It might be difficult to break your diet soda habit once you get pregnant, but it might be worth a shot. The sugar substitutes in your drinks are considered safe in limited quantities, but in excess the artificial sweeteners and caffeine in your soda could be potentially harmful to you and your baby, say experts like Dr. William Sears.
Aspartame
Aspartame is distributed under several trade names, including NutraSweet and Equal. It is made up of two amino acids, phenylalanine and aspartic acid, and most physicians and scientists agree that it is safe to consume in moderation during pregnancy, according to genetic counselor Lori Wolfe. Some people might develop a headache after ingesting it; this doesn't indicate a risk to your baby, but it might be a good idea to avoid products containing this artificial sweetener. If you suffer from the rare genetic disease phenylketonuria, or PKU, steer clear of aspartame entirely; your illness will block you from breaking down the phenylalanine, which can cause damage to your baby, says Wolfe.
Saccharin
Saccharin is used in some diet drinks and is the ingredient in Sweet 'N Low. It has been shown to cause birth defects as well as cancer in lab rats. Although the Food and Drug Administration considers it safe for the general public, experts like nutritionist Allison Gamble say saccharin should be avoided while pregnant.
Sucralose
This non-caloric sweetener, marketed under the brand name Splenda, is derived from regular table sugar. The Food and Drug Administration has deemed it safe during pregnancy. Because it hasn't been comprehensively studied, consume it in moderation, suggests obstetrician Russell Turk.
Caffeine
If your diet drinks are caffeinated, be aware that caffeine might traverse the placenta and impact your baby's heart rate, according to MayoClinic.com. In fact, consuming excess caffeine might lead to a small reduction in birth weight or a higher risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. Such possible consequences might lead your doctor or midwife to limit caffeine while you're pregnant. In addition to potentially harming your baby, too much caffeine could damage you, too. When you're pregnant, you detoxify caffeine more slowly; it builds up in your system and its effects are magnified, according to pediatrician Dr. William Sears. Caffeine also acts as a diuretic -- potentially causing dehydration -- and might decrease the absorption of iron from foods in your diet.
Link to Premature Births
A study conducted in Denmark found that women who drank four or more artificially sweetened diet beverages each day had a 78 percent higher risk of premature delivery, and those who drank one or more were 38 percent more likely to deliver early. The study did not explain why diet sodas might trigger premature births; other research points to the fact that some diet sodas are loaded with sodium, which can lead to high blood pressure, according to AOL Health. Until more research is conducted, err on the side of caution and limit your diet soda consumption, suggested Dr. Alan R. Fleischman, medical director of the March of Dimes.
Recommended Drinks
A crucial reason you shouldn't drink lots of diet sodas while you are pregnant is that it might cause you to neglect more nutritious drinks. For example, if you fill up on diet soda, you might not drink enough water, milk or juice -- beverages that provide calcium, protein and vitamins that are advantageous for your baby's development. Notably, nearly all sodas contain phosphoric acid that can pull calcium, a crucial nutrient for you and your baby, from your bones, according to Dr. Sears.
References
- BabyCenter: Is it Safe to Use Artificial Sweeteners During Pregnancy?
- Pregnancy Today: Expert Q & A
- BabyCenter: Is it Safe to Drink Diet Soda During Pregnancy?
- MayoClinic.com: Pregnancy Nutrition: Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy
- Parenting: Ask Dr. Sears: Pregnant and Caffeinated?
- AOL Health: Drinking Diet Soda While Pregnant Linked to Premature Delivery
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