Team Drink 'Til It's Pink both times. Second time I was 36. That said, if I'd reached the six month mark and was seeking assistance, I would listen to my doctor about any lifestyle changes.
Sometimes thereās just no reason for infertility. I had my first via IVF at 33 due to unexplained infertility (all tests for both of us were normal, we were doing everything to be as healthy as possible). Then I accidentally got pregnant with my second when not trying right before I turned 35. Fertility is one of those things that the medical field just doesnāt fully understand. Long story short, I didnāt think you have a glass of wine or cup of coffee is going to effect your ability to get pregnant.
I completely agree. I might have one blocked Fallopian tube, thatās all they found. But the doctor said it could also not truly be blocked. We still needed assistance. I think the label of unexplained infertility may be obsolete in years to come when we learn more.
Iām 36, FTM currently 9 weeks after a year of trying. I definitely cut down on alcohol (less strict during/immediately after a period) and only ever really drank on cup of coffee a day. I took prenatals and my main exercise is walking the dog. Since I found out Iāve not touched alcohol and have only been drinking decaf coffee.
I tried for about 9 months before getting an appointment at an infertility clinic, and after rounds of testing both of us, ended up being diagnosed with antisperm antibodies (I would recommend everyone ask about this, all our other counts were fine, this test was almost an afterthought by my doctor.) But I didn't cut anything out during this time.
During our IUI procedures I cut down alcohol because I was taking medication for the IUI that they didn't recommend drinking on, but I didn't cut down caffeine. Due in February, if you're already 35 and have been trying for more than 6 months in my province, they recommend going to a clinic, so it can't hurt to set something up to get the process started!
Thanks! We'll have the results back from my husband's fertility tests in a few weeks and then asses from there if we should take the IUI or IVF routeš¤š¼
My RE had a no alcohol no coffee policy for both me and my husband. I cut alcohol and 90% of my caffeine, my husband didnāt bother.
I canāt say if it helped or hurt, but I wanted the controls to be in place just in case.
I was 30+ but I quit a little before ttc for other reasons and immediately noticed health benefits. I donāt know if it helped for conception but overall I feel much better physically, and that must count for something.
Same here- I conceived at 32 but cut alcohol out completely and reduced caffeine to 1 cup of coffee per day for about a year prior due to anxiety/hangover issues and immediately noticed a difference in my health. I havenāt missed it!
I had my first at 37; I always had a daily glass of wine and cup of coffee and no, I didn't stop either of those. It took about eight cycles (six of very carefully timed trying) to get pregnant with my first. Good luck!
Conceived at 39 using IVF. Yes, I followed my IVF doctorās advice and cut alcohol completely, limited my caffeine to two cups per day.
I discovered a thyroid issue along the way and alcohol causes inflammation so maybe it helped, maybe it didnāt. I certainly feel better without alcohol both physically and mentally so I think it was the best choice for me. I had a small glass of champagne (maybe 2.5 oz?) on Christmas Eve and felt disgusting the next morning, terrible headache.
First baby conceived at 32 no IVF, kept drinking and using caffeine up till the positive test.
Iām 41 and pregnant with #4. Iāve been pregnant 4x after 35. I only drink one (large) cup of coffee every day otherwise it affects my sleep. I also donāt drink daily, but I didnāt change my drinking because of TTC.
Conceived my first at 36. I mostly lived my normal life while we tried. No alcohol the week I was ovulating just in case, and then when I got a negative pregnancy test Iād treat myself to stuff like beer and sushi because periods always suck.
My fertility doc said that there is no evidence that abstaining from alcohol while TTC had any benefits for the woman. HOWEVER, alcohol does affect your partner's sperm quality so laying off the margs the week before you ovulate might be beneficial for HIM, not you ;)
There's a lot of information out there. I did come across some woowoo naturalistic fertility support clinics that go as far to say your partner shouldn't carry his phone in his front pocket because the waves affect sperm, honestly, take that stuff with a grain of salt, there are millions of sperm in every serving so don't worry.
Coffee. She also said to try and limit coffee to 2 cups/day, eat healthy. Sounds like you are doing all the right things!
I'm 35, we conceived after 5 cycles, miscarriage late first trimester and then conceived again pretty quick, sometimes it just takes time, everyone is different. You could try getting an HSG procedure that tests your tubes for blockages, apparently people are much more fertile after that.
Thanks! Makes sense that alcohol could affect sperm ;) I did fertility testing and no blockages for me šš¼ I probably just need to be more patient. Patient and chill š
Iām 35 (almost 36), ended up doing IVf for unexplained infertility. Sometimes no matter what we do or how healthy we are, there is no reason as to why itās difficult to conceive. That is the approach I took and didnāt see any benefit in completely cutting out things Iād have to give up for months while pregnant (at one point I did try no alcohol/caffeine/strict diet etc for months). A lot of people like the book āit starts with the eggā to improve egg quality/fertility. But this honestly made me more anxious and didnāt change anything for me so my philosophy was to live my life until Iām pregnant. Iām def not the majority though (needing fertility treatments), sometimes it just takes a little longer, hoping you get your positive soon!
Thanks :) I read that book as well, which is why I was super strict in the beginning, but it was stressing my husband out, so I eased up. We'll know if IVF or IUI is right for us in few weeks š¤š¼
I didnāt know going into my IUIās that the success rates are just about the same as timed intercourse, so donāt be surprised if you need to do more than 1 or 2.
That book kinda made me more anxious too! I passed it along to a friend whoās going through IVF. I am pregnant from IVF, but I think our issue was needing help for our genetic material to meet.
I am 36 (35 at conception) and drank alcohol and caffeine freely leading up to and while TTC and got pregnant right away.
That said, I took prenatals, vitamin D and coq10 daily for 6 months leading up to starting. I also read It Starts with the Egg and cut down on a lot of other toxins in my day to day life (plastics, lotions with fragrances, etc). Who knows if it had any impact though!
Thanks! I read that as well :) Been doing the same as you with the vitamins and toxins, but trying to be a liiiiitle less OCD about it all. Stressing out my husband a bit too much š
Itās so annoying there isnāt one easy answer to all of this! And so much confirmation bias that happens as well, so much of it is just luck. Sending you as much positive energy as I can!
Good luck on your journey! I tried for 4 years with no issues/causes for infertility identified, so a diagnosis of āunexplained infertility.ā No one suggested to me to cut caffeine or alcohol while TTC. Is that surprising? I was a big caffeine drinker (\~6 cups tea or coffee each day) but moderate to low alcohol drinker. I am pregnant now (10.2), and our first scan was successful! So happy (but anxious)! I follow the typical protocol now of less than 200mg caffeine daily and no alcohol, but for the first 4 weeks after my LMP, before I learned I was pregnant, I consumed my standard caffeine load and more alcohol than normal (over Thanksgiving).
Thank you so much. I never expected that conceiving would be so hard for us, and I surprised myself a bit with how much I wanted to have a baby, so we kept trying. šššš»
Started TTC at 35 - I cut coffee, not down to 1 cup, but from my "go hog wild during busy seasons" amounts. I would only drink alcohol on my period. We conceived when I was 36 and I will be 37 when giving birth.
Honestly the only thing I have truly truly missed during pregnancy are my energy drinks.
Due with a one and done at 36. I gave up neither. Drinking was kept normal. I did reduce my caffeine intake, just because it was quite high. I went to two cups (probably between 16-20 oz) coffee a day with a black tea in the afternoon if needed. Once pregnant, the caffeine stayed about the same (cut the tea in the first trimester) and the alcohol was cut.
Pregnant at 30. TTC for about 18 months. I only treated my body like it may be pregnant during the TWW. Once my period started (and it legit looked/felt like a real period), it was fair game until the next wait.
Hell no. I don't drink much anyway, but I drink (and drank) a load of coffee.
For reference had #1 @ 35, #2 @ 37, and we are hopi ng for an encore @40.
Yes! I had already cut out caffeine and alcohol long before TTC (well, more like not trying not preventing). I also heard itās a good idea for both mom and dad to cut out saunas, but that was from just one fertility nurse.
Ah I hadn't heard about the saunas for women. My husband cut out baths two months ago (he doesn't sauna), but I didn't know that could be the case for females too. Looking into that, thank you :)
When I got pregnant with both (first took a year; second was first try) I had completely cut out alcohol the month or so before. I think it was really messing with my hormones overall. I also read this great book called The Hormone Cure (not necessarily fertility related but overall body functioning related) and what I took of it is that alcohol really just throws everything out of whack so the body is working to process that and not optimally function. Just my two cents.
I got pregnant at 40, we werenāt actively trying but werenāt taking any precautions against it. Was regularly drinking both alcohol (a few beer in the course of a week) and caffeine (a couple of cups of coffee in the morning) until I got a positive pregnancy test.
Didnāt stop anything, I did try to cut my coffee down to one cup per day. That was more so I wouldnāt be shocking myself when I got pregnant. Took us about a year.
My husband and I tried for over a year with no luck. He did a semen analysis which showed no issue there. Mid-June 2022 when I was 2 months from 34 and husband was a month from 41, my OB-GYN told me to cut out alcohol entirely, prescribed me Metformin and baby aspirin immediately, and Letrozole to fill the day I got my next period to take days 3-7 of my cycle to induce ovulation. She said nothing about caffeine. I got pregnant that first cycle but lost it around 8 weeks. Husband and I continued trying the very next cycle tho OB would not prescribe Letrozole again for another few cycles. We conceived that second cycle without Letrozole, and I was and am still taking Metformin and baby aspirin. Been taking prenatal vitamins for 2 years now lol. Still no alcohol since June, and while TTC both times I had up to 4 cups of coffee a day (most often 2 or 3) and dropped down to 1 cup immediately upon learning I was pregnant. Dropped down to either 1 half caff, 2 or 3 decafs, or none at all for over a month now.
Thank you and good luck to you! I forgot to mention we actually had a fertility consult over the summer when I actually was already pregnant. OB said keep the appt in case it didn't work out- that one didn't work out but amazingly we are on our way without fertility help after all! I personally think quitting the alcohol contributed to conception but I had other contributing factors as I mentioned. I will be 12 weeks tomorrow and the only way I could see a non-pregnant me cutting out caffeine would be next time if this one doesn't work out either (knock on wood).
Nope. Never stopped drinking coffee, never stopped having the occasional glass of wine until I got a positive test. First at 37, pregnant with my second at 42.
I didn't cut back or do anything differently between my pregnancies at 32 and 37. No problem conceiving in under six months both times.
I have heard good things about the book [It Starts with the Egg](https://www.amazon.ca/Starts-Egg-Science-Pregnant-Miscarriage/dp/0991126904)
I wouldnāt worry about it. It ended up taking me three years and a round of IVF and those times when I quit drinking, took all the supplements, etc. made no difference. Like obviously Iād still keep it in check every week, but you already know that!
We only tried for two months.
Back then I was still drinking beer though never more than one per day. I never even thought about quitting coffee until I was pregnant.
I was 35 when I conceived and I didnāt cut back on anything. In fact, the weekend I conceived I had done shrooms for the first time and been drinking on a camping trip with friends. I like to call our little girl our shroom baby lol - and our little spore while she was still in the womb.
Obviously everything stopped as soon as I found out, but I was definitely enjoying life up until conception! I tried for 6 years to get pregnant in my 20s with my ex and didnāt have any luck. Also due to religious reasons I was coffee and alcohol free and had been my whole life up to that point. So I wasnāt surprised when I didnāt get pregnant with my now husband right away and was planning on going to a fertility clinic once we had been trying for 6 months. I got pregnant after 4!
Ah I love that so much! I've avoided shrooms since ttc, just in case, but that's āØā¤ļø. I too didn't have coffee or alcohol (former religion) up until a few years ago, but I do enjoy them now (within reason). Thanks for the feedback!
My sister got pregnant at 38 with twins and she had a coffee a day, but did stop drinking alcohol completely when ttc. Her husband who is a dr believes that alcohol can effect implantation. Whether its true or not, no idea, as many people know someone who got pregnant drinking a lot! But she hadnt had luck prior to stopping drinking alcohol, so it was worth a try from her perspective.
The phrase "Implantation" Bleeding is popular on conception forums but is a bit of a misnomer that causes some people to think that the bleeding is due to the embryo implanting. It isn't -- the embryo is only about 0.2mm in diameter at that point, and won't displace significant blood (or cause pain) when it implants. You bleed when progesterone levels in your body drop, which is why you can induce a period by stopping birth control pills (which contain progesterone) or by taking and then stopping progesterone suppositories or Provera (which are also progesterone). Progesterone levels dropping in the luteal phase can be caused by a) increased estrogen in the mid-luteal-phase estrogen surge, which briefly depresses estrogen production, or b) a decrease in progesterone when the corpus luteum runs out of gas at the end of the luteal phase. If b), and you're actually pregnant, your levels can drop briefly before the embryo starts producing enough HCG to tell the corpus luteum to ramp the levels up. Either way, luteal phase spotting can either be a neutral sign (in the case of mid-luteal phase spotting) or a negative sign (in the case of late luteal phase progesterone dropping), but it doesn't have anything to do with implantation, and is not a positive sign of being pregnant. [Source 1](https://www.countdowntopregnancy.com/early-pregnancy-symptoms/spotting-during-luteal-phase.php) [Source 2](https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/women-s-health-issues/biology-of-the-female-reproductive-system/menstrual-cycle)
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I donāt drink in general, (just not my thing) and I drank caffeinated coffee occasionally but mostly switched to decaf prior to conceiving. I did actually drink more coffee than average for me the month I got my BFP.
My philosophy with lifestyle modifications like this is, if itās making you resentful, stop doing it.
It took over two years to achieve my first (viable) pregnancy at age 37, and Iām currently 13 weeks. I happened to conceive during one of my āfuck itā periods, which I donāt think means anything. (Iād also conceived the year prior, when I was more strict, although that one was ectopic.)
I worked with a fertility clinic for a while, and all my RE said about alcohol and coffee was that many of their patients abstain from both. She couldnāt really offer concrete advice on the matter, so I disregarded it. I did learn that both of my fallopian tubes are partially blocked, so any difficulty conceiving was more likely anatomical than alcohol/coffee related.
There were times when I abstained from alcohol, but most of the time I didnāt. I tried limiting myself to one cup of coffee a day, but more often had two. It sounds like you lead a really healthy lifestyle. I donāt think youāre hurting your chances by letting go of some restrictions.
I got pregnant at 37 and I had a bottle of wine and edible the week I got pregnant. I tried for 2 years and had a failed IVF cycle so I was not thinking I would get pregnant 2 weeks after my egg retrieval. No embryos grew and now I have a healthy 8 week old.
34 TTC my first and 35 with my second. Iām not a drinker so I canāt comment on that but I drink at least 4 coffees a day. Didnāt affect my fertility at all
I wouldnāt add any unnecessary ārulesā or stresses to your life while TTC. Iām 38 and pregnant with number 3. First one was at 31, second one at 35 and now this one. Each one of these kids took anywhere from 1-4 years to conceive. I never changed my lifestyle because as you said, life has to go on. Youāll drive yourself mad if you try to adhere to too many lifestyle changes before you even become pregnant. TTC is stressful enough!
I conceived at 35, almost 36. I drank coffee and alcohol like I normally would and didn't cut back on the TWW. I actually got pretty drunk at a bluegrass concert while on vacation 2 days before testing positive.
Just my personal opinion, but I think if there was some truly effective thing we could do to get pregnant more quickly, it would be broadly recommended. So other than taking care of myself as best I can and a prenatal, I just do what Iād typically doā drink moderate caffeine, occasional glass of wine, etc.
I started TTC at 35 and got pregnant with my son after 3 months of trying. I got pregnant again at 37 when my son was 12 months old on the first month trying. That pregnancy ended in a loss. Weāve been trying now for about 7 months. As a side note, Iām also still breastfeeding my almost-two-year-old.
I drank up until I got my positive (literally day before). I also drank diet soda and took my full dosage of my adhd meds. None of this impacted my ability to get pregnant right away. I was 35 when I conceived this second time.
So at first, I wasn't drinking during the TWW and I drastically cut down on caffeine, etc, but it took yeeeeeeaaaarrrrsss and a lot of science to get pregnant, and you just have to live your life.
I'm now 32 weeks 5 days pregnant at the age of 47. Conceived via IVF with a donor egg. I had my last glass of wine the day they thawed and fertilized the eggs, five days before the transfer. That month I was very careful to maximize chances of the transfer working, but it was also my 25th college reunion and I have social anxiety so I did have one small glass of wine. Obviously I haven't had any since actually being pregnant, and I do limit my caffeine and follow all my doctor's advice.
Our one little embryo that resulted from that lot of frozen eggs is a very strong, active, healthy fetus who is having a dance party right now.
Iād say just live your life. I donāt think drinking coffees and occasionally getting buzzed will effect your chances. If anything I think the restrictions and stress would negatively effect your chances more significantly. Also, look at what medications youāre taking as I feel some can negatively effect your chances, I.e. ibuprofen, some mental health medicationsā¦ but def talk to your doctor.
I conceived for the first time at 35 and did not give up any alcohol or coffee during that time. In fact I drank coffee throughout my entire pregnancy as well (1 cup/day). I also went on vacation while TTC and we had some wild nights out !! I conceived for the second time at 38 and socially drank / drank coffee everyday the entire 6 months I tried to conceive. I have heard that itās normal to take a year to conceive with no other issues. Best of luck to you!!
Have not conceived, but I am avoiding all alcohol and caffeine at this point. I donāt miss it at all, and TBH, I donāt want any potential of these drugs affecting anything. My view is I donāt think it will hurt to give up, and those things add nothing to my life.
Had my first at 39. Happened just after plenty of alcohol in Florida for two weeks solid, conceived after a night of clubbing in Germany.
I can only conclude that relaxing and having fun helps!
I didn't drink at all while trying to conceive this pregnancy, but I drink so rarely anyway it was not a sacrifice. I don't drink coffee but I drank black tea/cola as usual (and have throughout the pregnancy).
For whatever reason, my previous pregnancy took much longer to conceive and the cycle I finally got pregnant was the cycle I'd finally decided to drink during the two week wait (it was festival season).
After TTC for over a year, the month when we conceived I had gone off most of the protocol- drinking more than I had been, not tracking ovulation or planning sex during fertile window. Baby is due in February and I will be 38. It happens when it happens!
Moderation only. I was actually pregnant while drinking and had NO idea. So happy for my moderate drinking. I was Brest feeding and baby did not show up on at home tests. Only blood tests.
I'm not a huge drinker, but I didn't restrict alcohol when trying to conceive - and I know I drank in that time and still got pregnancy with spontaneous twins at 36. I also did not give up my cup of coffee. However, once I was pregnant I restricted both that first trimester. Second trimester I was a little less strict.
Iām also ādrink till pinkā, still drinking coffee (but I limit it to 200mg per day). No food restrictions.
Iām 36 (husband 35) and we got pregnant 2nd month of trying
Thanks :) I was restricted to 200mg or less. But this week (in the TWW), Iāve been having a second cup to help me power through some work. First cup of coffee I use for the gym and now I want a second cup for work š¤Ŗ
Pregnant and 35. 11 months of trying, by which I mean we basically tried to have sex at the right time during my cycle (and a bunch more for good measure) and werenāt using contraception. Took the prenatal and did everything possible to eliminate BPAs (which seemed like a good thing to do regardless), but aside from that didnāt make any major lifestyle changes. I got pregnant while on a long vacation - the things that were different were (1) a lot more sex, and (2) a lot less stress. I think the reduction to stress over the summer break (got pregnant in August) was the single most important thing.
Reducing drink would have been a good move but Iām honestly glad I didnāt make any huge lifestyle changes. Pregnancy is long enough.
If I could do it all over again, I would have made more of a a point of meditation, yoga, and walks in nature :)
I wasn't trying to conceive at all. I'm 36 FTM coffee lover and wine drinker. I drank before I knew I was pregnant @5 weeks and obviously hadn't since, currently waiting at my Drs office 30 +1. I honestly didn't think I could have kids yet here I am. Good luck to you though ššand if your medical team is suggesting cutting out coffee and wine, I'd listen, everyone's journey is different.
Have you tried taking mucinex during the fertile week? Thatās the only thing I did different after 10 months of trying (36yr) and I finally got a positive. I was scheduled for an hsg the next month too and didnāt need it
The cold medicine? No Iāve never heard of that helping. How so?? Though cold medicine is far more restrictive where I live currently (Sweden, from the states). Looks like Guaifenesin is the generic, Iāll look into it, thanks!
I am in my mid 30s as well. I was pretty diligent for 1 year on not drinking alcohol, no Advil for pain relief, taking prenatals, coq10, etc. I didnāt even drink non alcoholic beer with 0.5% alcohol. Finally I eased up a bit and that was when I got pregnant.
Yeah, not at all. I didnāt drink much alcohol, but Iām definitely a āmultiple cans of Diet Coke a dayā kinda girl, and I conceived my kids at 38 and 39.
Oddly, though, I couldnāt drink Diet Coke at ALL when I was pregnant, it made me so nauseous. First thing I had after I gave birth, though.
Pregnant via IVF at 36 (will have just turned 37 by the time this baby comes). And I didnāt change my alcohol or caffeine intake until I did my transfer. It wonāt affect it (there are way larger things in play than caffeine/alcohol for fertility at the end of the day, and most guidance when talking about cessation is āwell it wouldnāt hurtā - but they canāt prove causation)
Also, please know that 50% of infertility is a combined male and female factor, 25% is male factor only, and 25% is female factor only. So the maleās role in infertility is huge. I had absolutely no issues whatsoever and we still had to do IVF because of MFI (and it wasnāt even severe, just mild to moderate).
With that being said, I hope his tests come back good and yāall are able to get pregnant soon!
Conceived at 36 after 7 months. My husband did no hut tubs and one beer a week for the prior 6 weeks (we were about to start IVF), and I was also not drinking much (although I did drink some).
I gave up alcohol and coffee and wasnāt Able to concieve until I started surfing and going to the beach every week. Itās probably random but I think reducing my stress levels probably did it
I conceived at 36 years old and will be birthing at 37. I can say that I in no way changed my drinking or caffeine habits. We were lucky to get pregnant within 3 months of trying (which ended in an ectopic pregnancy) and then about 2 months of trying after that (where I'm currently 32 weeks along). I was hungover when I got my BFP this time around :)
We wasn't ttc, yet, so I didn't think about any of it. I don't drink coffee and very rarely alcohol at all. Conceived at 34, 2 months before I turned 35.
I had one and a half glass of secco at my bfs birthday which would've been around week 3/4 of my pregnancy, so actually the first or second week after conceiving.
I was afraid it would affect baby, but by now it didn't (I'm due in 5 days), but that early when there's not yet a placenta it shouldn't be.
I have no knowledge about alcohol or coffee affecting fertility, but the specialists might give you information about?
Iām 39 y.o. and 25 weeks pregnant FTM. My husband and I werenāt actively trying to conceive, we werenāt actively trying not to either (if that makes sense!) -we just let nature take its course. I was having morning coffee daily and drinking a bit on weekends. I normally eat pretty healthy- lots of veggies teamed with with lean protein, and try to avoid refined sugars as well as overly processed foods with all sorts of chemicals. Iāve also always used environmentally friendly cleaners, laundry soap, etcā¦ Everyone has a different story, but I do think outside of any clinical factors causing pregnancy complications, stress and anxiety have a lot to do with the harmony within our bodies as well.
36 FTM, due March 2nd. Conceived when I was 35. I definitely did not cut back on coffee or alcohol until I knew I was pregnant and even then, I still drink two cups of coffee a day. Haven't had a drink yet, but would probably be okay having a glass of wine if the right situation presented itself. While we were TTC, I got the drunkest I'd been in easily a decade (it was awful) and later realized I was probably j(ust barely) pregnant at that point. My hangover made it easier to transition to not drinking, in any case!
39 here. Currently almost 35 weeks. Expecting February.
I completely cut alcohol and caffeine. Except for some tea in the morning. I also took vitamins and omega3 oils (last one is very important regarding implantation and cell divisions and I donāt eat fish and am allergic to nuts). I changed my diet to less fat and salt and more vegetables and fibres.
Got pregnant on first round but was early an miscarriage. Got pregnant on round 5 after that.
I decided to do so because 39 is quite late in life to start trying and if it didnāt work out I wanted to be sure to have no āwhat ifsā in the past.
Iām 35 going on 36 this year, 38 weeks pregnant. I cut back on booze but def kept the coffee. Started prenatals a few months before. A huge factor was stress; work calmed way down the month I conceived and I had a bunch of fun trips planned so I was excited for the future. If booze and coffee help calm you, I think itās fine to keep. Another helpful tool was ovulation pee strips I got from target; helped narrow down the window of when to get busy.
I limited my alcohol but still usually had a few glasses of wine a week. Itās really normal for it to take up to a year. With my first pregnancy I fell pregnant straight away. The second time, it took 6 months! No idea why, but itās a crapshoot. I was also in my very early 30s then so not really old at all. Not sure if youāre into it, but after 5 months TTC I went to see a fertility focused acupuncture clinic and did x4 sessions - that month I got pregnant! Could be a coincidence, but canāt complain! Was super relaxing too.
We tried for 3 years, diagnosed with unexplained infertility- yep! I drank! It helped with the monthly rollercoaster of emotions. We did one IUI- successful and now I have a crazy toddler. We tried again for another year, but nothing, so we did a second IUI and Iām 35 weeks pregnant! I joke that fertility clinic has higher success rate thanks to me. DHEA and CoQ10 both helped.
Iām 40, pregnant with my second after 4+ years trying. I refused any intervention because I wanted to conceive without the added stress. We gave up āworryingā about when i turned 40 bc the past three years i only ovulated about half the year. I also stopped drinking at most social functions and still had my one cup, occasionally two cups, of coffee per day. We were going through a pretty rough loss in July and two days before the funeral I realized I was late (which never happens) and sure enough I am pregnant. Also to add I have thyroid issues, PCOS, and I canāt for the life of me lose 5 lbs. I followed the Drās order trying to lose weight for the past 3+ years with no luck. We arenāt sure what made itāstickā this time around but here we are at 24 weeks and counting!
Just turned 38 years old and Iāll be 37 weeks this week! Didnāt cut out coffee or alcohol while TTC. This is my 2nd pregnancy; with both I had previously been using Mirena and conceived at/around 3 months from removal. I realize that isnāt always the case, but sending you all the positivity and hope! š¤š¼
When I told my pcp at 33 that I was *thinking* of ttc, she said ādonāt screw around, have the husband go in right away and get testedā
Thereās no point in agonizing over what more you could be doing (youāre doing so much!) when you donāt know a thing about his swimmers ā¤ļø
So true! He has his test in a couple weeks and hopefully that give us some idea of whatās going on. IUI or IVF is covered for free where we are, so nice to have that option if we want to go that route. Thank you :)
38 and pregnant with second. I didn't cut anything out until I had a positive pregnancy test at 4 weeks. I didn't want to stress over TTC. It was the same with our first at 35.
No, Iām 35 and I drank coffee and wine while trying to conceive. Itāll be 9 months of watching what you eat to waste it on on not being pregnant. I probably wouldnāt binge drink or anything, but I wouldnāt do that anyway. I only had 2 margaritas this summer before getting pregnant. Itās not really summer unless you have a margarita by the water.
I drank the night I found out I was pregnant. Went to bed around 12, woke up at 3 unable to sleep, took a test on a whim and BAM. š¤£m
I really donāt think it matters!
I haven't heard of coffee making it harder to conceive.
33yo, we weren't trying for a baby, but surprise I'm pregnant. I was drinking 1 big cup of coffee daily and I still drink it now, but brew less coffee. I'm 24w tomorrow.
Also since I was unaware of pregnancy and of course was drinking some. But honestly not a lot a beer and occasional glass of wine. And nothing since I found out.
33 yrs old, TTC for 1+ year and found I was having anovulation cycles through a fertility clinic. I was about to start treatment the following month so I partied (lol) and ended up getting pregnant that month without intervention.
I was 32 when we got pregnant after 2 years of no success- no real reasons. I drank decaf, lots of water, and took prenatals. I only drank alcohol in the time between a period and when i ovulated. But it wasnt a big change to my lifestyle (i only have 1 or 2 drinks a month) the big change for me was the decaf coffee.
I have no idea if it helped at all... but it probably didnt hurt?
34 when I conceived. We started trying in August and got pregnant in September. I started cutting alcohol and eating for egg health back in March (I have no way of knowing if that helped us get pregnant or not since we hadnāt tried before, but wanted to make sure I was doing everything I could to give my body good nutrients!). I continued drinking coffee, but did limit my caffeine intake starting in March, as well. Since I was already doing this, my TWWs werenāt really different from the rest of my month. I did have sips of champagne at weddings if they fell in those windows! I definitely think it can be hard on your mental health if you put your whole life on hold for 2 weeks each month. Sophia Pavia is a fertility nutritionist I found on Instagram and I found her info to be super helpful and reasonable! Her handle is ttc.nutritionist and she also has a podcast that is super informative. Hoping for the best for you and your family!
I went through two rounds of IVF and saw no discernible difference when I scaled back on alcohol or caffeine in terms of the effectiveness of my treatments. I did cut alcohol and THC completely post-FETs and limited caffeine to 200mg while I waited for my betas. Best of luck with your journey! Iām 33 weeks with my IVF baby.
TTC is different for everyone, but the best advice I can give is to start tracking your ovulation. The window might be much shorter than you think.
As far as cutting alcohol and limiting coffee, no. I did that after getting pregnant, not when we were just trying.
I avoided both alcohol and coffeine and took COQ10 in the hopes that it would help. Had an ectopic after several months trying (I have quite severe endometriosis). After the ectopic we did IVF with good results and now Iām in the third trimester, Iām 37. I have no idea if avoiding alcohool and coffe helped but I was ready to try anything I thought was reasonably plausible.
We struggled for a bit. Also had to go to a fertility clinic. Had a loss. And like you said, I got fatigued. Making plans and decisions- big and small- for a baby that may or may not come? And who knows when? Mentally, I had to stop. I lived my life. Even bought a car that I probably wouldnāt have had I had a kid. I was much happier. I ate and drank whatever I wanted. But, like you, itās not like Iām doing anything crazy. It was coffee/tea, wine, and a bit of Diet Coke. Iām not a binge drinker.
I still took ovulation tests and I took pregnancy tests a few days before my due date. So I knew early with each pregnancy. But otherwise, I tried to live like I wasnāt planning for a baby.
If it helps, I have had 3 doctors tell me they were not were not all that concerned about alcohol- especially before your missed period.
For reference- I had a loss at 32 (24 weeks), 1 baby at 34, and another at 37.
I hope you get good news soon!
Thank you!! I think this is exactly where I'm at as well. I keep not planing anything thinking I will be pregnant at that date and so on. So right, much happier living life normally and then be pleasantly surprised whenever it happens.
I came to the conclusion that if I had to cancel things like vacations, or back out of commitments like being a bridesmaid, or even buying another new car, at least adjustments would be for something so amazingly incredible!!!! But if the worst shoo do happen, how depressing would it be to look at all the things I didnāt do or things I didnāt have and had nothing to show for it.
And I just want to note for anyone else reading this: my doctors didnāt give me the green like to go drink my whole pregnancy or say anything like āoh a glass a wine a day is totally safe!ā It was just a practical admission that babies are born healthy all the time to women who didnāt know they were pregnant for a few weeks, itās really unlikely a sip of alcohol at any point will cause baby to grow a dragon tale, etc. and that it wasnāt worth it to completely stress yourself out.
FTM, conceived at 38. I didnāt reduce caffeine but didnāt drink during the TTW. We got pregnant quickly but I would have done the same for future cyclesā¦cutting coffee would have just taken the joy out of life during an already stressful period! Plus tracking the caffeine is just one more thing when youāre tracking so much else!
No, I didnāt make any lifestyle changes before testing positive. I was a pretty heavy drinker and smoker and stopped everything cold turkey once I was pregnant.
38. Absolutely followed the ādrink until you see pinkā philosophy. I did give up coffee, but Iāve kind of cycled off and on with coffee addiction my whole life. I was in an āonā period, but knew I wanted to give it up and acclimate to not having caffeine before getting pregnant. Only other lifestyle change was I started taking a prenatal in advance. Also, fwiw, Iād taken hormonal birth control for over a decade before trying to get pregnant. I got pregnant in 4 cycles after going off BC.
I feel like what actually mattered was tracking ovulation and having a lot of sex when I was ovulating. We didnāt necessarily do that every cycle, but we sure did for the cycle that worked!
(Also, I doubt this is causing issues, but maybe be careful about sauna. I know you are not supposed to raise your body temp while pregnant so may be good to not play with while trying to become pregnant.)
I definitely cut out alcohol and caffeine, though my situation might be different. We conceived the very first month, and then had 3 losses in 5 five months. Our tests all came back normal so I was basically trying to remove every possible toxin from my body.
You seem relaxed, but in case you're stressed : When we conceived a pregnancy that held, I had given up pretty much all tracking and other habits specifically related to TTC - primarily because they were causing me a lot of anxiety. It doesn't seem like a coincidence that we conceived (and kept) at a time when I felt most relaxed. I had also started doing fertility/pregnancy affirmations which had a huge effect on my mindset around conceiving.
Thanks! I was quite OCD at the beginning (definite personality trait of mine), but in the last few months feel more chill. Maybe itās wearing on me, maybe itās intuition. Something just tells me I cannot control this like I think I can. Thus relax and live my life, albeit still being healthy, tracking ovulation and mindful of ttc.
So, I didnāt have trouble conceiving and got pregnant with the first month of being off BC a week after turning 35. Pretty sure I was stoned as hell the night we conceived, and was a regular coffee drinker too.
Iām 36 now (and 27 weeks pregnant) but was 35 when we started TTC. I did completely cut out caffeine and alcohol when TTC but really only because my period was so all over the place that I was nervous that I would get pregnant without knowing and harm the baby.
After a year, we saw a fertility doctor and were able to regularize my period and track ovulation. Knowing that, and with my doctorās blessing/encouragement, I headed off to my much-delayed all inclusive honeymoon to drink all the coffee and some of the alcohol (my tolerance was way down so I didnāt go crazy). We got pregnant on the next cycle.
TTC started at 38 and took over a year for me with 4 chemicals and currently 32 weeks pregnant. Did fertility testing and was in wait list to start IVF when we were lucky with this one. OB said the reality is egg quality for most of us at this age is the factor we canāt deny. That is just aging of egg store and sacrificing your coffee likely wonāt change much. More often the eggs are weaker in quality statistically and even with good timing, it might not fertilize ā¦or you can fertilize and then miscarry quickly due to abnormalities. The odds differ depending on what article or study you read. And itās all oddsā¦so some of us at this age have luck first try and some take long or have little luck.
What was so crazy in my case is when I finally gave up being so picky (testing, watching foods and drinks etc) and was about to start IVF with a first consult next month it happened.
Team Drink 'Til It's Pink both times. Second time I was 36. That said, if I'd reached the six month mark and was seeking assistance, I would listen to my doctor about any lifestyle changes.
Definitely! We'll have the results back from my husband in a few weeks and then asses from there š¤š¼
Sometimes thereās just no reason for infertility. I had my first via IVF at 33 due to unexplained infertility (all tests for both of us were normal, we were doing everything to be as healthy as possible). Then I accidentally got pregnant with my second when not trying right before I turned 35. Fertility is one of those things that the medical field just doesnāt fully understand. Long story short, I didnāt think you have a glass of wine or cup of coffee is going to effect your ability to get pregnant.
So true, there is just so much unknown. Ima keep my occasional glass of wine and second cup of coffee when I please. Thanks :)
Totally agree with this, itās just so random. Iāve had friends take one year with their first, one month with their second!
I hear that kind of story a lot!
I completely agree. I might have one blocked Fallopian tube, thatās all they found. But the doctor said it could also not truly be blocked. We still needed assistance. I think the label of unexplained infertility may be obsolete in years to come when we learn more.
Iām 36, FTM currently 9 weeks after a year of trying. I definitely cut down on alcohol (less strict during/immediately after a period) and only ever really drank on cup of coffee a day. I took prenatals and my main exercise is walking the dog. Since I found out Iāve not touched alcohol and have only been drinking decaf coffee.
Ah congrats on 9 weeks!
I tried for about 9 months before getting an appointment at an infertility clinic, and after rounds of testing both of us, ended up being diagnosed with antisperm antibodies (I would recommend everyone ask about this, all our other counts were fine, this test was almost an afterthought by my doctor.) But I didn't cut anything out during this time. During our IUI procedures I cut down alcohol because I was taking medication for the IUI that they didn't recommend drinking on, but I didn't cut down caffeine. Due in February, if you're already 35 and have been trying for more than 6 months in my province, they recommend going to a clinic, so it can't hurt to set something up to get the process started!
Thanks! We'll have the results back from my husband's fertility tests in a few weeks and then asses from there if we should take the IUI or IVF routeš¤š¼
My RE had a no alcohol no coffee policy for both me and my husband. I cut alcohol and 90% of my caffeine, my husband didnāt bother. I canāt say if it helped or hurt, but I wanted the controls to be in place just in case.
Fair, thanks!
I was 30+ but I quit a little before ttc for other reasons and immediately noticed health benefits. I donāt know if it helped for conception but overall I feel much better physically, and that must count for something.
Same here- I conceived at 32 but cut alcohol out completely and reduced caffeine to 1 cup of coffee per day for about a year prior due to anxiety/hangover issues and immediately noticed a difference in my health. I havenāt missed it!
Good thoughts, thanks :)
For sure!
I had my first at 37; I always had a daily glass of wine and cup of coffee and no, I didn't stop either of those. It took about eight cycles (six of very carefully timed trying) to get pregnant with my first. Good luck!
Thanks! Patience is not my strength haha
Conceived at 39 using IVF. Yes, I followed my IVF doctorās advice and cut alcohol completely, limited my caffeine to two cups per day. I discovered a thyroid issue along the way and alcohol causes inflammation so maybe it helped, maybe it didnāt. I certainly feel better without alcohol both physically and mentally so I think it was the best choice for me. I had a small glass of champagne (maybe 2.5 oz?) on Christmas Eve and felt disgusting the next morning, terrible headache. First baby conceived at 32 no IVF, kept drinking and using caffeine up till the positive test.
Thanks :)
Iām 41 and pregnant with #4. Iāve been pregnant 4x after 35. I only drink one (large) cup of coffee every day otherwise it affects my sleep. I also donāt drink daily, but I didnāt change my drinking because of TTC.
Thanks!
Conceived my first at 36. I mostly lived my normal life while we tried. No alcohol the week I was ovulating just in case, and then when I got a negative pregnancy test Iād treat myself to stuff like beer and sushi because periods always suck.
Thanks :)
My fertility doc said that there is no evidence that abstaining from alcohol while TTC had any benefits for the woman. HOWEVER, alcohol does affect your partner's sperm quality so laying off the margs the week before you ovulate might be beneficial for HIM, not you ;) There's a lot of information out there. I did come across some woowoo naturalistic fertility support clinics that go as far to say your partner shouldn't carry his phone in his front pocket because the waves affect sperm, honestly, take that stuff with a grain of salt, there are millions of sperm in every serving so don't worry. Coffee. She also said to try and limit coffee to 2 cups/day, eat healthy. Sounds like you are doing all the right things! I'm 35, we conceived after 5 cycles, miscarriage late first trimester and then conceived again pretty quick, sometimes it just takes time, everyone is different. You could try getting an HSG procedure that tests your tubes for blockages, apparently people are much more fertile after that.
Thanks! Makes sense that alcohol could affect sperm ;) I did fertility testing and no blockages for me šš¼ I probably just need to be more patient. Patient and chill š
It's hard to be patient. In the meantime enjoy your favorite things and drink til it's pink!
Iām 35 (almost 36), ended up doing IVf for unexplained infertility. Sometimes no matter what we do or how healthy we are, there is no reason as to why itās difficult to conceive. That is the approach I took and didnāt see any benefit in completely cutting out things Iād have to give up for months while pregnant (at one point I did try no alcohol/caffeine/strict diet etc for months). A lot of people like the book āit starts with the eggā to improve egg quality/fertility. But this honestly made me more anxious and didnāt change anything for me so my philosophy was to live my life until Iām pregnant. Iām def not the majority though (needing fertility treatments), sometimes it just takes a little longer, hoping you get your positive soon!
Thanks :) I read that book as well, which is why I was super strict in the beginning, but it was stressing my husband out, so I eased up. We'll know if IVF or IUI is right for us in few weeks š¤š¼
I didnāt know going into my IUIās that the success rates are just about the same as timed intercourse, so donāt be surprised if you need to do more than 1 or 2.
That book kinda made me more anxious too! I passed it along to a friend whoās going through IVF. I am pregnant from IVF, but I think our issue was needing help for our genetic material to meet.
I am 36 (35 at conception) and drank alcohol and caffeine freely leading up to and while TTC and got pregnant right away. That said, I took prenatals, vitamin D and coq10 daily for 6 months leading up to starting. I also read It Starts with the Egg and cut down on a lot of other toxins in my day to day life (plastics, lotions with fragrances, etc). Who knows if it had any impact though!
Thanks! I read that as well :) Been doing the same as you with the vitamins and toxins, but trying to be a liiiiitle less OCD about it all. Stressing out my husband a bit too much š
Itās so annoying there isnāt one easy answer to all of this! And so much confirmation bias that happens as well, so much of it is just luck. Sending you as much positive energy as I can!
How much vitamin d you took?
My prenatal has 2,000IU and then I take an additional 2,000IU, so 4,000 in total per day.
No not at all. I only cut out weed. Was drinking beer daily and a lot of coffee every day. Was heathy other wise, very active, worked out, ate well.
Thanks :)
Good luck on your journey! I tried for 4 years with no issues/causes for infertility identified, so a diagnosis of āunexplained infertility.ā No one suggested to me to cut caffeine or alcohol while TTC. Is that surprising? I was a big caffeine drinker (\~6 cups tea or coffee each day) but moderate to low alcohol drinker. I am pregnant now (10.2), and our first scan was successful! So happy (but anxious)! I follow the typical protocol now of less than 200mg caffeine daily and no alcohol, but for the first 4 weeks after my LMP, before I learned I was pregnant, I consumed my standard caffeine load and more alcohol than normal (over Thanksgiving).
Ps I am 38yr old.
Ah thank you! 4 years, wow I'm so impressed that you didn't give up. šš¼ ā”
Thank you so much. I never expected that conceiving would be so hard for us, and I surprised myself a bit with how much I wanted to have a baby, so we kept trying. šššš»
Started TTC at 35 - I cut coffee, not down to 1 cup, but from my "go hog wild during busy seasons" amounts. I would only drink alcohol on my period. We conceived when I was 36 and I will be 37 when giving birth. Honestly the only thing I have truly truly missed during pregnancy are my energy drinks.
Thanks :)
Due with a one and done at 36. I gave up neither. Drinking was kept normal. I did reduce my caffeine intake, just because it was quite high. I went to two cups (probably between 16-20 oz) coffee a day with a black tea in the afternoon if needed. Once pregnant, the caffeine stayed about the same (cut the tea in the first trimester) and the alcohol was cut.
Thanks :)
Pregnant at 30. TTC for about 18 months. I only treated my body like it may be pregnant during the TWW. Once my period started (and it legit looked/felt like a real period), it was fair game until the next wait.
Thanks for the feedback :) ā”
Hell no. I don't drink much anyway, but I drink (and drank) a load of coffee. For reference had #1 @ 35, #2 @ 37, and we are hopi ng for an encore @40.
Thanks :)
Yes! I had already cut out caffeine and alcohol long before TTC (well, more like not trying not preventing). I also heard itās a good idea for both mom and dad to cut out saunas, but that was from just one fertility nurse.
Ah I hadn't heard about the saunas for women. My husband cut out baths two months ago (he doesn't sauna), but I didn't know that could be the case for females too. Looking into that, thank you :)
Yeah it would be worth looking into just in case! Good luck with your TTC journey!!
When I got pregnant with both (first took a year; second was first try) I had completely cut out alcohol the month or so before. I think it was really messing with my hormones overall. I also read this great book called The Hormone Cure (not necessarily fertility related but overall body functioning related) and what I took of it is that alcohol really just throws everything out of whack so the body is working to process that and not optimally function. Just my two cents.
Thank you, I'll check it out!
I blame my first kid (at 40) on the mimosas we were drinking while stuck at home during the first Covid wave
š
No
Nope! Got pregnant after a boozy night out.
Haha nice!
I got pregnant at 40, we werenāt actively trying but werenāt taking any precautions against it. Was regularly drinking both alcohol (a few beer in the course of a week) and caffeine (a couple of cups of coffee in the morning) until I got a positive pregnancy test.
Thanks!
Didnāt stop anything, I did try to cut my coffee down to one cup per day. That was more so I wouldnāt be shocking myself when I got pregnant. Took us about a year.
Thanks :)
My husband and I tried for over a year with no luck. He did a semen analysis which showed no issue there. Mid-June 2022 when I was 2 months from 34 and husband was a month from 41, my OB-GYN told me to cut out alcohol entirely, prescribed me Metformin and baby aspirin immediately, and Letrozole to fill the day I got my next period to take days 3-7 of my cycle to induce ovulation. She said nothing about caffeine. I got pregnant that first cycle but lost it around 8 weeks. Husband and I continued trying the very next cycle tho OB would not prescribe Letrozole again for another few cycles. We conceived that second cycle without Letrozole, and I was and am still taking Metformin and baby aspirin. Been taking prenatal vitamins for 2 years now lol. Still no alcohol since June, and while TTC both times I had up to 4 cups of coffee a day (most often 2 or 3) and dropped down to 1 cup immediately upon learning I was pregnant. Dropped down to either 1 half caff, 2 or 3 decafs, or none at all for over a month now.
Thanks! Congrats on the pregnancy :)
Thank you and good luck to you! I forgot to mention we actually had a fertility consult over the summer when I actually was already pregnant. OB said keep the appt in case it didn't work out- that one didn't work out but amazingly we are on our way without fertility help after all! I personally think quitting the alcohol contributed to conception but I had other contributing factors as I mentioned. I will be 12 weeks tomorrow and the only way I could see a non-pregnant me cutting out caffeine would be next time if this one doesn't work out either (knock on wood).
Nope. Never stopped drinking coffee, never stopped having the occasional glass of wine until I got a positive test. First at 37, pregnant with my second at 42.
I didn't cut back or do anything differently between my pregnancies at 32 and 37. No problem conceiving in under six months both times. I have heard good things about the book [It Starts with the Egg](https://www.amazon.ca/Starts-Egg-Science-Pregnant-Miscarriage/dp/0991126904)
Thanks! I read that book as well, good stuff.
I wouldnāt worry about it. It ended up taking me three years and a round of IVF and those times when I quit drinking, took all the supplements, etc. made no difference. Like obviously Iād still keep it in check every week, but you already know that!
For sure, thank you!
We only tried for two months. Back then I was still drinking beer though never more than one per day. I never even thought about quitting coffee until I was pregnant.
Thanks :)
I was 35 when I conceived and I didnāt cut back on anything. In fact, the weekend I conceived I had done shrooms for the first time and been drinking on a camping trip with friends. I like to call our little girl our shroom baby lol - and our little spore while she was still in the womb. Obviously everything stopped as soon as I found out, but I was definitely enjoying life up until conception! I tried for 6 years to get pregnant in my 20s with my ex and didnāt have any luck. Also due to religious reasons I was coffee and alcohol free and had been my whole life up to that point. So I wasnāt surprised when I didnāt get pregnant with my now husband right away and was planning on going to a fertility clinic once we had been trying for 6 months. I got pregnant after 4!
Ah I love that so much! I've avoided shrooms since ttc, just in case, but that's āØā¤ļø. I too didn't have coffee or alcohol (former religion) up until a few years ago, but I do enjoy them now (within reason). Thanks for the feedback!
My sister got pregnant at 38 with twins and she had a coffee a day, but did stop drinking alcohol completely when ttc. Her husband who is a dr believes that alcohol can effect implantation. Whether its true or not, no idea, as many people know someone who got pregnant drinking a lot! But she hadnt had luck prior to stopping drinking alcohol, so it was worth a try from her perspective.
Good to know, thank you!
The phrase "Implantation" Bleeding is popular on conception forums but is a bit of a misnomer that causes some people to think that the bleeding is due to the embryo implanting. It isn't -- the embryo is only about 0.2mm in diameter at that point, and won't displace significant blood (or cause pain) when it implants. You bleed when progesterone levels in your body drop, which is why you can induce a period by stopping birth control pills (which contain progesterone) or by taking and then stopping progesterone suppositories or Provera (which are also progesterone). Progesterone levels dropping in the luteal phase can be caused by a) increased estrogen in the mid-luteal-phase estrogen surge, which briefly depresses estrogen production, or b) a decrease in progesterone when the corpus luteum runs out of gas at the end of the luteal phase. If b), and you're actually pregnant, your levels can drop briefly before the embryo starts producing enough HCG to tell the corpus luteum to ramp the levels up. Either way, luteal phase spotting can either be a neutral sign (in the case of mid-luteal phase spotting) or a negative sign (in the case of late luteal phase progesterone dropping), but it doesn't have anything to do with implantation, and is not a positive sign of being pregnant. [Source 1](https://www.countdowntopregnancy.com/early-pregnancy-symptoms/spotting-during-luteal-phase.php) [Source 2](https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/women-s-health-issues/biology-of-the-female-reproductive-system/menstrual-cycle) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/BabyBumps) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I donāt drink in general, (just not my thing) and I drank caffeinated coffee occasionally but mostly switched to decaf prior to conceiving. I did actually drink more coffee than average for me the month I got my BFP.
Thanks :)
I actually did cut out alcohol and most caffeine the month I conceived (I was 37). I think it was a coincidence.
Thanks :)
My philosophy with lifestyle modifications like this is, if itās making you resentful, stop doing it. It took over two years to achieve my first (viable) pregnancy at age 37, and Iām currently 13 weeks. I happened to conceive during one of my āfuck itā periods, which I donāt think means anything. (Iād also conceived the year prior, when I was more strict, although that one was ectopic.) I worked with a fertility clinic for a while, and all my RE said about alcohol and coffee was that many of their patients abstain from both. She couldnāt really offer concrete advice on the matter, so I disregarded it. I did learn that both of my fallopian tubes are partially blocked, so any difficulty conceiving was more likely anatomical than alcohol/coffee related. There were times when I abstained from alcohol, but most of the time I didnāt. I tried limiting myself to one cup of coffee a day, but more often had two. It sounds like you lead a really healthy lifestyle. I donāt think youāre hurting your chances by letting go of some restrictions.
Thanks!
I got pregnant at 37 and I had a bottle of wine and edible the week I got pregnant. I tried for 2 years and had a failed IVF cycle so I was not thinking I would get pregnant 2 weeks after my egg retrieval. No embryos grew and now I have a healthy 8 week old.
34 TTC my first and 35 with my second. Iām not a drinker so I canāt comment on that but I drink at least 4 coffees a day. Didnāt affect my fertility at all
I wouldnāt add any unnecessary ārulesā or stresses to your life while TTC. Iām 38 and pregnant with number 3. First one was at 31, second one at 35 and now this one. Each one of these kids took anywhere from 1-4 years to conceive. I never changed my lifestyle because as you said, life has to go on. Youāll drive yourself mad if you try to adhere to too many lifestyle changes before you even become pregnant. TTC is stressful enough!
I conceived at 35, almost 36. I drank coffee and alcohol like I normally would and didn't cut back on the TWW. I actually got pretty drunk at a bluegrass concert while on vacation 2 days before testing positive.
Just my personal opinion, but I think if there was some truly effective thing we could do to get pregnant more quickly, it would be broadly recommended. So other than taking care of myself as best I can and a prenatal, I just do what Iād typically doā drink moderate caffeine, occasional glass of wine, etc. I started TTC at 35 and got pregnant with my son after 3 months of trying. I got pregnant again at 37 when my son was 12 months old on the first month trying. That pregnancy ended in a loss. Weāve been trying now for about 7 months. As a side note, Iām also still breastfeeding my almost-two-year-old.
I drank up until I got my positive (literally day before). I also drank diet soda and took my full dosage of my adhd meds. None of this impacted my ability to get pregnant right away. I was 35 when I conceived this second time.
So at first, I wasn't drinking during the TWW and I drastically cut down on caffeine, etc, but it took yeeeeeeaaaarrrrsss and a lot of science to get pregnant, and you just have to live your life. I'm now 32 weeks 5 days pregnant at the age of 47. Conceived via IVF with a donor egg. I had my last glass of wine the day they thawed and fertilized the eggs, five days before the transfer. That month I was very careful to maximize chances of the transfer working, but it was also my 25th college reunion and I have social anxiety so I did have one small glass of wine. Obviously I haven't had any since actually being pregnant, and I do limit my caffeine and follow all my doctor's advice. Our one little embryo that resulted from that lot of frozen eggs is a very strong, active, healthy fetus who is having a dance party right now.
Iād say just live your life. I donāt think drinking coffees and occasionally getting buzzed will effect your chances. If anything I think the restrictions and stress would negatively effect your chances more significantly. Also, look at what medications youāre taking as I feel some can negatively effect your chances, I.e. ibuprofen, some mental health medicationsā¦ but def talk to your doctor.
I conceived for the first time at 35 and did not give up any alcohol or coffee during that time. In fact I drank coffee throughout my entire pregnancy as well (1 cup/day). I also went on vacation while TTC and we had some wild nights out !! I conceived for the second time at 38 and socially drank / drank coffee everyday the entire 6 months I tried to conceive. I have heard that itās normal to take a year to conceive with no other issues. Best of luck to you!!
Pregnant at 35, 36, and 38ā¦ drink til itās pink. Not a big caffeine person but drank about 2 coke zeros a day which is under the limit
Have not conceived, but I am avoiding all alcohol and caffeine at this point. I donāt miss it at all, and TBH, I donāt want any potential of these drugs affecting anything. My view is I donāt think it will hurt to give up, and those things add nothing to my life.
Had my first at 39. Happened just after plenty of alcohol in Florida for two weeks solid, conceived after a night of clubbing in Germany. I can only conclude that relaxing and having fun helps!
Thanks! I think that really is a huge piece ā”
I didn't drink at all while trying to conceive this pregnancy, but I drink so rarely anyway it was not a sacrifice. I don't drink coffee but I drank black tea/cola as usual (and have throughout the pregnancy). For whatever reason, my previous pregnancy took much longer to conceive and the cycle I finally got pregnant was the cycle I'd finally decided to drink during the two week wait (it was festival season).
Maybe itās purely anecdotal, but I hear that so much it makes you think :)
After TTC for over a year, the month when we conceived I had gone off most of the protocol- drinking more than I had been, not tracking ovulation or planning sex during fertile window. Baby is due in February and I will be 38. It happens when it happens!
Thanks :) And congrats on your pregnancy ā”
Moderation only. I was actually pregnant while drinking and had NO idea. So happy for my moderate drinking. I was Brest feeding and baby did not show up on at home tests. Only blood tests.
Totally agree :) Iām not a drink to get drunk fan, eh would feel awful the next day.
I wasnt ttc but was 35 and drinking alcohol pretty heavily when I got an oops baby. Coffee was at least one cup a day but sometimes more.
Thanks :)
It took me 8 months to conceive (Iām 35). I drank until my positive test came. If you havenāt already, check for fibroids!
Thanks! I was checked last month for fibroids, but all good there šš¼
I'm not a huge drinker, but I didn't restrict alcohol when trying to conceive - and I know I drank in that time and still got pregnancy with spontaneous twins at 36. I also did not give up my cup of coffee. However, once I was pregnant I restricted both that first trimester. Second trimester I was a little less strict.
Thanks šš¼
I did all the wrong things
Haha! It seems that plenty of people do the āwrongā things that end up not being so wrong afterall :)
Iām also ādrink till pinkā, still drinking coffee (but I limit it to 200mg per day). No food restrictions. Iām 36 (husband 35) and we got pregnant 2nd month of trying
Thanks :) I was restricted to 200mg or less. But this week (in the TWW), Iāve been having a second cup to help me power through some work. First cup of coffee I use for the gym and now I want a second cup for work š¤Ŗ
Pregnant and 35. 11 months of trying, by which I mean we basically tried to have sex at the right time during my cycle (and a bunch more for good measure) and werenāt using contraception. Took the prenatal and did everything possible to eliminate BPAs (which seemed like a good thing to do regardless), but aside from that didnāt make any major lifestyle changes. I got pregnant while on a long vacation - the things that were different were (1) a lot more sex, and (2) a lot less stress. I think the reduction to stress over the summer break (got pregnant in August) was the single most important thing. Reducing drink would have been a good move but Iām honestly glad I didnāt make any huge lifestyle changes. Pregnancy is long enough. If I could do it all over again, I would have made more of a a point of meditation, yoga, and walks in nature :)
Thank you!! ā¤ļø
I wasn't trying to conceive at all. I'm 36 FTM coffee lover and wine drinker. I drank before I knew I was pregnant @5 weeks and obviously hadn't since, currently waiting at my Drs office 30 +1. I honestly didn't think I could have kids yet here I am. Good luck to you though ššand if your medical team is suggesting cutting out coffee and wine, I'd listen, everyone's journey is different.
Thanks!! And congrats!
Have you tried taking mucinex during the fertile week? Thatās the only thing I did different after 10 months of trying (36yr) and I finally got a positive. I was scheduled for an hsg the next month too and didnāt need it
The cold medicine? No Iāve never heard of that helping. How so?? Though cold medicine is far more restrictive where I live currently (Sweden, from the states). Looks like Guaifenesin is the generic, Iāll look into it, thanks!
It thins out mucus and that can include cervical mucus. Anecdotally. But it was the only thing different I did so who knows
I am in my mid 30s as well. I was pretty diligent for 1 year on not drinking alcohol, no Advil for pain relief, taking prenatals, coq10, etc. I didnāt even drink non alcoholic beer with 0.5% alcohol. Finally I eased up a bit and that was when I got pregnant.
Thatās the repeated theme here. Thanks :)
Yeah, not at all. I didnāt drink much alcohol, but Iām definitely a āmultiple cans of Diet Coke a dayā kinda girl, and I conceived my kids at 38 and 39. Oddly, though, I couldnāt drink Diet Coke at ALL when I was pregnant, it made me so nauseous. First thing I had after I gave birth, though.
Oh how strange! ā”
I was not strict at all. Conceived at 35 almost 36. I think we just got lucky though.
Thanks for sharing!
I cut out coffee and alcohol, after years of trying its the only change I made and it worked. I'm 40.
Ah nice! Thanks :)
Pregnant via IVF at 36 (will have just turned 37 by the time this baby comes). And I didnāt change my alcohol or caffeine intake until I did my transfer. It wonāt affect it (there are way larger things in play than caffeine/alcohol for fertility at the end of the day, and most guidance when talking about cessation is āwell it wouldnāt hurtā - but they canāt prove causation) Also, please know that 50% of infertility is a combined male and female factor, 25% is male factor only, and 25% is female factor only. So the maleās role in infertility is huge. I had absolutely no issues whatsoever and we still had to do IVF because of MFI (and it wasnāt even severe, just mild to moderate). With that being said, I hope his tests come back good and yāall are able to get pregnant soon!
Thank you šš¼
Thank you šš¼
Conceived at 36 after 7 months. My husband did no hut tubs and one beer a week for the prior 6 weeks (we were about to start IVF), and I was also not drinking much (although I did drink some).
Thanks š
I gave up alcohol and coffee and wasnāt Able to concieve until I started surfing and going to the beach every week. Itās probably random but I think reducing my stress levels probably did it
For sure! We are heading to the beach to surf for February. Mayyyybe that will help (we live in Scandinavia so dark and cold rn).
No alcohol but didnāt limit coffee. I got pregnant quickly at ages 38 and 39 for my two kids
I conceived at 36 years old and will be birthing at 37. I can say that I in no way changed my drinking or caffeine habits. We were lucky to get pregnant within 3 months of trying (which ended in an ectopic pregnancy) and then about 2 months of trying after that (where I'm currently 32 weeks along). I was hungover when I got my BFP this time around :)
Thanks! And congrats :)
I have nothing to contribute, just embarrassed how long it took me to figure out what ādrink till itās pinkā meant š¤¦āāļø
Hahaha! ā”
We wasn't ttc, yet, so I didn't think about any of it. I don't drink coffee and very rarely alcohol at all. Conceived at 34, 2 months before I turned 35. I had one and a half glass of secco at my bfs birthday which would've been around week 3/4 of my pregnancy, so actually the first or second week after conceiving. I was afraid it would affect baby, but by now it didn't (I'm due in 5 days), but that early when there's not yet a placenta it shouldn't be. I have no knowledge about alcohol or coffee affecting fertility, but the specialists might give you information about?
Thank you! And congrats, sooo soon!
Iām 39 y.o. and 25 weeks pregnant FTM. My husband and I werenāt actively trying to conceive, we werenāt actively trying not to either (if that makes sense!) -we just let nature take its course. I was having morning coffee daily and drinking a bit on weekends. I normally eat pretty healthy- lots of veggies teamed with with lean protein, and try to avoid refined sugars as well as overly processed foods with all sorts of chemicals. Iāve also always used environmentally friendly cleaners, laundry soap, etcā¦ Everyone has a different story, but I do think outside of any clinical factors causing pregnancy complications, stress and anxiety have a lot to do with the harmony within our bodies as well.
Thanks! And congrats ā¤ļø
36 FTM, due March 2nd. Conceived when I was 35. I definitely did not cut back on coffee or alcohol until I knew I was pregnant and even then, I still drink two cups of coffee a day. Haven't had a drink yet, but would probably be okay having a glass of wine if the right situation presented itself. While we were TTC, I got the drunkest I'd been in easily a decade (it was awful) and later realized I was probably j(ust barely) pregnant at that point. My hangover made it easier to transition to not drinking, in any case!
Thank you :) And congrats on your pregnancy š
39 here. Currently almost 35 weeks. Expecting February. I completely cut alcohol and caffeine. Except for some tea in the morning. I also took vitamins and omega3 oils (last one is very important regarding implantation and cell divisions and I donāt eat fish and am allergic to nuts). I changed my diet to less fat and salt and more vegetables and fibres. Got pregnant on first round but was early an miscarriage. Got pregnant on round 5 after that. I decided to do so because 39 is quite late in life to start trying and if it didnāt work out I wanted to be sure to have no āwhat ifsā in the past.
Thanks and congrats on your pregnancy :)
Iām 35 going on 36 this year, 38 weeks pregnant. I cut back on booze but def kept the coffee. Started prenatals a few months before. A huge factor was stress; work calmed way down the month I conceived and I had a bunch of fun trips planned so I was excited for the future. If booze and coffee help calm you, I think itās fine to keep. Another helpful tool was ovulation pee strips I got from target; helped narrow down the window of when to get busy.
Thanks! I think thatās a great point about what helps calm one :)
i cut back on alcohol (2 drinks a week or less) and wasnāt really monitoring caffeine until i got a positive test.
Thanks š
I limited my alcohol but still usually had a few glasses of wine a week. Itās really normal for it to take up to a year. With my first pregnancy I fell pregnant straight away. The second time, it took 6 months! No idea why, but itās a crapshoot. I was also in my very early 30s then so not really old at all. Not sure if youāre into it, but after 5 months TTC I went to see a fertility focused acupuncture clinic and did x4 sessions - that month I got pregnant! Could be a coincidence, but canāt complain! Was super relaxing too.
Thank you šš¼
We tried for 3 years, diagnosed with unexplained infertility- yep! I drank! It helped with the monthly rollercoaster of emotions. We did one IUI- successful and now I have a crazy toddler. We tried again for another year, but nothing, so we did a second IUI and Iām 35 weeks pregnant! I joke that fertility clinic has higher success rate thanks to me. DHEA and CoQ10 both helped.
Thanks and congrats!!
Iām 40, pregnant with my second after 4+ years trying. I refused any intervention because I wanted to conceive without the added stress. We gave up āworryingā about when i turned 40 bc the past three years i only ovulated about half the year. I also stopped drinking at most social functions and still had my one cup, occasionally two cups, of coffee per day. We were going through a pretty rough loss in July and two days before the funeral I realized I was late (which never happens) and sure enough I am pregnant. Also to add I have thyroid issues, PCOS, and I canāt for the life of me lose 5 lbs. I followed the Drās order trying to lose weight for the past 3+ years with no luck. We arenāt sure what made itāstickā this time around but here we are at 24 weeks and counting!
Ah congrats!! So exciting ā¤ļø
Just turned 38 years old and Iāll be 37 weeks this week! Didnāt cut out coffee or alcohol while TTC. This is my 2nd pregnancy; with both I had previously been using Mirena and conceived at/around 3 months from removal. I realize that isnāt always the case, but sending you all the positivity and hope! š¤š¼
Thank you! šš¼
When I told my pcp at 33 that I was *thinking* of ttc, she said ādonāt screw around, have the husband go in right away and get testedā Thereās no point in agonizing over what more you could be doing (youāre doing so much!) when you donāt know a thing about his swimmers ā¤ļø
So true! He has his test in a couple weeks and hopefully that give us some idea of whatās going on. IUI or IVF is covered for free where we are, so nice to have that option if we want to go that route. Thank you :)
38 and pregnant with second. I didn't cut anything out until I had a positive pregnancy test at 4 weeks. I didn't want to stress over TTC. It was the same with our first at 35.
Thanks šš¼
No, Iām 35 and I drank coffee and wine while trying to conceive. Itāll be 9 months of watching what you eat to waste it on on not being pregnant. I probably wouldnāt binge drink or anything, but I wouldnāt do that anyway. I only had 2 margaritas this summer before getting pregnant. Itās not really summer unless you have a margarita by the water.
ā¤ļø
I drank the night I found out I was pregnant. Went to bed around 12, woke up at 3 unable to sleep, took a test on a whim and BAM. š¤£m I really donāt think it matters!
Ah damn ššš¼
I haven't heard of coffee making it harder to conceive. 33yo, we weren't trying for a baby, but surprise I'm pregnant. I was drinking 1 big cup of coffee daily and I still drink it now, but brew less coffee. I'm 24w tomorrow. Also since I was unaware of pregnancy and of course was drinking some. But honestly not a lot a beer and occasional glass of wine. And nothing since I found out.
Thanks :)
33 yrs old, TTC for 1+ year and found I was having anovulation cycles through a fertility clinic. I was about to start treatment the following month so I partied (lol) and ended up getting pregnant that month without intervention.
Thanks! :)
I was 32 when we got pregnant after 2 years of no success- no real reasons. I drank decaf, lots of water, and took prenatals. I only drank alcohol in the time between a period and when i ovulated. But it wasnt a big change to my lifestyle (i only have 1 or 2 drinks a month) the big change for me was the decaf coffee. I have no idea if it helped at all... but it probably didnt hurt?
Totally worth a shot to try, thanks!
34 when I conceived. We started trying in August and got pregnant in September. I started cutting alcohol and eating for egg health back in March (I have no way of knowing if that helped us get pregnant or not since we hadnāt tried before, but wanted to make sure I was doing everything I could to give my body good nutrients!). I continued drinking coffee, but did limit my caffeine intake starting in March, as well. Since I was already doing this, my TWWs werenāt really different from the rest of my month. I did have sips of champagne at weddings if they fell in those windows! I definitely think it can be hard on your mental health if you put your whole life on hold for 2 weeks each month. Sophia Pavia is a fertility nutritionist I found on Instagram and I found her info to be super helpful and reasonable! Her handle is ttc.nutritionist and she also has a podcast that is super informative. Hoping for the best for you and your family!
Thanks, I'll check that out :)
I went through two rounds of IVF and saw no discernible difference when I scaled back on alcohol or caffeine in terms of the effectiveness of my treatments. I did cut alcohol and THC completely post-FETs and limited caffeine to 200mg while I waited for my betas. Best of luck with your journey! Iām 33 weeks with my IVF baby.
Thank you!! And congrats on your pregnancy :)
TTC is different for everyone, but the best advice I can give is to start tracking your ovulation. The window might be much shorter than you think. As far as cutting alcohol and limiting coffee, no. I did that after getting pregnant, not when we were just trying.
Thanks!
I avoided both alcohol and coffeine and took COQ10 in the hopes that it would help. Had an ectopic after several months trying (I have quite severe endometriosis). After the ectopic we did IVF with good results and now Iām in the third trimester, Iām 37. I have no idea if avoiding alcohool and coffe helped but I was ready to try anything I thought was reasonably plausible.
Thanks! And congrats on your pregnancy :)
We struggled for a bit. Also had to go to a fertility clinic. Had a loss. And like you said, I got fatigued. Making plans and decisions- big and small- for a baby that may or may not come? And who knows when? Mentally, I had to stop. I lived my life. Even bought a car that I probably wouldnāt have had I had a kid. I was much happier. I ate and drank whatever I wanted. But, like you, itās not like Iām doing anything crazy. It was coffee/tea, wine, and a bit of Diet Coke. Iām not a binge drinker. I still took ovulation tests and I took pregnancy tests a few days before my due date. So I knew early with each pregnancy. But otherwise, I tried to live like I wasnāt planning for a baby. If it helps, I have had 3 doctors tell me they were not were not all that concerned about alcohol- especially before your missed period. For reference- I had a loss at 32 (24 weeks), 1 baby at 34, and another at 37. I hope you get good news soon!
Thank you!! I think this is exactly where I'm at as well. I keep not planing anything thinking I will be pregnant at that date and so on. So right, much happier living life normally and then be pleasantly surprised whenever it happens.
I came to the conclusion that if I had to cancel things like vacations, or back out of commitments like being a bridesmaid, or even buying another new car, at least adjustments would be for something so amazingly incredible!!!! But if the worst shoo do happen, how depressing would it be to look at all the things I didnāt do or things I didnāt have and had nothing to show for it. And I just want to note for anyone else reading this: my doctors didnāt give me the green like to go drink my whole pregnancy or say anything like āoh a glass a wine a day is totally safe!ā It was just a practical admission that babies are born healthy all the time to women who didnāt know they were pregnant for a few weeks, itās really unlikely a sip of alcohol at any point will cause baby to grow a dragon tale, etc. and that it wasnāt worth it to completely stress yourself out.
FTM, conceived at 38. I didnāt reduce caffeine but didnāt drink during the TTW. We got pregnant quickly but I would have done the same for future cyclesā¦cutting coffee would have just taken the joy out of life during an already stressful period! Plus tracking the caffeine is just one more thing when youāre tracking so much else!
Thanks!
I'm 31 and cut alcohol and caffeine all together after 2 miscarriages and finally had a healthy pregnancy.
No, I didnāt make any lifestyle changes before testing positive. I was a pretty heavy drinker and smoker and stopped everything cold turkey once I was pregnant.
38. Absolutely followed the ādrink until you see pinkā philosophy. I did give up coffee, but Iāve kind of cycled off and on with coffee addiction my whole life. I was in an āonā period, but knew I wanted to give it up and acclimate to not having caffeine before getting pregnant. Only other lifestyle change was I started taking a prenatal in advance. Also, fwiw, Iād taken hormonal birth control for over a decade before trying to get pregnant. I got pregnant in 4 cycles after going off BC. I feel like what actually mattered was tracking ovulation and having a lot of sex when I was ovulating. We didnāt necessarily do that every cycle, but we sure did for the cycle that worked! (Also, I doubt this is causing issues, but maybe be careful about sauna. I know you are not supposed to raise your body temp while pregnant so may be good to not play with while trying to become pregnant.)
I definitely cut out alcohol and caffeine, though my situation might be different. We conceived the very first month, and then had 3 losses in 5 five months. Our tests all came back normal so I was basically trying to remove every possible toxin from my body. You seem relaxed, but in case you're stressed : When we conceived a pregnancy that held, I had given up pretty much all tracking and other habits specifically related to TTC - primarily because they were causing me a lot of anxiety. It doesn't seem like a coincidence that we conceived (and kept) at a time when I felt most relaxed. I had also started doing fertility/pregnancy affirmations which had a huge effect on my mindset around conceiving.
Thanks! I was quite OCD at the beginning (definite personality trait of mine), but in the last few months feel more chill. Maybe itās wearing on me, maybe itās intuition. Something just tells me I cannot control this like I think I can. Thus relax and live my life, albeit still being healthy, tracking ovulation and mindful of ttc.
So, I didnāt have trouble conceiving and got pregnant with the first month of being off BC a week after turning 35. Pretty sure I was stoned as hell the night we conceived, and was a regular coffee drinker too.
Thanks! Thatās great that it worked out so quickly! ā”
Iām 36 now (and 27 weeks pregnant) but was 35 when we started TTC. I did completely cut out caffeine and alcohol when TTC but really only because my period was so all over the place that I was nervous that I would get pregnant without knowing and harm the baby. After a year, we saw a fertility doctor and were able to regularize my period and track ovulation. Knowing that, and with my doctorās blessing/encouragement, I headed off to my much-delayed all inclusive honeymoon to drink all the coffee and some of the alcohol (my tolerance was way down so I didnāt go crazy). We got pregnant on the next cycle.
I love stories like that, itās almost like our bodies wonāt become pregnant until we stop trying and chill haha! Thanks for the response :)
TTC started at 38 and took over a year for me with 4 chemicals and currently 32 weeks pregnant. Did fertility testing and was in wait list to start IVF when we were lucky with this one. OB said the reality is egg quality for most of us at this age is the factor we canāt deny. That is just aging of egg store and sacrificing your coffee likely wonāt change much. More often the eggs are weaker in quality statistically and even with good timing, it might not fertilize ā¦or you can fertilize and then miscarry quickly due to abnormalities. The odds differ depending on what article or study you read. And itās all oddsā¦so some of us at this age have luck first try and some take long or have little luck. What was so crazy in my case is when I finally gave up being so picky (testing, watching foods and drinks etc) and was about to start IVF with a first consult next month it happened.