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Original poster

Calm me down - Diet Coke in pregnancy

56 replies

Iworryabouteverything · 31/12/2023 18:42

I happened across an article earlier that said aspartame in pregnancy massively raises the risk of development problems in baby boys (specifically autism). I had loads in pregnancy, I had HG and it was all I could keep down at one time, and this research hadn’t come out then. I’m a worrier anyway and am now panicking about my 9 month old. Looking for ‘I drank it every day and my sons are fine’ stories Sad

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 31/12/2023 18:45

I drank it every day and my son (4.5) is absolutely fine. His teacher referred to him as a genius in his end of term report.

Goneroundthetwist · 31/12/2023 18:50

I wouldn’t worry, the sample size was small….just because there was a correlation it doesn’t mean that aspartame caused the autism. Autism is much
more likely down to genetics and other factors… I wouldn’t give it another thought if it was me.

SylvieLaufeydottir · 31/12/2023 18:51

I drank it every day and BOTH my sons are fine.

Catza · 31/12/2023 18:51

Was it the actual research article? Or just online opinion article? Can you give a link?

Denimdenimdenim · 31/12/2023 18:51

I wouldn't worry 😊

quarrelmerchant · 31/12/2023 18:52

Link?

Original poster
Iworryabouteverything · 31/12/2023 18:53

If you Google search it comes up

OP posts:
CarterBeatsTheDevil · 31/12/2023 18:54

I drank plenty of it in pregnancy and my 6 year old is fine.

Rachie1973 · 31/12/2023 18:54

Crikey. I hope not!

I was addicted in pregnancy. 2l a day! My 2 boys are 31 tomorrow and 27 now.

SALWARP2023 · 31/12/2023 18:54

What is the statistical risk of your DS being affected? Be logical and frankly at 9 months you may have already had warning signs if he was autistic. Enjoy your baby and stop worrying about something you can't even do anything about anyway.

ChristmasFanatic · 31/12/2023 18:56

I didn't drink any of it

My son has Asperger's.

Of my 4 kids, he is the best. Great school grades, communicates straight and is a loyal, hardworking son. Autism isn't a death sentence.

Princesspollyyy · 31/12/2023 18:57

Bloody hell. I guzzled Diet Coke when pregnant with all three of mine and they are all fine. One is studying to be a doctor, and the other two are very bright and no developmental problems at all.

ThequalityoftheReps · 31/12/2023 18:59

Autism is a genetic thing. This sounds like similar hype to the vax link bollocks.

TheWalkingDeadly · 31/12/2023 19:01

Theres aspartame in squash too i think

Zanatdy · 31/12/2023 19:03

Yeah I drank it every day in pregnancy and my DS applied to Oxford and got 3 A*’s with one of highest marks in the country in 3 of his papers. Try not to worry. There’s always articles claiming this and that. No solid proof

quarrelmerchant · 31/12/2023 19:04

Iworryabouteverything · 31/12/2023 18:53

If you Google search it comes up

Why can't you link what you've read?

WonderingWanda · 31/12/2023 19:06

You can probably find an article linking everything to autism. Try not to worry op.

Hoglet70 · 31/12/2023 19:08

I lived on diet drinks when I was pregnant and DS is 18 and very much alive and well. Giving up fags was bad enough without giving up Diet Coke too!

babysoupdragon2 · 31/12/2023 19:08

If you Google search anything you'll find every claim going.

There's no scientific, peer reviewed evidence. Whereas there is a hell of a lot of evidence for dehydration in HG pregnancy causing catastrophic results. You did what you had to

Bentoforthehorde · 31/12/2023 19:14

Caffeine free coke was also the only thing I could keep down during pregnancy with dd. She's 7 and developmentally fine so far except her hearing.
DS2 on the other hand is on the pathway, almost certainly getting an autism diagnosis and the only thing I could drink during his pregnancy was bloody sparkling water. (He's 11)

Try not to worry

JanewaysBun · 31/12/2023 19:15

I wouldnt worry, i have no idea what i drank whilst pregnant, my son has ASD and he is 100% my easiest child to deal with and much less stroppy than my NT child. It's genetic anyway.

Mabelface · 31/12/2023 19:17

I've always drank it. All 4 of my kids are neurodivergent, but that's because me and their fathers are, it's genetics.

margotrose · 31/12/2023 19:18

Google will tell you whatever you want it to.

Benby · 31/12/2023 19:23

I only drink diet coke never drink anything else. I have 4 children 3 daughters and a son. My eldest and youngest daughters are autistic and my middle daughter and son are not. I believe its caused by genetics as their Dad is quite clearly autistic but not diagnosed and their dad's brother has 4 children too, 3 of which they believe are on the spectrum. It certainly wasn't caused by my drinking diet coke because if that was the case all 4 of my children would have it.
Also my sil doesn't drink diet coke and 3 of her children are autistic.
In reality no one knows what causes it its and I don't think they ever will know for sure more children are being diagnosed but I think years ago alot of cases went unnoticed but now we're more switched on and things are picked up earlier and more people are being diagnosed and that's why it seems to be more common now.
It's also not the end of the world my 6 year old was diagnosed as level 3 and was recommended to go to a special school for her education her preschool teacher pleaded with us to trust her opinion and put her into mainstream school she is now in senior infants and is top of the class academically she struggles with her dyspraxia but she is absolutely flying and loves school and her friends and her teacher and sna we're so proud of how far she has come

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