Drinking Soda?

brokensmyl · June 2011

As someone who only drank soda before I was pregnant, cutting the habit is really hard for me. The bad thing about soda is the caffeine, right? Is there anything else in it that is harmful? I've been drinking Orange Soda (which is caffeine free), so that should be fine right?

c_washington · June 2011

In pregnancy the concern with soda is the caffeine, sugar, carbonation, and acidity. Some or all of these affect women differently!

The caffeine thing is well known. My OB said it is fine to have one caffeinated beverage a day. I have chosen to limit it to occasionally.

Sugar is an issue with weight gain.

Carbonation can make you even more burpy.

Acidity can worsen nausea in some women (but I think this is more with dark colas

The other concern is hydration. Water is better for hydration.

With diet soda some people worry about the artificial sweeteners.

I drink the caffeine free orange soda too every once in a while. But I drink diet since I have type 1 diabetes and the sugar would be overkill for me. Everyone takes their own risks

I say, enjoy !

MrsClark8109 · June 2011

The main concern is the caffeine you are correct. So in our family you can always tell when someone is expecting before they announce cuz they switch to caffeine free or 7up or rt beer (all caffeine free options).

Soda's not a healthy choice--its not really very good for hydration as it does contain some sodium and water is much better for hydration--but its not something that is dangerous when its caffeine free.

Dt. Soda does contain artificial sweetners which some OBs are not fans of--I went through probably 3 boxes of artificial sweetner a week before I got pg, and ate everything diet and artifically sweetened--my OB suggested I cut back on the stuff but is fine with the amts occuring in sodas, ect.

mben1119 · June 2011

You're fine, as long as you're drinking plenty of water too!

dubbles1984 · June 2011

My OB said one diet caffeine free soda per day is okay, but try not to drink much more than that. Also, PLENTY of water.

I will have maybe two diet caffeine free sodas per week. I really try to cut back on the artificial/sugar/salt laden items. I'm a water guzzler these days.

andthatmakes4 · June 2011

Mine was only worried about the sodium content in colas.

ashleighlynn0812 · June 2011

mabenner1:
You're fine, as long as you're drinking plenty of water too!

THIS. This is what my OB said.

jenb_99 · June 2011

Most women are allowed up to 200 mg caffeine/day, and the average soda has just under 40.

I don't drink regular soft drinks, but I still drink diet. I was drinking 1-2/day when I first got pregnant, but artificial sweeteners don't taste as good to me lately, so I'm down to 2-4/wk now.

But if you're getting a balanced diet and aren't concerned about the caffeine and sugar, drink up! Some days there's just nothing better than a Coke. Mmmmmm.

chuckiep · June 2011

From the studies I've read I would be way more concerned with diet sodas than anything. Like PP said, pg women are allowed 200mg of caffeine per day and a soda usually has less than 50mg. The reason artificial sweeteners are so bad is because they have an effect that is similar to formaldehyde. It has been shown that people who regularly drink diet soda throughout their life will be preserved more than twice as long in the grave than those who do not drink diet. It's mostly aspartame.

Anyway, I try to stick to only one or two sodas a day, and not every day. And drink tons of water!

LAHN · June 2011

One other issue (I agree with other posters' comments of what is not healthy about soda) is bone mineral density. High consumers have been shown to have significantly lower bone density (see google for the specifics). So, I would actually be concerned with your calcium intake, both now during pregnancy but also prior to and after pregnancy!

If you came into pregnancy with lower bone mineral density, and are not consuming enough calcium to account for need of baby, you'll end up with even lower density after pregnancy.

Just something to think about regardless of whether you continue drinking soda or not.

pennynjon · June 2011

I completely gave up caffeine and diet drinks. Mostly I only drink water, juice and milk. But the last few weeks I have been craving a coke. I bought a pack of caffeine free coke. It is SO good. I only have one a day if that, and still drink lots of water. I think it is fine in moderation.

Lindsaylovesdogs · June 2011

I think it's fine... I mean, of course refined sugar isn't the best thing, but drinking orange soda is no worse than eating candy I'd think.

As for diet soda, my Dr told me I could have one every other day. I'm down from about 3 a day and I really miss my diet cokes!

tetedefromage · June 2011

Luckily for me, my soda habit was easy to kick because as soon as the morning sickness and food aversions began, my tastes changed and I no longer like soda!

stardust317 · June 2011

I still drink 1-2/day. I drInk regular, caffeinated sodas. I'm still queasy in the mornings and they help settle my stomach. I've laid of artificial sweeteners almost completely and I'm trying to drink more wart, but it's not something I've ever done a. Lot of before.

MadelineLAnselmo · June 2011

As an alternative to soda I've been drinking club soda or sparkling water mixed with juice. My favorite is a fresh squeezed lemon and splash of orange juice. It's healthy and refreshing.

mama31 · June 2011

Make sure you read the label. Sunkist has as much caffeine as Moutain Dew. Not all orange soda and also root beer is caffeine free.

nzingasankofa · July 2011

My doctor said that one caffeinated beverage is okay a day (when I asked her about coffee), so I figured caffeine is caffeine and applied the same theory to soda once I started craving it. But at a cookout yesterday, I got so much grief from the other mothers about drinking soda (so annoying). They remarked that the baby would be hyper and won't sleep correctly upon birth if I drink soda. (Its soda, not crack!) Anywho, I only drink soda a few times a week, so I think I'm doing fine.

JessieP76 · July 2011

My OB said one to two diet cokes a day is fine. It's way under the caffeine limit and she's not concerned about the artificial sweetener, in moderation.

To the previous point about drinking soda after the baby's born, I have heard that caffeine can make your life a nightmare if you're BFing. It can really mess with their sleep. I figure I've got time to worry about that

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