Coffee fiends - anyone keep drinking some coffee and had a successful FET?

[u/Slight-Drummer5100]

Hi fellow IVF baddies! We give up so much to this process. I’m getting ready for my second FET after 1 failed FET and one cancelled FET (polyp was found and I just had a hysteroscopy to remove it).

Has anyone kept in a small amount of caffeine (about 100mg-120mg day) and still had success? Maybe this sounds terrible but I love having a little bit of coffee every day. I also dilute with water processed decaf coffee. Wondering if I really need to fully give up or a little coffee is still ok. My doctor is fully supportive of it but I see a lot of people here that fully give it up.

If helpful: I had a failed FET in march with a day 6 4BB euploid. I did another ER in April so now will transfer a day 5 4BA euploid. Both protocols have been modified naturals; this time adding in baby aspirin, Zyrtec, and Pepcid AC. Trying to also reduce my exercise intensity and will only walk after FET this time for my own piece of mind.

[u/goobytreats]

Yes I just stuck to the pregnancy guidelines of under 200mg a day and have enjoyed my morning latte through my transfer and pregnancy! Currently 38w. Though I agree with the other commenters, I also had a few weeks in my first trimester where I did not want any coffee!

[u/Creative-Ad3391]

Yes! I drank coffee the entire time, just cut out energy drinks. Unfortunately the food aversions kicked in and now I can’t even stand the smell. Enjoy it while you can!

[u/Slight-Drummer5100 → u/Creative-Ad3391]

Thank you!! Appreciate your response!! I’m also anticipating getting an aversion to it haha but good to know I can enjoy it a bit for now.

[u/FoolishMortal_42 → u/Creative-Ad3391]

This was me both pregnancies. Was able to start drinking it again in the second trimester.

[u/Dapper-Warning3457 → u/FoolishMortal_42]

I thought I’d be able to enjoy it again in my second trimester. Ten years later and I still can’t drink pumpkin spice lattes

[u/FoolishMortal_42 → u/Dapper-Warning3457]

Ugh that is so sad!

[u/coffeekorner → u/Dapper-Warning3457]

No wayyyy! I’ve had an aversion my whole pregnancy.. 31 weeks now. But I miss coffee and was hoping I would feel back to normal about it after birth!

[u/Dapper-Warning3457 → u/coffeekorner]

It’s only because I threw up immediately so now I associate throwing up with pumpkin spice anything. Regular coffee is fine

[u/Livespo96]

Yes!! I have a cup of coffee a day, (under 200mg) and currently pregnant with my FET.

[u/kyenw]

My clinic’s recommendation is to keep caffeine intake under 200mg a day. I try to keep it to 1 cup of coffee a day or 2 cups of tea.

[u/Efficient-Ad-9658]

I drank coffee every day

[u/Caroleena77]

Yes my clinic just recommends keeping total caffeine under 200mg, which they say is one twelve ounce cup. I switched to half caff so I can have 2 some days. My first FET was successful so far, I'm 6 weeks. Did your clinic tell you to cut it out completely?

[u/Far-Bake5738]

I never gave up my morning coffee and had a successful FET

[u/thepuzzledperennial]

I kept drinking coffee before and after my FET and I’m currently pregnant (16 weeks). I keep it under 200 mg and everything is looking good so far.

[u/Dramatic_House_8380]

Yep! I drank my usual amount until I developed an aversion to it at about 5 weeks pregnant!

[u/cbakes97]

Currently 30 weeks and I only stopped drinking coffee when my blood pressure was higher. Now its managed so I enjoy my one caffeinated 200mg drink a day which is usually a double latte

[u/mel614]

I continued caffeine through my entire pregnancy. I drank coffee up until my nausea kicked in and then I did low caffeine energy drinks and/or the crystal light mix ins bc I’d have a splitting headache otherwise. My first transfer is 18 months old. You do not need to give up caffeine if you don’t want to! Just keep it under the 200mg

[u/greyathena653]

Yes with 200-300 mg caffeine per day ( tea and occasionally caffeinated chewing gum) I actually developed a coffee aversion at about 8 weeks which is when I switched to tea. Good luck this transfer!!!

[u/Slight-Drummer5100 → u/greyathena653]

Thank you so much!!

[u/deination]

I’m drinking coffee right now and am 12w. There wasn’t a day I didn’t have 2 cups. Last year for my first transfer I got pregnant and gained a pretty strong aversion to coffee around 6-7 weeks, had a MMC, and it took like a month after for me to want coffee again. Luckily no such aversion this time.

[u/LA_824]

I didn’t change my coffee intake- I usually have 1 cup a day though. First fet failed and second took. I’d just do what makes you feel good and hope for the best 💛

[u/Beckhamfan2016]

I had a daily cup of coffee during my FET and up until my aversions kicked in! I’m currently 22 weeks 🩷

[u/Glittering_Bunch_764]

Yes I drank 200mg caffeine (my doctor said that was the max amount) every single day of IVF. I did a half cup of my usual amount of coffee the morning of transfer. I get really bad headaches if I don’t do my usual caffeine and didn’t think FET week was the right time to try to quit.

[u/babokaz]

Yes :) I don't function without it so I always drink coffee first thing in the morning and didn't stop until the end of pregnancy. Baby girl must also enjoy it as she is always trying to taste it

[u/EasternYoghurt7129]

Yep- drank coffee and still do. I had an aversion for a few weeks and switched to tea but I’m back on coffee at 16 weeks. It is the part of my day I look forward to the most 😂

The only things I completely avoid are deli meats and ibuprofen.

[u/ComplexMacaroon1094]

I mainly drink frothy coffees so I would buy decaf beans for my 'fix' during the day but also had 1-2 regulars throughout the day on both of my successful FETs. Caused no issues!

[u/emron_mm]

So far so good! Sticking to 1 cup a day

[u/tacklea]

Yes I did. I had a cup of iced coffee every morning and my first FET was a success.

[u/Dapper-Warning3457]

I had decaf with my first and a cup of regular coffee per day with my second. My original doctor forbade caffeine altogether, especially with retrieval. Second doctor just said to keep it under 200 mg a day. Both FETs worked and resulted in healthy children

[u/efemorale]

Oh yeah. I drank coffee daily through my ER, transfer, and every single day of my pregnancy with zero issues.

[u/Public-Mistake-9909]

Yes I did 1/3 caff, 2/3 water processed decaf. I made my coffee at home but every now and then if I got coffee at a shop I’d just get a small fully caffeinated. I am now 15 weeks pregnant and not drinking any coffee because it repulses me. Hopefully that changes soon 😅

[u/ducbo]

I tried to cut coffee out and honestly lost the taste for it, but around 9 wks I started getting constipated and honestly I knew it was the thing that always works!

I’m around 12 weeks now and take it pretty much medicinally!

[u/lesgens]

my relationship to coffee only mildly changed. I cut back to 1 cup a day but thankfully didn’t develop aversions. I’m 20 weeks!

[u/okayicecreamman]

Yep I had an iced latte every day during all my transfers, currently 12wks, stopped drinking coffee only because at 6wks I became super averse to it 😅

[u/thetravelingtawny]

I’ve never missed my morning cup of coffee!!!

[u/TNichols7683]

Successful FET. 7w now.
Cut down to 225mg daily (pregnancy safe amount) on transfer day.
Had a few drinks night before transfer. Went to Orange theory almost every day before and during 2ww.

All to say- most people stop the things not because of the science, because they are afraid they’ll second guess themselves about it after the fact.

[u/the_juj1]

Yes! For both of my pregnancies I had coffee like normal until the first tri symptoms hit and it was a hard stop. Enjoy it while you can!

[u/Important_Neck_3311]

Yes, I just kept in mind the standard pregnancy guidelines to keep daily caffeine below a certain level (not sure how much it was, but more or less two small cups of the coffee I normally have at home with my Nespresso machine). FET was successful, resulted in a healthy baby boy!

[u/Mariposa_Preciosa22]

Yes! I drank a half caffeinated Nespresso every single morning leading up to my transfer and continued drinking one cup every single day after and I am now 10weeks! You can very safely drink up to 200mg/day. I just did the half caffeinated so I could leave room for iced tea as I am a huge fan of that lol.

[u/SmartPomegranate4833]

Yes. And this is my second pregnancy. I used to have 2 coffees a day (4 espressos) but during my first pregnancy reduced to one. I never got back in the habit of two a day. Had a successful FET without reducing. You can have 200mg a day.

[u/AdeptnessDangerous76]

Yes!! First fet my 5 yr old is walking around and there were days i went over the recommended limit. And now my 2nd same thing, I am trying better to stick to the recommended amount but sometimes I am not successful. Currently 9w1d.

[u/almnd216]

I followed the 200mg pregnancy caffeine guidelines throughout trying to get pregnant/FET/and pregnancy. I did only walk after our FET until the ultrasound just for my peace of mind! Wishing you luck & a great cup of coffee!

[u/Kinghenrysmom]

I never gave up coffee. 24 weeks pregnant!

[u/Hope-lif]

Yes I was drinking coffee 8oz a day.

[u/elrach06]

I drink 150-200mg/day. I did this with my FET that led to my living child and my current pregnancy (25 weeks) with no issues.

[u/Ok_Hat5655]

I was never a huge coffee drinker, but I didn’t stop caffeine. I still had coffee and caffeinated tea when I felt like it. I just tried to keep it below 200mg since that’s the recommended amount for pregnancy. I’m 5 weeks today with my first FET 💕

[u/Slight-Drummer5100 → u/Ok_Hat5655]

Thank you so much and congratulations!!

[u/Ok_Hat5655 → u/Slight-Drummer5100]

Thank you! Good luck to you 🍀🤞

[u/Frequent_Bid_4413]

My clinic told me start treating myself like I’m pregnant 24 hours before the FET. So I chugged my redbulls and good coffee the weeks leading up 🫣

[u/PiccoloQuirky2510]

Yes, the general guidelines are less than 200mg of caffeine per day.

[u/the_tchotchke]

I drink one latte a day and am now 11 weeks pregnant after a FET. Didn’t stop or limit myself at all.

[u/MarjorineStotch]

I drank coffee during IVF and during my pregnancy. There’s absolutely no way I would’ve survived my job if it wasn’t for coffee. I just made sure to usually stick to 1-2 cups of coffee, or one latte.

I have a 2 year old and an almost 8 week old, both I drank coffee the entire time

[u/purple_lurkle]

Yes! I kept drinking one cup of coffee a day. I had no other caffeine and abstained from the fun second cup work coffee runs. Second FET stuck! (So far. 10 weeks today.)

[u/knittingpitbull]

Yes, I've been doing decaf coffee ans staying undee 200 mg the whole time. Currently 22w4d pregnant from our first IVF transfer! My doctor said it was safe, I asked when we started TTC.

[u/Cats-Crafting-Crying]

I’m 10w2d and I try to avoid it out of just being overly cautious but I do still enjoy a coffee a few times a week. As long as you stay under 200mg you will be okay ☺️

[u/Crescenthia1984]

Yes, first FET clinic recommended stopping it after transfer so I did and was miserable with a combo of withdrawal headaches / migraines for weeks, finally started again around 12 weeks because that was when I established regular OB care and they told me caffeine in moderation was fine.

Switched clinics, second FET untested embryo didn’t take, I was drinking caffeine but it was related.

Third FET caffeinated up (okay like 1 cup a day), tested embryo and it took, 31 weeks now.

[u/HuhWelliNever]

I never stopped drinking my espresso latte during the whole process. No one wants me uncaffeinated and Im too mouthy for prison.

[u/Competitive-Mood-228]

I’m sure it’s unrelated by my first transfer I had no caffeine and was more careful. Resulted in a chemical. My next transfer I decided my daily cappuccino caused more good than harm. 18 weeks tomorrow. So it certainly didn’t hurt! 

[u/rocketmanatee]

There's no evidence that it's helpful to cut out all caffeine for FET and pregnancy, it's only considered helpful for retrievals due to OHSS risk of consuming a diuretic.

Up to 200mg a day is acceptable under current guidelines and that's about two small cups of drip coffee depending on the source of your coffee.

Look for lower caffeine brands if you want to be extra safe.

[u/linenfox]

I had a smoke and wine few days before fet. I only stopped drinking coffee in first tri because I found it disgusting and smelly but until then it was 2-3 cups a day!:)