Baby Dust

You probably already know if you drink a lot of coffee or caffeinated soda (don’t even get me started on the soda subject), when you get pregnant, all that caffeine is no good for your tadpole. But I have some info that might make you want to cut back sooner if you are having trouble getting pregnant.

There is no definitive on the amount you can safely drink each day, but there is evidence (especially if you are undergoing IVF) that less is better.

According to a study done it 2003 at The National Institute of Health, consumption of less than 300mg per day (equivalent of 2 cups of brewed coffee or 4 cups of tea) seemed to have a negliable effect on fertility.

However, there is contradicting evidence. One study showed that women consuming more than "moderate amounts" of caffeine decreased their chances of conception by as much as 27%, and even women who consumed only one to two cups per day decreased their chances by 10%. (And a single Starbuck's Grande coffee has 259mg!) The information on women undergoing IVF is clearer. Caffeine does hamper success rates in women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies. This could be because caffeine interferes with insulin and blood sugar regulation, and has been linked to insulin resistance. In extreme cases, this condition can stop ovulation, (sited in a 2005 study published in the journal Diabetes Care).

The information I found on male fertility and caffeine was less conclusive (I remember being told to have my DH drink coffee before we had sex to make his sperm hyper for swimming). But there is some indication that large amounts can effect male fertility as well.

So to be on the really safe side, cut out as much caffeine as you can, and don’t forget to count all sources of caffeine, including chocolate (but don’t beat yourself up if you can’t cut it out entirely. I found it impossible to give up chocolate!). If you want to see caffeine amounts in your favorite foods check out this web site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeine/AN01211.

Now, don't run off all crazy and go cold turkey, you’ll be hit with fatigue and headaches, so cut back gradually. I mixed caff and decaf for a while, increasing the decaf as I got used to it.