If you used caffeine to sway, how did you deal with cravings during pregnancy

[Kitty0911]

When I was swaying I drank around 500mg of caffeine a day (lots of black, strong coffee). In the two week wait I dropped it down to 300mg and had a few headaches here and there. When I got my bfp I quickly went from the 300mg to 100mg and then stopped within about 4 days. I had some major withdrawal symptoms (even though I only used caffeine for about 6 weeks). Now I have extremely strong cravings for caffeine and if I smell coffee I have to have some. I have been keeping it to every other day and no more than 150mg (sometimes it doesn't go over 80mg), but since I had my bleed I have been rethinking caffeine. For any of you who used caffeine to sway (and ended up with major cravings for it) how did you deal with it? I would do decaf, but researching it I realize it is full of toxins that are probably far worse than caffeine would be.
Does anyone have any ideas? My cravings get so crazy sometimes I can't stomach anything else until I get my "fix." Help :(

[bunnywabbit]

A little coffee during pregnancy is fine (I think it is recommended no more than 200mg per day). If you were looking to quit though, I would try to cut it down gradually over a few weeks rather than a short period or failing that have a little on alternative days. Or maybe having your coffee but in small cups.

AFM, I don't think I can ever count decaf as 'coffee', not even on a bad day... :rofl:

[Kitty0911]

Thank you bunny!

[atomic sagebrush]

There are some kinds of decaf that do not have the toxins in them, they are more $$ but they are out there.

Personally I never gave up the caffeine (even tho I should have because I was really super old). I cut back, but I had caff. with every pg and I decided that I had turned it over to God/fate (this was part of my sway) and it was in their hands. I don't necessarily recommend doing that but that's what I did.

[RKT Mama]

I am sorry I don't have any great advice except for being grateful that I didn't up my caffeine before I fell pregnant because coffee was the one thing that really made me queasy in pregnancy.
That said I have continued to drink caffeine through all my pregnancies but I just made my coffee more milky and weak so I got the flavour but not as much of the bad stuff.
I would also think that a couple of small coffees during the day would be better than a big hit of caffeine but I don't think there is scientific proof of that