal is to quit smoking but some people do need to cut down first.

AlexiaANDRobert

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:d839a48a-fa2c-49d7-a8aa-d9de861ea686">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine : I'm having a bad day with it too! I think it's because my body''s adjusting to warmer weather. I researched how to get rid of it and there's a surgery you can get. It's pretty invasive and they collapse a lung. FI is pretty against me getting it because of the whole lung collapsing part...but it's such a pain in the ass. It effects me socially and professionally. If I have to shake someone's hand I cringe.
Posted by L-Bride[/QUOTE]


I totally hear ya.  I will not do the surgery.  NOTHING is worth those risks.  My diet/weight also affect mine.  If I'm eating healthier and drinking more water and exercising, it happens less.  When I'm eating poorly and my weight is higher, I notice it can be worse.  And it's also worse one week a month...
Botox is another option, but again, I won't put that poison in my body, so it's a no for me.  Putting prescription strength anti perspirants on your hands and feet before you go to bed are another alternative.  It doesn't cure it, but it can help.

Before this becomes a huge thread jack, feel free to PM me if you wanna talk about it more.  It helps to know you're not the only one!

/end novel.

BecW2be

EX's skankwhore smoked while she was PG. She wouldn't eat grilled tuna one night, and then Manda caught her smoking out behind the house after dinner. She was 8.5 months PG. Manda said, "You should have just eaten the damn tuna." and walked off. I love my little smartass.

No one could figure out why the baby had a low birth weight. Hmmmm....

AlexiaANDRobert

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:8aa1c4bb-f756-4c15-a6ff-920cae0ff51e">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine : Well that actually depends. I know it seems a little crazy, but quitting smoking can actually increase your blood pressure and heart rate. If the stress on your body is too high it can send you into preterm labor. It happened to my mother actually we would have had a 3rd sibling, however when my mom tried to quit she was about 4 months. After 24 hours of not having a cigarrette her blood pressure was ridiculously high. Her heart beat spiked and the babies plummeted. She started having contractions and they were never able to stop it. I know that probably seems like MUD however we do still have the hosptial cards for what would have been our only brother if anyone would like to see them. It depends how much you smoke( my mother was a 2 pack a day smoker and tried to quit cold turkey) the ultimate goal is to quit smoking but some people do need to cut down first.
Posted by swtasa[/QUOTE]


Unfortunately, I have also see this happen.  That's why it's best to get healthy BEFORE you get pregnant and then keep it up.  Not try to do that WHILE you're pregnant.  Some people have no other choice, but still...

SarahPLiz

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:a862daea-bc36-4f5e-8bc4-31435c7c7ecc">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't really drink anything with caffeine anyway so cutting it out won't be a problem. That no artificial sweeteners thing kind of scares me though.  I just gave up soda (12 days soda free thankyouverymuch) and Crystal Light is the only thing getting me through for now!
Posted by FutureMrsTR[/QUOTE]

I gave up the artificial sweetners too and now only drink water and tea. It was hard, but I am convinced that aspartame is addictive. I also think it made me crazy and anxious. It was hard to quit, though, because I craved that sweetness for a long time.

ETA: I'm not pregnant, though, just to clarify.

ac_in_dc

Researchers have actually relaxed warnings about caffeine and pregnant ladies in recent years. From my pregnancy book (the mayo clinic guide):

"It's best to avoid caffeine whenever possible during pregnancy. Study results have been very mixed. Overal, a moderate intake of caffeine--200 mg or less a day, which is the amount found in about one to two cups of coffee--has no negative effect on pregnant women and their babies. However, high amounts of caffeine--500 mg or more a day---may cause a decrease in your baby's birth weight and head circumference."

So I've adopted the "caffeine in moderation" approach. The important thing is to make sure you understand the caffeine content in mg of different foods and beverages b/c it can vary widely.

MeaghanandMichael

I may be speaking out of my ass here, but I could see myself being one of those mama tiger types who is over cautious about what I put in my body when I am pregnant. Why take even a little risk? And I love me my coffee.

Although, I will probably eat dirt too. I think the reason half these kids are born with so many weird allergies is they weren't exposed to enough good dirt in the womb.

Wait what?

KentuckyKate

One of my FBFs posted pictures to her profile of her standing there with lit cigarettes the whole 9 months.  People constantly were commenting and telling her how horrible it is, and she just kept smoking and posting pics of it. 

Surprisingly, her baby was born asthmatic and with other assorted respiratory problems, and now this chick's status updates talk about going to the neonatal pulmonary specialist for nebulizer treatments once a week.

mwhitson14

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:2af89178-1e12-4c6d-95e6-0fb19596d388">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm pretty sure when the time comes, I will more apprehensive about cutting out alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, Rx allergy meds, and sushi for 9 months than about giving birth and raising a child.
Posted by KentuckyKate[/QUOTE]

HA! Me too. Except the tobacco part, I don't smoke. But yeah, everything else you have to give up is going to kill me!

AlexiaANDRobert

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:2b8bacaf-6ae9-485d-990f-230190205405">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]I may be speaking out of my ass here, but I could see myself being one of those mama tiger types who is over cautious about what I put in my body when I am pregnant. Why take even a little risk? And I love me my coffee. Although, I will probably eat dirt too. I think the reason half these kids are born with so many weird allergies is they weren't exposed to enough good dirt in the womb. Wait what?
Posted by MeaghanandMichael[/QUOTE]

Hahaha, I wouldn't say you need to eat dirt for it.  But yeah, the germ phobia doesn't help their immune system.  But I also read about breast feeding boosting immunity or something.  I suck at remembering things.

BecW2be

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:ac0ab165-dfd4-4a1a-ae2f-153bd7af9ebc">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]One of my FBFs posted pictures to her profile of her standing there with lit cigarettes the whole 9 months.  People constantly were commenting and telling her how horrible it is, and she just kept smoking and posting pics of it.  Surprisingly , her baby was born asthmatic and with other assorted respiratory problems, and now this chick's status updates talk about going to the neonatal pulmonary specialist for nebulizer treatments once a week.
Posted by KentuckyKate[/QUOTE]

Please tell me you comment with a link to pictures of her smoking pregnant. Please.

KentuckyKate

Here you go Bec.  This one is lifted right off her mobile uploads.

sarabellam

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:ff8b0ba2-7ac6-4356-8fb6-d7987402ce8f">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine :  Wow, see smoking, drinking, & drug use during pregnacy are totally unacceptable because there is study after study showing the terrible affects on the children for their entire lives not just physically but mentally too.  
Posted by mainemommy[/QUOTE]

I guess my siblings and I are exceptions, then. My mom smoked and drank in moderation throughout all 3 of her pregnancies. She has 2 engineers (okay, 1 engineer turned teacher) and a lawyer as children. How do these studies account for the French, Italians, Spanish, and many other cultures where it is the norm to drink in moderation? The US has a much lower consumption of alcohol, but much higher rates of FAS. <a href="http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/33/3/195.pdf">http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/33/3/195.pdf</a>

BecW2be

I'd copy and paste that photo as a link in response to whatever status she puts about the awful things her baby is going through now, with a big red circle around the cig. Fucking idiot.

swtasa

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:c866a1bd-b3da-4780-8080-c621a58831b6">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine : Hahaha, I wouldn't say you need to eat dirt for it.  But yeah, the germ phobia doesn't help their immune system.  But I also read about breast feeding boosting immunity or something.  I suck at remembering things.
Posted by AlexiaANDRobert[/QUOTE]

Yes it does :-) actually when you first have a child what you put out isn't milk it's call colostrum it's like a concentrated shot of goodness for your baby including it's first real dose of it's immune system. Many doctors recommend if you don't breast feed to atleast pump this and give it to the baby(sorry I know lots of pregnancy facts lol)

andyandhillary

Actually the girl that I used as an example had a perfectly healthy baby.  Which sucks.  It taught none of the other smokers anything or her. 

What really sucks is another woman was pregnant about the same time but she quit all of her bad habits.  About 2 months after being born her baby died from SIDS. 

mainemommy

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:494f58d7-083c-426e-83da-c476dc47d405">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine : I guess my siblings and I are exceptions, then. My mom smoked and drank in moderation throughout all 3 of her pregnancies. She has 2 engineers (okay, 1 engineer turned teacher) and a lawyer as children. How do these studies account for the French, Italians, Spanish, and many other cultures where it is the norm to drink in moderation? The US has a much lower consumption of alcohol, but much higher rates of FAS. <a href="http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/33/3/195.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/33/3/195.pdf</a>
Posted by sarabellam[/QUOTE]

Maybe its got something to do with the other crap we americans put into our bodies too that those other countries dont, I dont know a single child born in the last 10 years that had their mother smoke, drink, or do drugs while pregnant that is 100% ok, but then you look at the Jamaicans who smoke pot through their entire pregnancies who have very intellegent children. Im pretty positve the studies I've read are US based. I look at the affects on older people whose parents did these things with younger ones & its obvious there is a difference, maybe we can blame it on the artificial growth hormones animals we consume now that wasnt there 20-30 years ago.

AlexiaANDRobert

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:8fd57d6b-18d5-41a8-8719-b3146b925b95">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]Actually the girl that I used as an example had a perfectly healthy baby.  Which sucks.  It taught none of the other smokers anything or her.  What really sucks is another woman was pregnant about the same time but she quit all of her bad habits.  About 2 months after being born her baby died from SIDS. 
Posted by andyandhillary[/QUOTE]


Ugh.  That makes me sad.  Not that I wish bad on the baby, but that she's never going to learn.  And SIDS has to be the worst.  :(  So sad for her.

sucrets4

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:6ddbafc1-aa4d-4988-8dd4-2500faa87ee6">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]Oh - you have to cut out artificial sweeteners too, so no diet soda (splenda is ok, but the others aren't)
Posted by tidetravel[/QUOTE]

I disagree with this.  There haven't been any proven links to problems with other artificial sweetners (I forget the details, but I did a lot of reading in 1st tri), however I do agree that the less chemicals you put in your body while pg, the better.  It's a personal decision that you have to make based on your own research.

I drink at most 1 diet soda a day, but it really averages out to maybe 3 a week.

I try to drink caffeine free, but will sometimes have it if it's the only thing around.  I don't drink coffee, so that wasn't a big deal at all.

spinner84

I think all artificial sweeteners are disgusting, and I am definitely thinner now that I don't use them. (But I don't put any thing sweet in my coffee, don't drink any soda, etc.)

I'm not pregnant, but I would have no problem continuing to drink a cup or two (not starbucks-sized cups!) of coffee a day. I've heard it's common to not like it anymore after you get knocked up, so I am prepared for caffeine withdrawal to make morning sickness worse.

BecW2be

I don't think occasional drinking is harmful for your baby, but it's certainly not the reason any baby is born perfectly healthy. But excessive smoking and drinking are risks to your pregnancy and your baby that you should eliminate before you get pregnant. That stupid twit taunting FB friends with pics of her smoking and then her baby having all those problems infuriates me.

Saying "I turned out fine." is like companies who pollute water systems saying "Well, not every resident has cancer. Only 75% of them. Surely our pollution is not what caused this." Smoking and drinking are the common causes of low birth weights and developmental problems. Just because it doesn't cause them in every single case is not a justification to keep up bad habits while pregnant. I understand moms who will stress out further by cutting out smoking completely, but in this day and age the risks are common knowledge and people should try to quit before they become pregnant.

If it's harmful, and you can cut it out while pregnant, I think you should cut it out. It's like choosing to eat lean chicken instead of a cheeseburger. Opt for something healthier for you and your baby.

Mrs_AF

My mom drank an entire bottle of wine in her first trimester sitting outside my dad's mistress's house waiting for him to come out so she could beat the crap out of him. I turned out okay...

too much information?

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Yeah, I will. I only drink coffee on weekends and special occassions now. I love it, but I can live without it. Caffeine doesn't affect me much. I don't drink cola or anything like that.

Alcohol will be a much bigger pain to cut out than caffeine, IMO.

My grandmother smoked when she was pregnant with my mom, but I don't think there was such a stigma about it in 1954. I know someone who smoked throughout her pregnancy less than 10 years ago because she "couldn't quit" and she was 18. How the hell do you develop such a strong habit by age 18?

btrflykate1230

I couldn't stand the smell of coffee when I was pregnant. It made me sick. I had a diet coke here and there, but nothing major. The smell of beer and wine made me sick too, so alochol was easy to stay away from too, and I love beer and wine.

The worst thing for me to cut out was the soft cheese and lunch meat. I love brie and turkey sandwiches.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:386c97c3-9379-4431-b907-bf54e356fe8a">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine : See, I'm not too sure about the splenda either. I'm not fully convinced that something produced in a manufacturing plant is completely safe to consume. I'll take my chances with regular sugar in moderation, thankyouverymuch.
Posted by sarabellam[/QUOTE]

This is pretty much how I feel about everything. Anyway, splenda is sugar that's bonded to chlorine to make it pass through your system.

Oh, I know a barista who used to give pregnant women decaf when they ordered coffee. But she was a real b*tch.

mica178

Everything in moderation.  All the studies are on alcohol/tobacco/caffeine abuser, not light users.  If you're a smoker, it'd be better to cut down than to try to quit, get frustrated, and go back to smoking 2 packs/day.  (Although I think everyone should quit smoking before they get pregnant, in the perfect world.)

A lot of women of our mothers' generation smoke/drank coffee/drank alcohol and still managed to have healthy kids.  I'm not recommending heavy consumption of any of the above, but I think we've become too Puritanical about these things. 

But all women who are thinking about having kids in the future should reduce consumption of tuna, shark, and other deep sea/high mercury fish.  You don't need that building up in your body to get into your breast milk.

kimheartsscott

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_pregnant-caffeine?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:3dd24e5a-3479-4f38-9ae7-5b8787312cd9Post:2cddc155-07a0-41d7-9be5-b548ca152546">Re: S/O: Pregnant and Caffeine</a>:
[QUOTE]Who would drink 7 cans of soda a day? Holy empty calories, Batman.
Posted by sarabellam[/QUOTE]

My MOH, who weighs 110 pounds.  <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-undecided.gif" border="0" alt="Undecided" title="Undecided" />

My coworker smoked all though her pregnancy, and only confessed after I caught her doing it.  But, its ok, because she was originally just going to get an abortion anyway.  Again:  <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-undecided.gif" border="0" alt="Undecided" title="Undecided" />

thesuninherhead

I drink two caffeinated beverages a day, and I intend to cut these out when H and I do start trying. Caffeine can increase your risk of complications and if I'm not at a point where I feel selfless enough to give it up for the health of an baby, I don't think I'd be at the point where I'd really be ready for a child.