Just thought I'd tell everyone what I really wish I would have known before. Caffeine drastically lowers your chances of conceiving and increases your chance of miscarriage by 3 times!! A naturopath I know said that even having ONE can of caffeinated soda decreases your rate of conception by fifty percent!

I myself, had only ONE vice.... coffee. I had 2 cups per day (by cups I mean MUGS). I always heard it was not good for you but found scientific proof/studies that state that it is truly NOT GOOD to drink any coffee. I quit 2 days ago and it was hard. I got reallly sick but I know that it will be worth it.

Caffeine lessens eqq quality, cervical mucus and interferes with implantation by "firing off" bad chemicals into the uterus!! Just thought I'd share. I know that we are all willing to do anything to get pregnant!!

I would second this. I gave up caffeine while TTC after being advised by a naturopath as well.

Okay, okay I"m willing to buy it but do you have any links, articles, direct quotes about the "firing off" of bad chemicals...??? are we sure that one to two cups a day isn't just the norm and so many women get thru prgs. with smoking, caffiene, crack cocaine!! :cuss: I mean really caffiene is the taboo for just being a mild uterine stimulant or what???

I still can't get it into my head how it is bad for purposes of conceiving altho' I understand the concept of it potentially causing m/c if taken in large quantities during prg.??? :shrug:

any help here would be appreciated.. I know I can quit easily enuf -just switch over to yoghurt from coffee -yoghurt boosts intestinal health with the probiotics and actually gives a greater energy kick than coffee ; and then straight fruit juices or blender mixes will also do the same for the energy high feeling... once you get over the first day or so of feeling grumpy... you could even go to flavoured decaf coffee for a treat right???
thx for this amber alert though... I'm thinking hard of making it my goal...
Ally

i always blamed my mc on drinking coffee. i had no idea i was pg and mc at 10wks. alex.

I feel the same way that you do re: giving it up. Believe me. I am soo sad to have quit. It was the only 'drug' I had left!! Ha ha. I mentioned before, I don't drink, smoke, gamble or do anything. My joy was coffee. Now it's gone! I was unwilling to give it up despite warnings from my doctor and RE. I kept drinking it. I would have a mug in the morning and then a flavored coffee/mocha in afternoon. No big deal... right? WEll, I am a kindergarten teacher and have mothers who have had their kids (my students) thru IVF. They all know that I am going through all of this because of my absences. ANyway, one of the mothers who is a psychiatrist pulled me aside during my 2ww (last month..) and asked me if I am a coffee drinker. I said, "YES, why?" and she proceeded to tell me about all of the conferences she attends and speaks on for women going through infertility. She speaks on PCOS also.. anyway, she is a very smart, wise woman who went thru 8 IVF cycles herself. She told me to stop and that there is scientific proof and it has a serious effect on some women. (ME?) Ya, there are plenty of women who get pg smoking crack and getting drunk all night but it isn't me!! I feel now that IF I am going to go to all of these lengths to get pregnant, why not control the ONE thing I can.. My addiction!! I have soo many ailments I have NO control over (endo, pcos) that I will do anything. Punch it in on google and read about 10 articles. It was enough to convince me. And believe me... I LOVE COFFEE. It was a lifestyle for me. The withdrawal was TERRIBLE. But I'm past that part. I still miss it, (it's only been 4 days), but I will get through it. I don't "buy into" things like this easily. I sat and thought about it though and it truly does make sense to me. Good luck to everyone. I know we are searching for anything!! ;)

thanks for sharing...

I'm not drinking caffeine since 2 months. Though, I got be honest a couple of times I have drink a soda, but is not the norm. And I don't know if it is the caffeine, but my follicles had increased in size and amount with the clomid. So maybe that helps...

I enjoy coffee for its taste so I always have a good decaf. on hand. My RE told me to avoid caffeine, to be exact, he put me on the diet of a pregnant woman. Know that teas (from most to no caffeine: black, green, oolong, white and herbal) and chocolate also contain caffeine but not as much.

I drink about 2-4 cups in the morning and some days have an iced coffee in the afternoon...is decaffinated o.k...because I don't mind the taste and I still enjoy the coffee flavor...After this I will quit coffee, but I will switch to decaf...

Yes, you can have decaf... If you like the taste. Some of it is "chemically" decaffeinated so I don't know if that's okay or not. Decaf has 97% of the caffeine eliminated. (it's the law). So there is still some caffeine. I think having a cup of tea, chocolate etc in moderation is fine. It's the hard core coffee drinkers like myself who have to give it up. There is caffeine in a lot of things that I cannot avoid entirely. ANd shouldn't have to But the coffee for sure!! Good luck to everyone.

I would rather follow the advice of an RE than a naturopath...and most RE's are ok with some caffeine both during ttc-ing and pregnancy. There has been some data recently (according to my RE) that links high amounts of decaf to m/c.

Having more than 600 mg of caffeine daily is a problem according to most of the literature. Most ttc-ing and pregnancy books recommend 300 or less.

I don't have caffeine "issues", never been that wild about anything caffeinated, but funnily enough, was "prescribed" caffeine by my ob/gyn to help with my pregnancy migraines. I'm supposed to drink caffeinated beverages (again, less than 300 mg in a day) every time I get a headache to try to stave off a migraine. If the caffeine doesn't work, I get to try Tylenol. After that, I'm supposed to go to a barbituate or narcotic safe in pregnancy. I'll take the caffeine!

Here is a link to how much caffeine in which beverages that I found helpful:
http://www.cspinet.org/new/cafchart.htm

Rachel (38) and dh
lining issues/male factor
ttc-ing > 2 years
4 IUI's BFN
IVF #1 BFN
IVF #2 ER no ET (lining issues)
FET #1 BFP!

I second Rachel...

I do not drink coffee every morning, never have. I do enjoy a cup on the weekend or as a pick-me-up on those work days when I can't seem to get my brain into gear. I suppose it's one of those things that it definitely won't hurt to stop drinking it entirely, but really, I haven't seen any studies that have tied miscarriage or infertility due to moderate consumption of caffeine. Personally I'd rather drink less of it but drink the real stuff (i.e. I'm not drinking decaf) -- I am more suspicious of the decaf process than of the potential but so far unproven damage that a low to moderate amount of caffeine could cause. But also agree with the OP that if you want to err on the really conservative side, cut it all out (including decaf).

BTW for tea drinkers -- a naturally caffeine-free red tea that still tastes like tea is rooibos. Get the kind without any of the regular herbal additives -- the rosehips etc really ruin the flavor, the unadulterated pure Rooibos is much better. Rooibos has lots of antioxidants too.

What about Soda? How much is TOO much? What about Caffeine Free soda-is that safe? Seems there are a lot of opinions on this....just curious....

I think that everyone should do what they want to do. I am speaking from the viewpoint of someone who will try anything to get pregnant. Not someone who has no problems with it. If there is ANY evidence that caffeine causes problems then I will follow the advice to stop. And by "moderate" consumption, you also have to remember how much caffeine is in many of the foods we eat and drink on a regular basis. So, you have to add all of that up as well.

If people/doctors have been saying anything at all about caffeine consumption wouldn't you agree that it may warrant some thought?? I think so. Also, I have read numerous fascinating studies that state that women develop morning sickness in healthy pregnancies as their bodies "natural way" of staying away from coffee, cigarettes ETC, things that are harmful to pregnancy. So, it stands to reason that it is not good for you.

Just my opinion and what I have gathered from lots of research and questions at the doc. Good luck everyone!! It wasn't easy to quit but I did it and I'm so proud of myself now!!

I'm so grateful that you wrote about the problem with caffeine. My husband just bought a coffee machine that brews fresh cups to be ready when we wake up. After having 2 miscarriages, I have NO trouble giving up the caffeine. The issue with whether decaf is really decaffeinated enough confuses me. I've used taster's choice vanilla decaf in the past and really enjoyed it, but now I'm wondering if I should also treat it like a "no, no" just to be safe, as well.

I am not sure on decaf. However, because the stuff from the coffee houses around here is "chemically" decaffeinated... I am steering clear. I'll still have a cup of tea now and then or a soda once a week but no coffee. That's just me tho! There are some naturally decaf coffees and I bet those are fine. Decaf still has caffeine, but there's 97% less than caffeinated coffees.

There are two methods I know for getting 100% chemical free coffee decaffeination: one is the CO2 process and the other the Swiss Water Process.

http://www.swisswater.com/ (there is a where to buy link there)
http://www.cariboucoffee.com/ourcoffee/naturaldecaf.asp (uses water and CO2)

You can get the coffee online or with some research, I'm sure you can find it wherever you live.

Here are a few more links:

http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/store/coffee/decaf
http://www.oldcitycoffee.com/shop/decaf.html
http://www.cafebelmondo.com/default.aspx?page=decaf
http://www.specialty-coffee-advisor.com/decaffeinated-coffee.html


Always read the package.

Enjoy!

I heard on a IF documentary that caffeine affects the cylia .. or the tiny little hair that are present in our fallopian tubes.. the hair is constantly moving in a rythm to help the egg travel through our fallopian tube .. caffeine numbs these hair and slow down their activity.. therefore the egg does not travel in a normal speed.. this was enough info for me to stop my caffeine.. I am not a coffee drinker.. but soda was my weakness... I gave up many months ago :)

I understand the caffeine thing. But what about diet, caffeine free sodas, or something like Crystal Light? ARe the chemicals in these drinks bad for me, too? I am just trying to figure out what IS ok to drink, other than water. I do need some flavor!!! Thanks!

I just came back from a visit to Dr.Schoolcraft's practice in Colo.!!! He and his practice are amazing!!!!

He uses a Doppler U/S to evaluate the female reproductive organs.

The use of the Doppler allows them to measure the level of blood circulation to them. Caffeinated foods and beverages actually restrict the flow of blood and nutrients to the reproductive organs. Caffeine is a vaso(sp) restrictive substance which in many cases acts like speed in our systems. Since our body only has so much blood the caffeine simply sends it to specific areas of our bodies other than the reproductive organs. It also raises blood pressure and increases pulse rate. The best thing it does is send blood to our brains!!!! Thus the morning kick start. Coffee is great for someone who is having an asthma attack. It will actually relax the air ways and make it possible for them to breathe.

I too am addicted to caffeine and it has been a huge issue for me to give it up. However with age related IF I can't afford to waste anymore time. I need to also say that I (as well as everyone else I know) was drinking caffeinated drinks through out my entire first PG or I would have slept the whole nine months!!!! It had no effect on my conception or PG then, so I think it is a matter of circumstance.

mame - did schoolcraft specifically say to quit caffeine? did they give you any backup material (handouts or references?)... and are you commuting from Dallas to Denver?? I live in Denver and know many people going to his clinic...I'm just curious :)

I'm trying really hard to buy into the "give up caffeine" but addiction runs deep... i need cold hard proof... anyone have a website, or reference to recommend??

Yes he did say all Caffeine food and drink.:shrug:

And like I said I did drink caffeine thru out my first PG and conception but I wasn't 43 with FSH of 14. So I have to do what ever this man thinks will give me the best chance I have. I am in the desperate catagory at this point.:bawl:

Futher more. He is one of the topped ranked Dr.'s in the WORLD! His CDC record shows consistently that he is number one in our nation. I have had three or four other Dr.'s and I've been thru 12cycles. Nine of them IVF. So if Schoolcraft told me to run around in circles naked during a full moon I would probably do it. ;) I have never been to another Dr. that even come close to doing what he does or how for that matter. Yes I will commute from Dallas to Denver, because I don't have any more time to waste. :(

I am married to a general surgeon and we've discussed at legnth the issues of caffeine and it is not a benign substance by any means. But we all must weigh our own risk and benefits against our own values. I started with coffee at age 12 I normally drink 8 cups of espresso a day. I live on caffeine.

I would imagine there are lots of web sights that have this information. I am sure Schooolcraft has studies to back his theory. He does do Dopppler US to check blood flow and he says it will lower the blood flow.

I hope you enjoy your visit there. I did. I am trying my best to get up there for a cycle in February, maybe I will see you there. Please forgive my dry humor and sarcasm :laugh:

Hi. I have struggled with my caffeine addiction since I started ART about 2 years ago. I was told from the get go that I needed to STOP the coffee. I did NOT listen. I just kept rationalizing to myself that "it's only coffee, it's my ONLY vice and it isn't true that it affects my fertility." Well... I didn't get pregnant. Then I got a book titled "Living Well With Endometriosis." (I have endo and pcos, I'm 28 ttc #1). In the book, it says that women who drink more than one cup (actual measured cup.. not YOUR cup..) of caffeine/coffee per day have 70% MORE Estrogen in their bodies at any given time!!! This is HUGELY problematic for women trying to conceive. Especially if you have endo as it is an estrogen based disease. MAJOR WAKE UP CALL for me!! I quit cold turkey. I have very very minimal endo but the fact that it affects your hormones is all I needed to hear!! I know it restricts blood flow and fires off something that can affect implantaion. I also read that women who drink coffee are 3x's more likely to miscarry. In fact, the reason that women develop aversions to coffee and chocolate is due to the fact that the body does NOT want that to hurt the pregnancy! Food/drink for thought.. It's best to stop. I did it! Good luck to you all. I will be starting stims for my very first (and hopefully only) IVF cycle on Saturday!

Here is an update; I previously said I drank decaf. Well, no longer. Apparently it's not only caffeine that's bad for you but also carboxylic acid which is in ALL coffees (decaf or not) and chocolate to boot.

It affects mucus, i.e. lining of stomach and most importantly uterus. Thus, my acupuncturist as further restricted my diet.

Better safe than sorry; this is only a temporary condition :)

CS