Diet Coke

liz36 · Jun 13th, 2009, 14:41 PM

Has anyone had diet coke during the first few weeks of pregnancy? And has this had any affect to the newborn? I have read on google that diet coke should be avoided due Aspartame (nutrasweet) This can be damaging to baby. I am a little worried, as I had been drinking upto 2 cans a day (sometimes more), before I found out that I was pregnant. I have stopped now, but will it be okay, considering I am 4 weeks preggers!!

Fluxuspoem · Jun 13th, 2009, 14:43 PM

I dont think that your past consumption will cause any problems, 4 weeks is not that long. But I would avoid any from now on for sure. Aspartame is a substance that has not been tried and tested for a long time, and has really bad links to a lot of bad diseases.

So, dont worry for your past consumption all should be well if have now stopped xx

PieMistress · Jun 13th, 2009, 14:45 PM

Hi liz36, I am still drinking the odd can of diet coke (maybe 3 times a week) along with the odd can of diet lilt, sprite etc. Am finding them ice cold helps my nausea and also with staying off the booze it makes a nice treat

I am also having a cup of coffee in the morning and keeping an eye on my caffiene intake.

I personally wouldn't worry about drinking 2 cans a day either pre or during pregnancy but that's just my opinion. I am learning to take everything I read on the net with a large pinch of salt!

Laurn82 · Jun 13th, 2009, 14:51 PM

God, what did people do before all these health warnings came out? I drink diet coke, coffee, tea etc. Maybe not as much as before but I think it would be an exremely boring and unhappy 9 months if you listened to all the old wives tales! I went to a convention on aspartame which said it was linked to brain tumors, then it said it hadn't been linked at all. Its just the fear of the unknown! I think its your own choice of what you do or don't drink or eat! xxx

embo216 · Jun 13th, 2009, 14:59 PM

I drank a lot of diet coke with my daughter, I honestly wasn't aware of the risk

I only really drink water this time around altho on the odd occasion at a meal or something I will have a coke/diet coke. xxx

SummerStars · Jun 13th, 2009, 15:51 PM

Had never heard of the risk from diet coke!!

*puts down the tin of diet coke*

Are we allowed nothing.

cutie4evr01 · Jun 13th, 2009, 15:58 PM

I have read this: "According to the Food and Drug Administration(FDA), Aspartame is safe for use during pregnancy and lactation. It is recommended to limit consumption to a moderate level. Aspartame should not be used by anyone with PKU (a rare metabolic disorder), rare liver disease, or by pregnant women who have high levels of phenylalanine in their blood. Phenylalanine is a component of aspartame, and it may not metabolize correctly in anyone who has these conditions."

They say also sucralose (splenda, found in Coke Zero) is ok. The main artificial sweetner I've heard you should avoid is Saccharin (sweet n low) because it crosses the placenta and has been found in fetal tissue. The warnings against aspartame are just because not enough research has been done yet. My personal opinion is that it's probably fine in moderation, but each mom must make her own decision!

WW1 · Jun 13th, 2009, 15:58 PM

I'm a firm believer in taking a measured approach. If it was so bad to drink diet coke the major agencies would be telling us about it. The food standards agency say nothing about it (aside from the caffiene part of course) so I wouldn't worry.

I'm sure, in moderation, it's fine. Having said that - I used to drink lots of diet coke and have just gone off it since being pg. If I fancied a can thought, I'd have one!

pennysbored · Jun 13th, 2009, 16:06 PM

I'm quite sure you are fine. I think doctors and scientists would put pregnant women in plastic bubbles if they could.
The only thing that my doctor told me to avoid foodwise was deep sea fish.

Sekhmet · Jun 13th, 2009, 16:14 PM

From what I have read the links between aspartame and disease such as cancer were found in some studies in rats, but only when absolutely MASSIVE amounts of aspartame were administered - like way, way beyond what any human being could ever consume.

I agree with WW1 that if it were a known risk, we'd have heard all about it - I'm sure Diet Coke and other diet sodas are very popular choices among pregnant women.

That said, I'm a bit suspicious of the various chemicals in the foods/drinks we consume, so I personally would generally avoid/minimize aspartame while pregnant. As it is, I prefer the full-sugar variety anyhow (cuz that's SO natural). ; )

Jun 13th, 2009, 14:41 PM	#1
liz36 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 28	Diet Coke Has anyone had diet coke during the first few weeks of pregnancy? And has this had any affect to the newborn? I have read on google that diet coke should be avoided due Aspartame (nutrasweet) This can be damaging to baby. I am a little worried, as I had been drinking upto 2 cans a day (sometimes more), before I found out that I was pregnant. I have stopped now, but will it be okay, considering I am 4 weeks preggers!!

Status: Offline

Jun 13th, 2009, 14:43 PM	#2
Fluxuspoem Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 2,825	I dont think that your past consumption will cause any problems, 4 weeks is not that long. But I would avoid any from now on for sure. Aspartame is a substance that has not been tried and tested for a long time, and has really bad links to a lot of bad diseases. So, dont worry for your past consumption all should be well if have now stopped xx

Status: Offline

Jun 13th, 2009, 14:45 PM	#3
PieMistress Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 852	Hi liz36, I am still drinking the odd can of diet coke (maybe 3 times a week) along with the odd can of diet lilt, sprite etc. Am finding them ice cold helps my nausea and also with staying off the booze it makes a nice treat I am also having a cup of coffee in the morning and keeping an eye on my caffiene intake. I personally wouldn't worry about drinking 2 cans a day either pre or during pregnancy but that's just my opinion. I am learning to take everything I read on the net with a large pinch of salt!

Status: Offline

Jun 13th, 2009, 14:51 PM	#4
Laurn82 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perthshire, Scotland Posts: 1,032	God, what did people do before all these health warnings came out? I drink diet coke, coffee, tea etc. Maybe not as much as before but I think it would be an exremely boring and unhappy 9 months if you listened to all the old wives tales! I went to a convention on aspartame which said it was linked to brain tumors, then it said it hadn't been linked at all. Its just the fear of the unknown! I think its your own choice of what you do or don't drink or eat! xxx

Status: Offline

Jun 13th, 2009, 14:59 PM	#5
embo216 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: Essex Posts: 6,913	I drank a lot of diet coke with my daughter, I honestly wasn't aware of the risk I only really drink water this time around altho on the odd occasion at a meal or something I will have a coke/diet coke. xxx

Status: Offline

Jun 13th, 2009, 15:51 PM	#6
SummerStars Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 526	Had never heard of the risk from diet coke!! puts down the tin of diet coke Are we allowed nothing.

Status: Offline

Jun 13th, 2009, 15:58 PM	#7
cutie4evr01 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 2,238	I have read this: "According to the Food and Drug Administration(FDA), Aspartame is safe for use during pregnancy and lactation. It is recommended to limit consumption to a moderate level. Aspartame should not be used by anyone with PKU (a rare metabolic disorder), rare liver disease, or by pregnant women who have high levels of phenylalanine in their blood. Phenylalanine is a component of aspartame, and it may not metabolize correctly in anyone who has these conditions." They say also sucralose (splenda, found in Coke Zero) is ok. The main artificial sweetner I've heard you should avoid is Saccharin (sweet n low) because it crosses the placenta and has been found in fetal tissue. The warnings against aspartame are just because not enough research has been done yet. My personal opinion is that it's probably fine in moderation, but each mom must make her own decision!

Status: Offline

Jun 13th, 2009, 15:58 PM	#8
WW1 Other BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,206	I'm a firm believer in taking a measured approach. If it was so bad to drink diet coke the major agencies would be telling us about it. The food standards agency say nothing about it (aside from the caffiene part of course) so I wouldn't worry. I'm sure, in moderation, it's fine. Having said that - I used to drink lots of diet coke and have just gone off it since being pg. If I fancied a can thought, I'd have one!
WW1 Other BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,206
Status: Online

Jun 13th, 2009, 16:06 PM	#9
pennysbored Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver BC, Canada Posts: 2,357	I'm quite sure you are fine. I think doctors and scientists would put pregnant women in plastic bubbles if they could. The only thing that my doctor told me to avoid foodwise was deep sea fish.

Status: Offline

Jun 13th, 2009, 16:14 PM	#10
Sekhmet Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Yankee in Edinburgh Posts: 909	From what I have read the links between aspartame and disease such as cancer were found in some studies in rats, but only when absolutely MASSIVE amounts of aspartame were administered - like way, way beyond what any human being could ever consume. I agree with WW1 that if it were a known risk, we'd have heard all about it - I'm sure Diet Coke and other diet sodas are very popular choices among pregnant women. That said, I'm a bit suspicious of the various chemicals in the foods/drinks we consume, so I personally would generally avoid/minimize aspartame while pregnant. As it is, I prefer the full-sugar variety anyhow (cuz that's SO natural). ; )

Status: Offline

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