Diet coke - how bad is it? [confused]

[Mahvish84]

Hi all, I'm 8 weeks, and suffering from morning sickness. I usually never drink coke, but diet coke seems to be the only thing getting me through the day, especially the journey into and back from work. Is it really awful for me and the baby? I feel guilty, but dont know what else to turn to? Help!

I had hyperemesis until 21 weeks and lived on tins of diet coke as I couldnt stomach anything else at all.

It was the only thing that saved me, especially freezing cold. Switch to caffeine free if you want to; I did for a while but reverted. It just didn't taste quite the same, plus it's not so easy to pick up a can just anywhere in a puking emergency!

Just check how much caffeine is in a can and make sure you don't exceed recommended levels.

I've switched to the caffeine free stuff. It does taste slightly different- almost a bit flat. But most of the big supermarkets do it in big bottles and Waitrose sell it in little bottles too

Aspartame is not recommended during pregnancy.

Where on earth is the advice the aspartame is not recommended in pregnancy?

Aspartame is not recommended ever. Neither is bacon. Mmmm bacon

It's fine. Just watch the caffeine.

Pfft. Ignore the purists. It's fine, just watch the caffeine guidelines.

I don't know.

I gave up all caffeine, because I thought it was the right thing to do. Aspartame is the work of the devil, if you read the internet - but has it been linked to birth defects or is it to be avoided in pregnancy? I don't think so.

Apparently there's 42mg of caffeine in a can so you could in theory have 5 a day if you had no other caffeine. Personally I think all the stuff on the net about aspartame is crap.

I hated anything sweet with DD1 but drank a can of full fat coke with DD2 every day.

I am not a big fan of aspartame. But that isn't because I believe the scare stories. I just don't like fake ingredients /low fat/low sugar etc. I think you can taste the odd after taste in sweetners.

That said, I hate normal coke. So I'm a giant hypocrite .

Thanks for all the help. I suppose I have to make sure I don't over do it.

I'm having a can of Diet Coke every day. It's the only caffeine I have and at 42mg is nowhere near the 200mg limit.

Ice cold freezing can.... Mmmm

I think on balance you are better off keeping hydrated and slightly exceeding the caffeine guidelines.

I don't drink cola at all but definitely wouldn't when pregnant as it's full of caffeine, artificial sweeteners, phosphoric acid and fizzy water. Can't you just drink water?

I had a full fat can of cola every day until 18 weeks. Baby was fine on my 20 week scan. I'm sure there is nothing to worry about

Aspartame is dangerous. A family member was involved in the initial safety study in rats that the FDA is always quoting as to why it is safe. The rats were dying and every morning instead of documenting the dead rats they threw them out and replaced them with new ones! Aspartame shouldn't be consumed whether you are pregnant or not and it is hidden in many foods. Phenylalanine is its chemical name. I personally don't knowingly consume any artificial sweeteners and haven't since 2012. Stevia which is supposed to be the safest is used as a contraceptive in South America.

Phenylalanine is not its chemical name, it is produced when aspartame broken down. If you're going to scaremonger at least get some of the facts correct.

Indigenous people chewed the leaves for believed contraceptive effect.

Your wording is disingenuous, at best.

The rats were dying and every morning instead of documenting the dead rats they threw them out and replaced them with new ones!
I would put money on this being 100% horseshit.

There are worse things. I occasionally use coke when I need a caffeine/sugar hit, but think you may as well have sugar, as aspartame.
Do you like 'full fat' coke? In for a penny, in for a pound!

Rufus I call bullshit.

brummie does that mean no chocolate? I thought you had to have chocolate daily in pregnancy!!