1/2 cans of coke a day - is this really harmful? I'm really struggling to drink anything and the only thing I fancy

[Newtobecomingamum]

Hi,

I usually prefer diet coke but have been told that full fat coke is actually better as contains less chemicles/sweeteners.

I have posted before with struggling to drink as I've got HG and I have tried lots of suggestions of different types of drink and coke seems to be the only thing I fancy to drink... Everything else makes me either feel or physically be sick. I try to have some water.. But do you think 1/2 cans a day is really harmful to baby?

I feel really guilty drinking it, but the only thing I can drink properly.

[scarednoob]

I am exactly the same except I don't have the excuse of sickness! I think if you keep it to no more than 1 can of full sugar coke and make sure you are also drinking loads of water (even if you don't feel like it) and milk (if you can face it) - well, if you've cut out tea, coffee, alcohol, you've got to have SOMETHING!

[Cheshirehello79]

Well I went to see a dietician just to make sure I was eating well during my pregnancy

fizzy drinks are not for your baby
Caffeine is not good for your baby hence recommended decade coffee/ tea
Too much sugar is not good for your baby

All the above are accessible in diet coke regardless how many you drink per day so if you add your weekly intake ( you do the maths)

I would recommend flavoured water or if you like ginger beer that highly recommended. Hope this helps

[paxtecum]

Coke is calcium depleting, so you're not really doing yourself any favours.
Have you tried sparkling water or sparkling elderflower juice?

[paxtecum]

If you are planning to BF you really won't want to be drinking coke then or you will have a very wide awake baby.

Can you cut down your intake to zero over a week or two. That will prevent the caffeine headache.
There are 9 spoonfuls of sugar in one can of coke.

[53rdAndBird]

Coke was the only fluid I could keep down for large chunks of my HG pregnancy. The doctors' verdict was that it wasn't ideal, but it was a lot better than getting dehydrated. (Baby fine btw.)

[53rdAndBird]

Also, I think a lot of people (including some posters on this thread) mean very well but don't truly understand the kind of restrictions HG puts on what you can eat/drink.

[CoffeeTwo]

I've had one or two diet cokes daily, it has also helped my sickness. It's not ideal but it's under the safe limit of caffeine and there are sweeteners in all sorts of food considered healthy like yoghurts. I won't be losing sleep over it.

[bikeandrun]

How about the green coke, coke life? Less sugar, natural sweetener. I don't think being pregnant or bfing requires a complete ban on caffeine and sugar, just moderation. I am generally health conscious but the pleasure I get from a very rare can of full fat coke on a sunny day must be an overall positive!

[BertrandRussell]

Which element of coke is considered harmful?

[MissBelleTragic]

Before getting pregnant I could drink 4 cans of coke a day... Have massively cut back and am now on coke zero. But some days I am so ill I can't even face that. Robinsons Barley Water in tropical is my new best friend! I make up a sports bottle and sip at it. I've also found drinking a glass of milk before bed has stopped me throwing up at 3 am which I had been.

[basgetti]

I had HG through all 40 weeks of my pregnancy. My diet consisted of fat coke, smoky bacon crisps, anti sickness drugs and a drip. With HG any ideas of healthy eating go out of the window and just trying to keep ketones down and remaining hydrated enough by whatever means necessary to avoid hospital admission becomes the priority.

I hope you start to feel better soon. The HG support thread on here is great.

[Lunastarfish]

I was the same OP. During morning sickness coca cola was my saviour. It was the only thing that would get me through an afternoon at work. It's not ideal but I got to the point that it was all I could really stomach.

I'm 37 weeks now and still crave fizzy drinks but have swapped over to carbonated water/appletizer/schlur but they wouldnt have hit the MS spot.

Remember back in the day women were drinking alcohol and smoking during pregnancy for medicinal purposes, coca cola is not ideal but there are worst thungs you could be consuming.

[Azquilith]

Fuck it. Drink what you can keep down. I have a similar issue (not quite HG but feel quite dodgy) and I will drink whatever my body will accept!

[Hopefulnewbie]

I'm the same.. Struggling to drink water and full fat coke is the only thing that I can stomach and makes me feel better.
I know lots say you shouldn't drink it and it's bad, but in my opinion its better than nothing and I've cut out all coffee and make sure the rest of my diet is good.

[bikeandrun]

If you have HG and you have found a method of getting hydrated and some calories into body well done you!

[EsmereldaPB]

According to nhs website you should limit caffeine to 200mg per day and a can of cola is 40mg so no I don't think there's anything wrong with 1-2 cans of coke a day. You can get caffeine free diet coke (has a gold label), but then you have to decide which you would rather avoid/limit caffeine or sweetners. When I had morning sickness (which was nothing like HG, just bog standard ms) I survived pretty much on 7up and salt and vinegar crisps. I think if the choice is coke or dehydration coke wins every time

[ThatsNotEvenAWord]

If you have HG and you have found a method of getting hydrated and some calories into body well done you!

This. Hope you feel better soon.

[Newtobecomingamum]

Thanks everyone!

I'm so fed up of this fking condition taking over my life. If I could stomach anything else I would drink it, but like many of you have said something is better than nothing and at least I'm getting some fluid in now!!

I force small amounts of water in and even taking a bath, having a wash is such a struggle and can only do that once/twice a week as the water makes me feel so ill.

Roll on labour! Walk in the park to this bloody condition! Could never go through this again! Twice is enough.

Sorry for moaning.., when I know many others are suffering.

[MrsBungle]

Op if you have hg drink whatever you can keep down. although possibly not gin

[rebbles]

How about sugar free lemonade? Or. Caffeine free diet coke? Get the same(ish) flavour but without the sugar and caffeine

[snarferson]

I was the same. Could only stomach cans of coke due to HG. It's really weird how so many people are saying the same! Wonder what they put in it...

[Frolicacid]

You have my sympathies op. HG is truly dreadful.
Of course you've tried everything else / more healthy stuff. coke is much, much better for the baby then dehydration and all the associated risks. If that's all you can keep down, then that's what it has to be.
I existed on lemonade for the first 16 weeks. I'm 32 weeks now and done days it's still the only thing I can keep down.

I hope you feel better soon

[Coffeethrowtrampbitch]

If it reassures you at all, my sister was very health conscious normally but developed cravings for crisps and coke when she was pregnant.

She worried a lot, even though she ate as many healthy foods as she could stomach, that her DS wasn't getting enough nutrition.

He was 9lbs 3 oz, is now 23 and has just graduated with a first, so she now agrees she worried over nothing!

[Mrsjayy]

You poor sod really feel for you if cola( half a can is no more than 200ml) is all that you can drink them drink it seriously HG is shit it was lemonade with me my babies were fine seriously you dont need to stress about some cola its that or dehydration.

[Sleepyfergus]

(Ice cold, can only!) Coke was a craving of mine when pregnant with DC1. DH used to let me have a few sips then finish it for me!

But if this helps you then I think it's fine it not like you're drinking a crate a day or anything.