You may find your taste buds doing the cutting back for you. Many women's fondness for a cup of joe evaporates during the first trimester when the queasies strike. Otherwise, consider switching to decaffeinated tea or coffee. (Decaffeinated beverages may contain some caffeine, but it's usually a small amount.)

If you're a devoted java junkie or cola guzzler, caffeine withdrawal won't be easy. To minimize symptoms — which may include headaches, irritability, and lethargy — ease off gradually. Start mixing decaf with your caffeinated coffee. Or reduce the caffeine in homemade hot beverages by brewing them weaker or for a shorter time. If you love a soothing cup of English Breakfast, steeping your tea bag for just one minute instead of five reduces the caffeine by as much as half.

One more thing: Although herb teas often have no caffeine, be sure to read the ingredients list and consult your healthcare provider before trying anything new. Certain herbs and additives aren't safe during pregnancy.

If you need to cut back on the amount of caffeine you are consuming each day, try the following tips:

• Keep track of how much caffeine is consumed each day. For example, patients are urged to track the number of cups of coffee or cans of soda they drink.
• Incorporate exercise into your day. A brisk walk in the morning could be all you need to perk up without the pot.
• Cut back on your caffeine intake slowly. Going cold turkey can cause you to experience withdrawal symptoms, like headaches and nausea.
• Switch to decaf or half-caf. Coffee, tea and sodas without or with reduced caffeine levels have come a long way in recent years. You might be surprised at how great these beverages taste.
• Try herbal tea. Herbal blends like those containing mint are naturally decaffeinated, and they have the added benefit of easing a queasy stomach courtesy of morning sickness.
• Stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water will help you manage cravings and fatigue.
• Replace sodas with a caffeine-free version or substitute with water or flavored water.
• Talk to your doctor or midwife if reducing your caffeine intake is too hard to handle on your own.