Caffeine, pregnancy, AD/HD and me.... | ADHD Information
Ask your doctor to check your ron levels, if they haven't been. I was very tired all the time. I could barely get off the couch. I would sleep all the time. My doctor did bloodwork and found that I was anemic (low iron). I started a strong supplement for the rest of my prenancy, and my energy level shot up. A glass of caffeine every now and then is no big deal. I wouldn't drink any unless I went out to eat (not often). There, I would allow myself one glass of iced tea. It was heaven. Don't stress too much, that's worse than the caffeine. HEHE!
Good luck! Oh, when are you due?
Oh yeah, I remember that too! I thought I was going to croak without the caffeine, I was so zoned.I finally decided to go with 1 cup of green tea per day (drug out slowly and lovingly throughout the day) and 2 dark dove chocolate squares. Look at your pregnancy book/talk to your OB and see how much is allowed.
And post pregnancy, just think of how happy you'll be to have your coffee back! Now that my baby is 1, I'm back to Luzianne unsweet and lotsa chocolate- mmmmmmm...
You can make it!! You know what? I quit caffeine once a few years ago and felt inhuman afterwards. Some says its the caffeine that causes the lack of feel-good chemicals in the brain after you quit. I agree only to a certain extent. I was kind of "off" all my life. Caffeine or no caffeine.
I do eat chocolate every once in a while, and every blue moon I allow myself a little tea....OK, OK, OK! I admit...MY HUSBAND allows it to me...if he didn't regulate it, I WOULD BE DRINKING ALL THE TIME....SO YES! he monitors my caffeine intake for me.
But he buys and makes decaffeinated tea for me, it tastes good, but it doesn't have the certain "oomph"... it does NOTHING FOR ME.
And have have chocolate sometimes too, a little bit more often, but not nearly as much as I did before I was pregnant.
I was thinking that maybe my iron levels were low, but my midwife keeps check on that, and says they are fine...
I was a zombie before I got pregant when I was not on anything, anyway. So this is probably not due to the lack of iron...
I have always been one of those "zombie" "lazy" "lethargic" ad/hders, so I guess it's just how I would be anyway...
Siiiiiighhhh...OH WELL!! I better catch the naps while I can, only 14 more weeks to go before junior gets here, then I will REALLY have to be on my toes!!!
But, from my personal experiece thus far....THIS>>
[QUOTE=sonya_h]
One thing's for sure: You'll feel better if you cut back on caffeine. [/QUOTE]
is a LIE!!
sonya_h38443.8201388889Pregnancy brain could also be to blame.
I swear the whole time was pregnant, I couldn't remember anything-- and I am not ADD. So, you are not alone. Between my step-daughter's (ADHD) forgetfullness and mine, it is amazing that things ever got done. I promise it gets better once you have the baby and get through the first few weeks. Are you planning to nurse your baby because you will still need to watch your caffeine. My daughter is 16 mths. old and still nursing a couple times a day. I try not to drink too much soda or tea. I have had to learn to love water. Have you picked out any names?This is quoted from the "babycenter" website, regarding quitting caffeine while pregnant:
One thing's for sure: You'll feel better if you cut back on caffeine. It's a stimulant, so it increases your heart rate and metabolism and can cause insomnia, nervousness, and headaches....
YEAH FREAKING RIGHT!!! I quit caffeine (one of my forms of "self medicating" my ad/hd) back in my first trimester(when I first found out I was pregnant), and I AM MISERABLE!!
I feel so useless, I have been walking around feeling like a zombie!! I can't get any work done...my boss lady has been jumping down my throat at work, because I have just been sitting there staring at the computer screen, trying to figure out what to do, because my brain has fell asleep....I NEED MY CAFFEINE!!
sometimes I want a good old southern style sweet Ice tea so bad I could cry!!
OH, AND MY CHOCOLATE!! oh, they can't take that away from me, or else my life would be utterly meaningless for these 9 months...but I tried to cut back on that too...
But, alas, I must endure to the end...I am allowed the occassional dose of caffeine, but only occassionally....I see such a huge difference in my work performance on the days that I have a little caffeine than all the rest of the days....
the things we do for our children....(sigh...)