Is it true? No diet drinks?

[TNgurl]

Yesterday I was visiting with a friend and I ordered a Caffeine free, Diet Dr. Pepper... she gasped and said, " Noooo! Aspartame is bad for the baby!" She proceeded to tell me why, something about the brain of the baby. I did not know this?! Is this true? I just thought we needed to stay away from the caffeine. Geez.. and thats all I have been drinking.
So..... nothing with Aspartame?

Thanks,
Amy

[lotus]

Not sure what the final word on this is and I never asked my peri this (because I've always hated the "fake sugar stuff"), but the diabeties center (I have GD) said that it was safe to drink during pregnancy.

I would imagine that anything is OK in moderation. I would not stress too much and just ask the OB.

[ClaireNola]

http://www..com/expert/pregnancy/pre...alth/9213.html

Sounds like it's ok-- here's a link from q and a.

[Hickory]

My OB said no diet drinks. Said there has not been enough studies done and not sure how it affects the baby, so she said to stay away.

Jeannine

[DKNY]

my OB said the same as jeannine's. but that anything with splenda was ok. it seems that there's always different advice on these sort of things. i think if you keep things in moderation, that's your best bet.

[fetch]

The best thing to do is stay away from anything with Aspartame and anything labelled "diet", "low in fat", "fat free". Each have their own issues.
If something is fat free, it's loaded with other things that are worse for you like sugar, sodium, etc than eating/drinking the regular brand.

If you want to drink colas, drink caffeine-free (no diet).

QUOTE:
PREGNANT WOMEN AND NURSING MOTHERS
I urge ALL pregnant women and mothers who breast-fee to avoid aspartame products...without exception! This message also has been given to obstetricians.

The medical and scientific grounds for such advice include:

* Exposure of the fetus to considerable phenylalanine and methyl alcohol
* Maternal malnutrition associated with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and reduced calories
* Transmission of aspartame and its byproducts via the mother's milk
* Increasing the allergic load...thereby risking future hypersensitivity diseases

[picklejuice]

Both my RE and OB said anything with splenda was fine. Actually they said "other" artificial sweetners were "ok in moderation" but I didn't like the idea of drinking anything eexcept splenda. I have gestational diabetes and I wouldnt have survived this pregnancy without splenda!!

Liz

[marya]

If you ask "is it ok to...." you will *always* find someone who will say no and come up with a theoretical reason it could be bad. Short of living in a plastic bubble for 9 mos (and even that would pose risks, lol); you're daily life will always pose some sort of theoretical risk. Everyone just chooses their own comfort level. Your freind who freaked about the diet soda probably did 20 other things while pg that you would never have dreamed of doing. We all have our own "hot spots."

My theory in pgcy is everything in moderation. I avoid things that are known to be issues of course, but don't sweat the small stuff. I don't smoke and avoid being around it, but if for one evening I'm exposed, I don't freak out. I choose not to drink any diet drinks, but OTOH I've taken a sip of DH's wine on occassion if he happens to have a really good one. So it is all about you're own comfort level. I would discuss the matter with your doctor rather than taking anything off the internet.

Good luck!

[monarchbutterfly]

my ob was another one who said the sucralose (splenda) was okay. and i happen to like diet rite flavors (which are also caffeine free ). i did occasionally have a caffeine free diet soda which had aspartame though and he siad that it was also okay but they advise it in moderation.

[tanjalalie]

My RE and OB both forbid my partaking of any artificial sweeteners as well, in addition to forbidding me caffeine ( the latter because of it being attributed to increased m/c risk and me having had 3 already).

So, I am being a good patient and following their orders, but I am with Marya also: take your cue from your dr., and probably everything in moderation is just fine.

Tanja