Caffeine <---- How Much Do You Drink/eat a Day?

I cant drink it in any form anymore. I eat it only in the form of chocolate...

If I drink it I will be sick for about a day or so afterwards. It does horrible things to my stomach and then I have the runs...TMI sorry...I have learned I can only handle it is small amounts:( I went from drinking it in huge amounts like three times a day...I am saving soo much money buy not hitting the drive thru at starbucks anymore!!

I don't drink caffeine at all (except for the occasional cup of coffee) but I don't have the breastfeeding aspect to worry about. When I was pregnant I reguarly enjoyed a dr. pepper and didn't worry much about that.

Everything in moderation, you and baby will be fine!

I drink half a pot on most days-sometimes more. Gotta get through the day. I am not pregnant or breastfeeding though. When I was, I would have one cup a day.

My WIFE would not drink any caffine when she was pregnant or nursing and very little at other times. Caffine is addicting and the more you drink the more you need to stimulate you to the same level.

My WIFE said she had friends with very active babies that didn't want to nap and woke up quickly and when they went "zero caffine" the babies calmed down and were much easier to handle.

But that is not scientific, just anecdotal.

Good luck to you and yours.

I actually don't drink anything with caffeine. Gave it up a number of years ago.

When I am tired, which is often, as I have horrible insomnia, I up my protein intake. I find that gives me the energy I need to feel awake.

The other week, I managed about 12 hours of sleep in 4 days - I was zoned. So, I had a coffee drink with caffeine. Oh, the jolt was bliss - but the crash afterward was horrible. Which is what I realized was my initial problem with caffeine - it would jolt me awake but unless I maintained it in my system I would crash.

Try adjusting your diet to foods that provide more natural energy. These sites may give you some ideas.
http://www.qualityhealth.com/eating-nutrition-articles/10...
http://www.livestrong.com/article/90341-foods-give-energy/

Does your 2 year old nap during the day? If so, could you lay down with the baby during that time and try to sneak in a nap also? The 7 year old could maybe have quiet play time while you all nap.

Is there anyone that can come over and stay with the children, or take the 2 and 7 year old out for a couple of hours while you nap with the baby?

Oh, M. M, I wish I lived near you so I could come give you a hug and a rest. You are so strong.

God Bless

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I'm a coffee drinker.
But, did not drink it when pregnant or nursing.

I love STRONG coffee or espresso shots.
And as Riley said, I slam it too.
All at one time.
But I don't drink it at night.
Only in the morning.
And I don't drink soda.

But, I can also do well, on not much sleep. My late Dad was like that too.
So even with my 2 kids, even with not much sleep, I can still feel fine and do well.

You have lack of sleep.
The caffeine is temporary.
But you will still have lack of sleep.

Do not feel guilty!! I drank coffee while breastfeeding, at least 3 cups a day (I didn't add as much coffee when I brewed it, so I guess it was a little lighter). Both my babies were never jittery and slept well. During pregnancy I drank the 1/2 caf coffee. I also craved dark chocolate. The lactation consultants told me that I would have to drink about 6 cokes for the caffeine to actually effect my baby, now I know they're not doctors but that's what I was told. I honestly don't believe that 2-3 cups of coffee is going to harm your baby.

When I was pregnant I tried to limit myself to one can of pop a day and I avoided it like the plague when I was nursing mostly because I could really tell a difference in the baby's temperment when I did indulge.

Now with no breast feeding and my hands full with a 15 yr old, a 10 yr old and the now 4 yr old I drink waaaaaay too much caffiene. I do only drink diet soda but I should not drink as much as I do...trying now that the weather is so hot ( 90's) to really push myself to drink water.

I have no answer about the baby other than to say it sounds like he's handling it okay.

I drink one or two monster sodas and have been trying to limit them because of weight gain. Like you, my schedule is impossible. I never get to sleep more than about 45 minutes to an hour without having to go to the bathroom and I wake up constantly due to sinus problems and kids or pets making noise.

I know it's hard. But do try and nap with the baby and make the others nap with you! Shut yourselves in your bedroom and lock the door if you need to.

None.

Caffeine for energy, is not the best way to go. Sure, you will get an energy boost, but eventually the energy crash will become much worse!! Go to a vitamin store and get some B vitamin drops. That will give you an energy boost and you're not setting your body up to crash and burn.

I drink apx two to three 2liters of coke a day, preferably. Apx one 2 liter ever 6-7 hours during a normal day.

When coke is unavailable (I really do prefer bubbles)... 1-4 shots of espresso an hour keeps me nice and calm.

The caveats on how much caffeine I consume are:

- If I'm in training (high levels of exercise 10+ hours a day) I'll drink maybe a liter or two (aka apx 1/4th or less of my normal). Caffeine mellows me out and slows me down, which is UBER necessary on a low activity day, but I gladly use the energy skipping the stimulants gives me on a day I'm about to go do a 30 mile hike or 10 hours of swimming/ snowboarding/ sailing/ whatever.

- If I need to get to bed early or have a 'sit down' function that will last for a few hours, I'll slam a 6 shot espresso about 20 minutes before I need to be asleep or sit still.

((Really, people, when I said I'm an adhd-poster-child in previous posts, I meant it ;))
_____________

There were no recommendations against caffeine (or sandwiches, or bathing, etc.) when I was pregnant or nursing. Up until a few years ago I drank Mtn Dew instead of coke, but I wasn't really tracking how much I was drinking then, as I didn't have a grocery budget I had to buy it out of (now I do, so I have to actually make sure I buy enough. I buy 75 two liters each month). <grin> Hey, it costs a lot less than wine or beer. $15 per week instead of $15-20 per day. Even at just 1 bottle of wine a week, I make out as far as the budget goes.

I don't drink any, ever. I rarely even have chocolate. I have four little ones and am prego, and I totally get the needing more energy thing! I have found more energy by doing what I can to get enough sleep. Also, taking my vitamins (B's seem especially good), help me with energy. But getting enough sleep seems to be the biggest thing! Which is hard with babies...

Your doing just fine.
I breastfeed and I know that, that will drain you.
Another thing your iron could be too low. Have your Dr. do blood work and check your iron.
If you need to take iron pills ~ take SloFe ( Over the counter ).
It will not clog you up.

= )

Two cups (literally 8 ounces each, no big mugs for me) of coffee in the morning and that's all I can do. Any more than that and I get painful cysts in my breasts. I also drank two cups while nursing. Baby never seemed affected and boy! did I need those cups :)

I have three coffee mugs a day (equivalent to six cups). When I was pregnant, I only had coffee in the morning, but when I was breastfeeding I had another coffee mug in the afternoon (so about four cups total all day). My babies were fine with that. I agree with others, as long as your baby doesn't seem to react to it, you will be fine.

I can't believe you're having to survive on four hours of sleep a day! :-( I'm so sorry. Is there anyone who can help you out once in a while so you can get more sleep? Good luck, and hang in there. You are an amazing person to be able to do this on your own.

I am a breastfeeding mom right now. Exclusive.
I have 2 soda's a week. no coffee.
your baby is pretty little, so I totally understand the tiredness! If he is sleeping during the day a lot try and sneek a nap in when your 2 yr old is napping. If she/he doesn't nap then try some TV. I know, people say it's a big no-no...but you need some sleep more than you need some soda.
L.

Holey moley...only 4 hrs? Really? You have got to try to get more sleep...or you are really going to crash..with or without caffeine.

Today I am splurging and drinking a Pepsi on ice..it is an occasional treat for me.

I don't drink coffee at all or caffeinated tea...only herbal...and I love peppermint tea.

When I was pregnant and nursing I would have an occasional Pepsi...but not on a regular basis. For me it is just not wanting the extra calories and chemicals.

Talk to your doctor about caffeine maximums...I think a cup a day was the recommended amount. ..but not sure.

Sleep,excercise,eating healthy and drinking alot of water also helps tremendously with energy level...but anyone would be exhausted with the ages of your kiddos.

I stopped drinking coffee about 20 years ago when it started making my heart beat funny the next day. Even decafe does it so I pretty much drink only water now. Im also allergic to chocolate so Im not getting any caffeine from that either.
What I have heard is eating an apple will give you more energy and ablility to stay awake than cups of coffee. And it sure wont hurt the baby if you feed him later. You do need more sleep, but you want to be able to stay awake when you should.

I am also nursing and I have 2 cups most days. Today it was one, but I've been drinking iced tea since lunch, so I've certainly had as much caffeine as 2 cups. My little guy is on his third nap of the day, so I don't think I'm consuming too much.
Have the coffee, give up the guilt.

When I was pregnant I limited myself to about three or four coffee mugs full per day (I think it was about an 8 or 6 cup pot of coffee). When I'm breastfeeding I drink as much as I feel like as long as the baby is not acting bothered. Lately it's been at least a 10 to 12 cup pot of very strong coffee. I also get about four or five hours of sleep and work full-time while my husband works evenings, so we both care for kids full-time alone and work full-time. I do not have energy but I love coffee.

If you are not used to it, don't try to use that instead of sleep. I've had coffee for blood almost since I was 12, so I go through withdrawl if I cut back too much. I'm much better than in college when it was 2 or 3 full pots a day. Sleeping should regulate soon enough and you'll (hopefully) be getting more, at least before you go back to work. :(

I have a 6 month old that I exclusively breastfeed and I drink 2 cups of coffee per day, have since my oldest started preschool last fall when I was about 8 months pregnant (doc ok-ed it). Baby seems to have no adverse reactions.

Just make sure you don't drink too much; it might dehydrate you and affect your milk supply. That happened to me when I started drinking coffe after my second was born. This time I've been lucky.

I am also breastfeeding. I read that up to the equivalent of 5 cups of coffee/day was usually OK, but to watch your baby for the signs you mentioned. I try to keep it to the equivalent of 3 cups of coffee or less, but there are days where I hit my max! Good luck to you.

I drank coffee (morning only) while nursing all three of my kids with no obvious effects (other than giving me that much needed boost!)
I also drank half-decaf while pregnant.
I gave up so much becoming a mother, but NOT my morning cuppa joe :)
You have your hands very full, I hope you have some family or close friends nearby to give you an occasional break!

When I breastfed, I found a water-processed coffee because the decaf tea is not the tastiest. At some point, however, I just moved back to my two cups of tea a day (one in the morning, one sometimes in the afternoon) and that's my limit. Otherwise I'm up late and grumpy the next day.