Is it really bad to drink coke?

[Madratlady]

I've given up red bull type energy drinks since I found out I was pregnant but I still drink coke if I'm feeling tired or I'm out at a pub. I only have one smallish glass a day and not every day, so well within the recommended caffeine limit. The rest of the time I drink smoothie, squash or water. I still feel guilty about drinking coke though. Is it ok to have a glass a few times a week?

I am still drinking whatever I want provided I stay within the caffeine limit so i still have a couple of cold glasses of coke on a hot day. I read in a pregnancy book that the caffeine you can have a day is equivalent to 4 cups of tea, so a glass of coke is okay I think. I've even started craving coffee which I never usually drink so I've had a couple of cups of that last week...I don't think it matters if its tea, coffee, energy drinks etc provided you don't have above the recommended amount

Just been wondering this myself having just found out I'm pregnant yesterday - I'm a little bit of a Pepsi Max addict Don't drink massive quantities but 1-2 cans a day. Been worrying about this. Ideally I want to come off it entirely but when I don't have any for a couple of days I get headaches. Oh dear - I really am addicted!! I don't drink any tea or coffee though so I suppose a bit in moderation is ok...

As long as you stay within the caffeine limit, then relax and enjoy your coke :)

SugarMice - the headaches when you don't have any for a couple of days are withdrawal symptoms. If you press on with it and just drink plenty of other fluid, then by day 3 or 4 the headaches and tiredness should start to clear and you'll feel way way better. I'm not saying that you have to, just that if you want to give it up the headaches won't last forever! (both myself and dh gave up caffeine and went through this.)

Of course not, if you are sensible.

I drank gallons of coke when I was pregnant. I don't usually drink the stuff. It was all I wanted and I had terrible morning sickness throughout. I popped out over 12lbs of healthy babies.

I cut out caffeine to start with as I just didn't fancy it. Now listening to ny body; if it wants a diet coke, it gets one! I don't have one a day bit probably about two-three a week. Today I had three cups of tea (not very strong mind you) which is the most I've had since before the bfp. Like pps have said, as long as you stay under 200 mg of caffeine you're fine. A can of diet coke has 40 mg, and I think a tea is around 50 mg (ps I'm fine with sweeteners, before anyone mentions those! )

Caffeine free coke was my lifeline whilst pregnant.

I am still drinking coke. It says on nhs that u can have 400ml of caffeine a day and there is 40ml in a can of diet coke / Pepsi max so its fine to have some. To be honest all I want to drink is Pepsi max. I am also drinking water but I do have one or two cans a day and my baby seems to be growing fine and consultant is happy with her progress at 18 weeks xxx

It's probably not great if you drink six pints of it every day and nothing else. The odd glass or two, as you have been doing isn't going do your little bean any harm. Congrats!