to think I don't need to give up breastfeeding?

[IloveCokeZeroCherry]

NC.

My friend came round yesterday and while I was breastfeeding DD (4 months) I was also drinking a coke zero. I usually drink 2 or 3 a day because I'm just desperate for the caffine bloody sleep regression . I assumed this was ok. Friend has said it's not ok because the aspartame could cause autism, and if I insist upon drinking it I then need to give up bf.

AIBU to think she is wrong and that there is no proven link between aspartame and autism?

She's talking nonsense :)

Although personally I would just drink normal coke instead of coke zero because I'm a bit wary of aspartame and would rather just have sugar.

I've had a can of coke at lunchtime almost every day while i've been pregnant as it's the thing that best settles my stomach. (I've completely cut out coffee and switched to ginger/camomile tea to make up for it caffeine wise)

Coke actually has very little caffeine. Think it's about 35g a can and you can have up to 200g a day

Your friend may have a meltdown if she saw me pour a glass of Rioja and then feed my baby (granted "baby" is nearly a year old now and on solids so not feeding all that much)

Wow. I suppose she wants you to cut out chocolate etc too.. nuts I drink two cups of coffee a day occasional tea in between those too my ds is 9 weeks old. Like others I dont like the taste of diet or zero so I would have a normal one. Tell your friend she talking poo if she brings it up again or show her this thread

It would have made my (recent) asd assessment so much easier if, rather than my dh and parents attending detailed interviews, all my mum had to do was confirm she drank diet coke back when i was breastfed!

Mid eighties - i did check that first

I was on a very strict diet while I was breastfeeding my DS due to his allergy. His whole body was covered in eczema since 1 week old, and when I stopped eating wheat, eggs, nuts and cow's milk, his eczema was completely gone. I had slip up and ate mayo, his eczema was back with massive diarrhea.
I don't think/know if there are links with aspartame and autism, but I would avoid excessive intake of something unknown. It gets filtered, but some will get to the baby.

As someone who has a lot of ASD in the family (including DS1 and probably DS2) this sort of thing makes me come over all stabby.

No, you don't have to give up breastfeeding.

" Friend has said it's not ok because the aspartame could cause autism"
And 'friend' knows this because ... ??

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Coke zero does have caffine in, the same amount as diet coke. I drink 3 cans a day knowing it's under the 200mg per day guidelines with regards to caffine.

My friends problem was regarding the aspartame in it. Glad to know she was talking complete and utter shit. I do know though that aspartame isn't good for you, but I need a caffine fix to get through the day and when I'm breastfeeding DD a cup of tea probably isn't a good idea when I'm accident prone!

People talk shit about aspartame.

People talk shit about autism.

Perfect storm really.

Ignore.

There isn't evidence that it is bad for you though

I would say scalding risk is a good one to avoid, yes OP

Your friend is one of those people that believes everything they are told without checking. Which is bad enough but then she is also one of those people that has to lecture everyone else.

Tell her Google is your friend and offer to google her next pearl of wisdom to set her mind at rest - and show her how to filter her search results by credibility.

Yy knobbly - i bet she saw it on facebook! Dont worry, tell her you give the baby a spoonful of coconut oil each day to ward off the harmful effects of 'chemicals'

Just give up the fizzy drink. Keep the breastfeeding. Don't have hot drinks for a few years, its no loss.

Do you know op, i've been sat here drinking this and mainlining sour cream pringles and it didnt even occur to me to check the ingredients for you! :) sweeteners are sucralose and ace k, and its a tiny fraction of the price of proper cherry coke.