Diet Coke

[Newtobecomingamum]

I absolutely love diet coke and I tried my hardest to give it up when I found out I was pregnant. I have managed to cut down to one/two cans a day and try and buy the caffeine free diet coke (although this is hard as they don't usually have it in your local shop/petrol station etc and only sell the big bottles or multi-pack cans at supermarket. I try not to buy it from the supermarket as if I have bulk or a large bottle I drink it to quickly, where as buying the cans from the shop helps me to limit how much I have. I know it's terrible and bad for you. I feel so guilty when I have drunk some, I am truly addicted to the stuff. Does anyone have this or is addicted to diet coke in this way? I had it before I was pregnant, I think I got hooked during my uni days. It is like a drug and when I have it, I feel so much better and get a massive boost.

[ilovevenice]

I'm not sure I'm as keen on the stuff as you, but I am a bit of an addict. When I was pregnant with my 3 DSs, I cut down to 2 cans a day. My obstetrician didn't seem bothered, particularly as I had a healthy diet otherwise. The boys are all fine.

[HappyAsASandboy]

I am also addicted and drink far too much.

I did give up completely during pregnancy though. I had about three small glasses whilst eating out through the whole of my pregnancy, and then didn't drink it for ages afterwards because the habit had been broken.

Now I'm back at work, it's escalated again and it's so so hard to break the habit without pregnancy to motivate me.

It really is terrible stuff. Please think of your baby and give it up completely :)

[Ruralninja]

terrible terrible stuff! cold turkey us needed!

[Ruralninja]

is

[SavoyCabbage]

It must be awful as when you are pregnant you feel bad enough without having to kick a habit too If it was me, I would read as much as I could and try to work out what exact;y it is you are addicted to. I think it's not uncommon to be addicted to Diet Coke, but it is really bad for you, as you know, so you should try to stop. You should at least switch to Coke with sugar so you are not having the sweetener.

I gave up caffeine when I was pregnant and I only have two cups of tea a day and that was hard enough so I feel for you.

[gillybeandramaqueen]

Oh no!!! I was craving diet coke really badly in my first trimester (18+5 now) and was drinking quite a lot of it... I'm really worried now... :-( :-( :-(

[LikeCandy]

The only caffeine I drank during pregnancy was diet coke / Pepsi max - BabyCandy turned out fine.
Obv this is only my opinion but I think it's far less of a 'sin' than coffee as the caff content is far less (60mg compared to approx 200mg) and the health issues surrounding aspartame have been shown to be greatly exaggerated - the FSA suggest acceptable daily intake of a maximum of 14 cans.
This was the choice I made - to indulge occasionally (I'm talking a can every few days) without guilt as I gave up everything else!

[Fakebook]

When I was pregnant with DS, full fat coke was my craving. I drank a lot. I was a healthy weight and eating sensibly in every other way though. My DS was fine. I'm developing a craving for it again. Maybe you should discuss this with your midwife? She may have suggestions to cut down or tell you ways to cut down other caffeine products in your diet.

[Alexandra6]

I think I'd be worried about all the crap and artificial sweeteners in diet coke. Everyone is different though about where they draw the line, I'm a bit obsessive about things

[Feelslikea1sttimer]

I mentioned this to my mw as I drink loads of the stuff (or what i thought was loads) and when I told her I had 2-3 cans a day, she shrugged it off and said that's fine.

It is more the caffeine but actually 3 cans is only about half of the recommended amount if daily caffeine.

And I'm guessing there are much worse addictions to continue with during pregnancy...

Xxx

[ppeatfruit]

There was an article on the radio yesterday saying that 'fizzy' drinks can give you diabetes type 2 if you have one or more can a day (sorry I can't link).

The problem is that you wouldn't have 9 spoonsfuls of sugar in your tea would you? It must change what your body craves in that a high sugar diet means you crave salty things etc.

[ppeatfruit]

A good substitute is elderflower or strawberry etc.cordial with sparkling water. So you just have a tablspoonful of the cordial and fill up the glass with the water.

[afrikat]

I was completely the same before pregnancy but was determined to give it up - it was the aspartame that worried me more than the caffeine. At the usual times I would have a diet coke I would have a fizzy water mixed with cordial and although it was hard at first I haven't had one in months now. I don't think you should overly stress about it but if you do really want to give it up I would try substitution (start with one a day) and see how you get on

[Rico08]

We should have an organisation for Coca-Cola addicts

"My name is RICO08 and I'm addicted to ice cold full fat Coca-Cola"

I too was addicted to it before I got pregnant, I have drunk it through my pregnancy but have really cut down on the amount, I buy a can when I really fancy it but have not bought multipacks or the two litre bottles as it goes in no time. I did the same when I was pregnant with DS and he's fine.

I have been drinking low or sugar free dilute juices (very diluted). I know it doesn't taste of anything but I don't like plain water !

[RJM17]

I have always loved Pepsi max so I am still have that but only one or two cans a day and I have started having decaf tea so that is the only caffeine I have.
You are allowed 200mg a day whilst pregnant and there is only 40mg in a can of coke xx

[photographerlady]

its the artificial sweetener which is the killer in all this. Its just filling your body with a chemical that's unnatural. I haven't touched the stuff since becoming pregnant and occasionally have a lemonade or full fat drink.

[ppeatfruit]

There's no 'fat' in the stuff just tons of natural or unnatural sugar; think of false teeth at age 20 or so. To put you off try drinking it warm very, very slowly .

I went off it big time when the enlightened manufacturers were talking about having a hot and cold water and an effing cxxx tap at your kitchen sink

[photographerlady]

I say full fat as an expression cause its the slang term for it... thats what I get for trying to be hype with the kids

[ppeatfruit]

I knew that photographerlady I was being deliberately obtuse (correct word??)!

[Fakebook]

coke also helps get rid of that horrible stale taste I have in my mouth because of pregnancy. The bubbles feel like they're washing the bad taste away. I think that's why I'm drinking a can or two a day again.

[ppeatfruit]

Sometimes a bad taste can be caused by bad teeth which are caused by, you've guessed it! cxxe or too much sugar, that also causes a low immunity BTW.

[Kelly1814]

Check out the cravings thread, there are people hoovering up all sorts of stuff which isn't exactly healthy, crisps, cheese, chocolate, in large amounts. I really wouldn't worry about a can or two of diet coke each day.

[ppeatfruit]

I would worry it affects yer bones as well and can make you crave the unhealthy crisps, cheese etc. Aspartame in the diet version is worse than sugar in that you can get nasty allergic spot type eczema from it.

I got that reaction from those 'healthy' Ricola sweets

[ppeatfruit]

Can you tell I'm aiming to cut their massive effing profits!! Like fags they're making a fortune from selling shxx.

[AbiElizabeth]

I love diet coke. I used to really enjoy my diet coke and a ciggie break from uni work. I can't have the cig any more and now i've told myself I am allowed one can of diet coke a day as my treat if I get everything done on my list for the day. It originally took the taste in my mouth away better than anything, but I have started drinking ice cold fizzy water and a tiny bit of juice. It give you the tingly feeling you get from diet coke and is much better for you

I feel your pain though OP