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Ask A Childbirth Educator
Questions and Answer

Q. What would you say is a safe amount of Diet Cokes (with or without caffeine) to consume daily? How much affects the baby's nervous system if at all? What else can you advise me about this?

A. The safest amount of any product containing aspartame in pregnancy is none at all. Aspartame can cause problems in the fetus who is phenylketonuric; a small segment of the population, but a possibility nonetheless. Right now aspartame's effect on pregnancy, if any, is not understood and sources seem to differ.

Caffeine is a stimulant. Essentially it causes your body to react as it would in a state of emergency. While you are pregnant, caffeine remains longer in your bloodstream, so the baby does get exposed for an extended period of time. Again, it is safest to not ingest caffeine as little as possible in pregnancy. The maximum amount to ingest of a product containing aspartame or caffeine would be one serving per day. It is better to switch to other beverages in pregnancy, such as water, juice and milk, that can add something to your body and your baby rather than possibly detract from you both. Soft drinks also add unnecessary calories and additives to your diet while pregnant. Sweets also tend to fill you up and keep you from eating foods high in protein and calcium, which you need far more while pregnant than aspartame, caffeine and additives. It can be hard to change ingrained eating habits, but many women find that sticking to the healthiest diet possible in pregnancy most certainly helps them feel and look better!

Karen Klimsak-Ungar, CCE has been a certified childbirth educator for Birth Works® since 1996. She is currently Managing Editor for the Birth Works newsletter, sits on the Birth Works Board of Directors, and serves on their National Trainee Review Committee. A happily married mother of two, she also continues to teach Birth Works classes as well as private classes.

Karen will answer your questions on fertility, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and babies. Her advice does not take the place of your practitioner. Personal answers will not always be possible.