Breastfeeding & Diet Soda - Is it ok to drink Diet Soda if breastfeeding

I drank soda while I was pregnant and then when I breastfed. I breastfed for about 14 months. My daughter never had a problem with it. I still only allowed myself two sodas a day due to the caffeine. So keep the sodas to a minimum and you and the munchkin should be fine.

My doctor told me that I could have one soda a day.
In fact he said that diet is worse than regular because it has more sugar. So fear not, just dont go over board.

No.....Aspartame (nutrisweet) gets into the milk, which goes to baby and it can cause serious problems with brain developmnet. I was asked (when my 16 yo was an baby) by a Ped if I ate (because I BF) or gave her anything with aspartame in it...I told him no and asked why....All he legally could say was this " I can't tell you, just don't do it. It can be dangerous. Sugar and caffiene is better". And this was back in '91/'92!

K.,

At the risk of sounding like a Nutrition Nazi, you shouldn't be drinking diet soda at all!
I realize many will disagree with me, but food/diet/nutrition is my passion and there just isn't any reason to consume anything with artifical sweeteners.
I know they advertise they are safe but my research says differently. I'm really not a political, the government is out to get us, type of person but when you understand that several original aspartame (nutrasweet) researchers went to work for the FDA. Sounds like a conflict of interest to me.
But besides the politics, I do believe that there is a lot of evidence about the dangers of artifical sweeteners and it will pass through the breastmilk.
By the way, I'm not just a crazy mom on a mission, I am a registered nurse with over 15 years experience including a few years in the research industry. So I understand how data can and is manipulated. BUT, everything I've learned about health and nutrition I've learned the last 6-7 years as a mom, not a nurse. I'm not that special, just read a lot.

Lori

I would not advise ANYone to drink diet soda if it has aspartame in it. There are more websites than I can count about this diet sweetner, almost none of it good.

http://www.aspartame.com/
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/

I'm thinking that any products containing this should not be used by pregnant women, nor nursing mothers due to the fact no one knows for sure what it's doing when it passes through to the babies.

Just my opinion. oooh, also, if you need to cut back on sugar, I've used a herbal product called Stevia, it's a plant that has sweetening properties, you can use it in tea and Koolaid or whatever instead of sugar or the aspartame/Nutrasweet.

I too drank diet while breastfeeding. I had switched to caffeine free while pregnant, but was told my doctor that caffeine in moderation would not affect my baby. I pretty much ate and drank whatever I wanted and my babies are both healthy as can be!!

Krisina, In my opinion it is never ok to drink diet soda. Teh artificial sweenter that they put in the soda, is toxic, habit forming and leads to obisity. How can this be you say? Well the arificial sweenter is just that, artifical, man made. The chemical make up makes you body want more of something, so you eat when you really or not hungry. The more artificial sweetner you take the more you want to eat. Your baby will also have the same response as it will transfer into your milk. I would t hink if you are breast feeding, you are more into natural things. Stick to what God has made and you will do much better in you selection of c hoices in what to eat as to not harm yourself or your child.

A. B

dont know if u r familiar with the ingredient in diet soda called ASPARTAME...but u might look it up before eating or drinking any diet products...someone printed me off an email they got about the risks of it because my mother is diabetic and its very interesting....says it can cause blurred vision and lots of other stuff...its even been linked 2 multiple sclorosis....causes muscle and joint problems and tons of other weird stuff....says its more risky in expectant mothers, unborn children and even kids....i would definately check into it!!

Good Morning K.. My daughter in law drank DS's when she was breastfeeding. We (me) had a hard time getting her to drink anything else. We called a friend of mine who is a lactation specialist for our county and got information.

It is alot better to drink water 32 oz per day / milk anything without alot of sugar or caffeine. One thing we finally got her to start drinking was the crystal lite. She had better milk production then.

Check with your Pedi. or a lactation nurse for things to help with production of milk.

Good Luck to you and your pericous little one

Your doctor will tell you it's safe, but those artificial sweeteners are not safe for babies. There hasn't been any research that's proven this but it's just not a good idea. There's no real food there - it's just chemicals.

And yes, you shouldn't be taking in any caffeine while breastfeeding or you'll start losing your milk supply.

Addictions can be powerful - I understand where you're coming from. But it would be best if you could lose this one. Maybe going to some kind of carbonated flavored water or juice kind of thing (watch out for artificial sweeteners) would be a reasonable stepping stone for you.

Good luck!
S.

Aspartame, the sweeteners is diet soda, is not good for your body let alone your tiny baby! I highly advise you to steer clear of artificial sweeteners. Just drink a regular soda if you have a craving. At least there is real sugar in it. I currently am breastfeeding my son, and I occassionally have a coke or pepsi. My son has never shown any reactions to it so I think soda (regular) in moderation is fine.

hell i drank regular while breastfeeding .. why wouldnt it be

yes it is ok to drink diet soda and breastfeed. although you want to drink in moderation. excessive amounts of caffeine can dry up your milk supply. just be sure you have plenty of water too

My doctors and nurses at the hospital where I had both of my children laughed at me as soon as my daughter was born because the first thing that I wanted was a Large diet coke!! They brought me in one little can (a half can) and I told them that I wanted at least three more!! They thought it was funny that I was craving it so badly. I did not let my self have it when I was pregnant. The nurses and doctors all knew that I was breast feeding and none said anything to me about it not being good for me. Now with my son he was C-section and I was not allowed to have anything to drink prior to his birth as well after his birth they would only bring me ice chips. Once I got to my room I was able to get diet coke. I drank it and breast fed him till just recently. Not one person, not even his dr. said anything to me about not drinking diet soda just do not let the children have it is all that they have told me. So I say yes by all means if you want to drink diet soda then go for it. I was raised on diet coke and have not drank anything but diet coke unless I was pregnant. I did switch to caffine free with my son and now only drink caffine when I am out at a resturant or if the store is out of caffine free. I did not notice any ill effects in either of my children from it.

It is not ok to drink diet soda even if you aren't breastfeeding. Google aspartame which is a commonly used sweetener in diet drinks. You will not want any more of it. Your baby is just developing its nervous system, and aspartame is a nerve poison. Experts tell us it also causes cravings for sweets, and thus helps one to gain weight.

It's never good to drink diet soda. The aspertame will lower your immune system, it can cause forgetfulness and some airlines don't allow their pilots to drink it because it slows your thinking. Water is so much better for you and greatly needed for breast feeding.
D.-mom of 9

Diet soda in general, unfortunately for me, isn't good for you any time. I was pretty much raised on Diet Pepsi from the time I was a little kid, and am a full blown addict, though lately I have replaced DP with coffee.

Basically, what I have learned is that Diet soda doesn't have anything real in it except water. The rest of the stuff is all chemistry and the sweetener (splenda, aspertame) are horrible abominations of nature as well. All of this combined, as I have been finding out, are life suckers for us. It actually takes the calcium from your bones, and robs your body or energy needed for other things due to needing to clean itself of this stuff. Not to mention, it actually has been found to cause weight GAIN! So much for thinking you were being responsible, right?!

Are you going to drink one bottle of soda and break your leg due to osteoporosis? No. No, and no. However, overall, especially if you drink as much as I used to, it can really add up. My nutritionist actually said to us that if you were going to drink soda at all, she would rather we drink regular. At least the nasty sugar in that is real! I am still processing this info, so good luck on your end. But honestly, I can tell you that as with most things, if you are not drinking this in excess, you should be fine. Most everything in the world is like that.

Congratulations on your baby! And good luck with everything!

It shouldn't hurt as long as your NOT over doing it....check with your doctor first because some diet sodas are worse than others. Good luck & God Bless!

I can't say if it is wrong or right but I drank two or more some days of Diet Soda starting when my son was around 6 months while I was b-feeding.. I am working on weaning my son now that he will be 1 year next week. i tried to drink sparkly water at first and only an occasional diet soda during the first 6 months but with the exhastion of a new baby caffiene was my fix.

Hi,
I read a study when I was pregnant and wondering about what I could or couldn't eat that said that brain scans of fetuses on aspartame showed the same brain activity patterns as those of children who had been diagnosed ADHD. I can't find the study to link (it was 4 years ago), but it stuck with me so much that we don't have "diet" or "lite" anything around the house! Hope this helps...

I am reading a book called "If It's Not Food, Don't Eat It" by Kelly Hayford, C.N.C. Here are several quotes from the book about the artificial sweetener in diet soda, aspartame. The first two are about soda in general, and the rest refer to aspartame.

"A recent study cited in The Lancet showed that for every soft drink or sweetened beverage a child drinks per day, their obesity risk increases by 60%" (Center for Science in Public interest).

"Soft drinks , also known as liquid candy, have been associated with a host of adverse health conditions, including malnutrition, weight problems, diabetes, calcium deficiency, hyperactivity, and learning difficulties."

"Aspartame, the chemical component of artificial sweeteners such as Nutra-Sweet, should also be avoided if you are trying to lose weight. Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing diet about these toxic sweeteners. Aspartame is addictive and causes people who consume it to crave junk foods, snack foods and more artificially sweetened foods and beverages. There are many other adverse symptoms and conditions associated with aspartame as well, much like MSG. It is not a food, it is a chemical and it is wise to avoid it."

"After having been consulted by thousands of overweight people suffering with problems concerning the liver and/or metabolism I can assure you that aspartame will not help you in any way, indeed it will help you to gain unwanted weight." Sandra Cabot, M.D.

Since you are drinking diet instead of regular soda, I'm am assuming it is because you don't want to put on extra pounds associated with sugar. However, look at any study (except those conducted by the companies SELLING artificial sweeteners) and you can see that it actually causes you to GAIN weight. I know this has more to do with yourself rather than your baby, but you may want to keep it in mind.

Since your question was about breast feeding, to be safe, I would assume that everything you are feeding yourself, you are feeding your baby. Also, think about what nutritious beverage you are replacing when you choose to drink soda. When you drink a soda, you could be drinking water or milk instead. Both are healthier options that would be better for your baby. Milk has nutrients that YOUR body needs in order to replenish the nutrients that go to your baby in breast milk, and water is needed to help you produce breast milk. Even naturally sweetened (no sugar added) fruit juice would be a better option than soda while you are breast feeding.

This is just my opinion, as I am not a soda drinker. I know it can be hard to quit or cut back, but just think of your baby. If you are craving caffein, maybe try to drink some tea instead. I think it may have less caffein, but can give you a boost when you need it. Your doctor may advise you to stay away from caffein all together while breast feeding, I don't know. (Remember, your doctor's specialty in OB/GYN, not necessarily nutrition. Although they mean well, you can't assume they know all the current research on how chemicals are passed through breast milk or how they affect you and your baby. Often, it is their opinion, as many doctors say artificial sweeteners are ok, when clearly they are not).

I would advise you to look into this book I mentioned earlier. It is really entertaining and informative. I started reading it after my husband had cancer last year, and it has helped us have much more energy and live much healthier lifestyles. I have definitely noticed a difference in how I feel because of what this book has taught me. (It talks about way more than just artificial sweeteners, by the way--like all the artificial ingredients and chemicals in food and how to easily avoid them. It's not as complicated or overwhelming as it sounds and I still pretty much eat whatever I want, just made some adjustment).

best wishes, C.

Hi K.! Most women do not have to restrict their diets when breastfeeding. My question to you is this; Did your Dr. okay you to drink diet soda during your pregnancy? If so, than it would be okay to drink while breastfeeding. Pregnancy is a much more sensitive time for the baby as far as getting what mom is taking in. As with any soda, they are generally not healthy and should be avoided by everyone. However, drinking a diet soda every so often while breastfeeding will be fine. Furthermore, the risk of introducing formula so that you could drink diet soda (vs. breastfeeding and drinking diet soda) is much more detrimental to baby's health. Here's the link to La Leche League where you will find the most accurate, up-to date information regarding breastfeeding:
http://www.llli.org/

I have found LLL to be the most supportive, encouraging group for breastfeeding moms. You may want to conact a leader near you for continuing breastfeeding support. Good luck, and congrats on your new baby!!!
K.

K.,

Diet soda has not killed anyone that I know of or singly caused specific birth defects; but as a Health and Wellness Advisor I need to make sure you understand why diet soda is not healthy.

You have some kind of knowledge that diet soda is bad or you wouldn't be asking the question your are asking.

Most diet sodas are sweetened with aspartame. you drink diet soda because?...it's less calories? Most people don't realize that the aspartame slows down the metabolism - making it harder to lose the weight - So, you gain more weight.

Aspartame has also been documented to cause MS symptoms in people - when they stop consuming food/drink with aspartame in it - for most, the symptoms go away.

I have several files I could send you concerning this, if you would like to know more.

Something else you may not know...The bubbles in all soda are dissolved carbon-dioxide gas when introduced into the body can present an environment where bones are depleted much the way vinegar makes baking soda bubble. Granted you would have to drink a lot of soda for it to happen like this.

My advise for everyone is, 'don't drink soda at all, on a regular basis, pregnant or not.' Drinking Diet soda is extremely bad. I would be to go more in depth - just call me.

S. Riemann ###-###-####

Everything gets a little diluted through the breast milk, it may make your baby a little gassy. I drank coffee and a little soda while pregnant and breastfeeding and it didn't seem to make a difference. Good for you for breastfeeding!!

NO! Absolutely not! I wouldn't drink it even if I weren't breastfeeding. All it is is a chemical that has many potential health hazzards for both you and your baby!

If you are wanting to do the best for your baby (which clearly you are by choosing to breastfeed your son), then DO NOT DRINK ANYTHING DIET!

Real sugar (NOT high fructose corn syrup, which is about as bad as aspertame) is best to drink. Honey is okay, too (for you, NOT baby!). There is one other (derived from a cactus - I forget the name just now) that is a natural sweetner and is safe. I used to use stevia, until my sister gave me some "inconclusive evidence" that maybe I shouldn't.

Better safe than sorry, I say!! Best to you and your son! Cherish every second...you will miss it before you know!

PLEASE DO NOT POISON your baby. Say NO, to diet soda, nutrasweet, equal, splenda, aspartame, and anything containing there artificial sweeteners. These are poison, they are absolutely not good for anyone. If you want a sugar subsitute use Stevia, a natural sweetener.

THE SWEETEST SCANDAL
In the history of American health!

+ Did you know the FDA refused to approve
this best-selling sweetener for 16 years...?

+ Until one powerful
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loss, joint pain, asthma, coma, seizures...?

See below, save your life
and learn the real facts about...

My Dear Incredulous
Friend:

Ever wonder what our
former Secretary of Defense did before he got into politics?

Well years ago, he was the
fearless leader of a company called GD Searle Corp. That developed a "miracle
sweetener" called aspartame. (Yes, the very same stuff contained in that those
that little blue packet.)

For years, this company
tried in vain to get aspartame approved. But no one wanted to go near
the stuff! The FDA refused to approve it for 16 years. In fact, according to a
report I recently uncovered, the late Dr. M. Adrian Gross, a former senior FDA
toxicologist, stated in his testimony before Congress:

"Beyond a shadow of a doubt, aspartame triggers brain tumors"and,
"therefore, by allowing aspartame to be placed on the market the FDA has
violated the Delaney Amendment, which forbids putting anything in food that is
know to cause cancer...And if the FDA itself elects to violates its own the law,
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public?"

But wait, it gets
worse...

In the early '80s, "Rummy
the Magnificent" moved into the political arena. And one of the first moves he
made was to appoint a new FDA commissioner. And guess what he did? In 1981, the
new appointee approved aspartame for the good old boys back at GD
Searle...despite the clinically proven dangers.

Before long, aspartame was
everywhere, from soda to salad dressing! Now let's look at what it's
"contributed" to America's health...

92 reasons why aspartame makes sugar look like a "good
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For starters, medical
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death.

Headaches, memory loss,
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symptoms of such conditions as fibromyalgia, MS, lupus, ADD, diabetes,
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Why so many? It could be
because aspartame attacks your body at the cellular level so it can negate all
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cardiac drugs, hormones, insulin, vaccines, and many others.

It is a deadly
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And to add insult to
injury...

Aspartame could makes you hungrier and fatter!

One medical investigator,
Dr. H. J. Roberts, even concludes that aspartame has caused our obesity
epidemic. He gives evidence that this "guilt-free" sweetener secretly makes you
crave carbohydrates which, of course, make you gain weight.

How? Possibly it may
trigger or over stimulate the stomach's production of ghrelin, also known as the
"hunger hormone." If this hypothesis turns out to be correct, it will help to
explain why all those "diet" sodas have never been much help in weight
reduction. (In fact, just the opposite!)

So why is the media mum?

Simple. Because
professional organizations and their publications have all been bought off.

By who? The food giants.
They all use this inexpensive imposter in huge quantities for their colas,
desserts, candies, and other junk foods. And they're the ones who have financed
a raft of studies "proving" the safety of aspartame.

http://www.rense.com/general37/stev.htm

Article on Herbal Healer website. Copy and paste into your browser.

Also check out the Herbal healer website using the above search box, just type in www.herbalhealer.com scroll down and click on breaking news for even more articles.

I was told by my OB and Family Dr. that it was OK to drink Caffeine free Diet Soda that is made with Splenda. Diet Rite is made with Splenda and is caffeine free. Plus, Diet Rite comes in several flavors besides just regular cola. However, you should check with your OB to see what they recommend.

Both my OB and my son's pediatrician gave me the okay to eat and drink whatever I wanted to while nursing, so I haven't placed any restrictions on my diet. Everyone has a different opinion and reasons for those opinions, so on issues like these I generally listen to my doctors, who know me, my son, and our medical histories. I would suggest checking with your doctors. If you're very worried about it, you can always play it safe and avoid artificial sweeteners and other artificial additives, although that's easier said than done. Good luck with the breastfeeding!

I'm a Neonatal ICU nurse. I wouldn't recommend it, but if you must just limit your intake. The aspertaine and other chemicals as well as the caffeine aren't good and will be passed through the breast milk. Just drink them in moderation and drink lots of water, that's very important.

NO...the aspertame in the soda is bad for the baby...not to mention, any caffeine that you drink will go directly to the baby...if you have to drink a soda drink a regular one...it may have more calories but it's not as toxic as the stuff they put in the diet ones...

I've got a really great article on the toxicity of diet soda...if you drop me a line with your email I will forward it to you.

My Dr. suggested I stay away from Diet soda while pregnant or nursing specifically because of the Aspertame. I suggested Diet Rite, which has no sodium, caffine and uses Splenda instead of Aspertame. He said that was less bad if I felt I needed to have some every once in a while. I thought the Diet Rite was pretty good and we still drink it now that I have weaned the baby.

hello. this is my opinion only so don't take it to heart if you don't like my answer. My opinion... diet soda is no good for u ... pregnant or not. hope this helped u a little.

My doctor has told me that it is ok to drink diet soda when pregnant or breastfeeding. I still don't like to drink it when I am pregnant but I know that it is all in my head.
Must sodas don't use sacraine (know i spelt that wrong sorry) which to my knowledge was the worry about diet sodas. But if you are worried about it you can ask your doctor or your peds doctor. They can easy your mind a little more. If you do call and find out that I was misinformed would you please let me know. Thanks.
God bless

Hi....
I think it's oaky to drink it now and then, but when i was breastfeeding I would drink Diet Rite...it has no caffeine and no aspertame (which I think those are the things you don't want while nursing). It tastes great too!
Good luck,
D.

K. Don't see a problem in drinking soda. You may want to "google" a certain ingrediant that is listed in everything diet... Its call aspertame...

I drank diet the entire time I breastfed ( I breast fed until my baby was a year). My doctor said he was okay with it as long as it was in moderation.

I sure hope so I have drank diet soda with my last 2 nursers. Pretty nuts that I wouldn't drink cafffeine but would artificial sweetner!! I don't know I only drink soda very very rarely. My son swallowed sugar free gum a lot that he took out of his sister's drawer and it gave him diahhrea for a week so maybe its not that safe? I would try to limit it as much as possible. I think no one really knows what all those chemicals really do! When I was nursing and went to a nutritionist they said splenda was best but that was 4 years ago! Ask La Leche League

Congrts on your little boy, I have a two year old boy and a 5 month boy, I love raising boys. I breastfeed my first for an entire year and now am breastfeeing my newest. I was told not to drink diet soda because of the artificial sweetners that can be passed in breast milk aren't necessarily good for us much less a for a baby. I also think it is wonderful that you haven choosen to give your baby the best start possible. If I can be of any help to you please feel free to contact me. Best of luck to you!!

My sister is a family practice doc, and she told me that aspartame's effects aren't fully understood--as with so many chemicals that we regularly use daily--and she would recommending limiting my intake while preganant. I try to find splenda-sweetened products because splenda is not processed by the body, just passed out in the urine. However, it's harder to find soda with splenda--Diet Rite or Pepsi One both are splenda.

Also, regular sodas usually have high-fructose corn syrup as their sweetener--NOT "regular sugar"--and many people are now questioning how many ill effects that stuff might have on a body.

These things in moderation while brest-feeding are probably not going to do any harm, given that you're checking with your doc.

You can eat and drink almost anything while breatfeeding. Even small amounts of alcohol are not harmful (alcohol goes in and out of your breastmilk as quickly as it does your blood so if you go out for a cocktail and come home an hour later you do not need to pump and dump). You should avoid food high in mercury like certain fish (swordfish, lots of canned tuna, etc) but everything else is okay - including soda. All soda (diet and regular)in excess has been recently linked to a higher risk of developing Metabolic Syndrome (obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure) in yourself but if you limit yourself to 2 or so a day the association is not there. As far as background goes I nursed two kids for 13 months each and I am a physician.

Yes, I believe it is okay to drink diet soda nursing. Although, it is good to find a contact with a La Leche League Leader in your community. Even if you don't want to attend the meetings, it's still good to have the number of the leader. She has a special book to look up prescriptions and such to see if it is okay to nurse. When I broke my arm and I was still nursing my second son, the doctor gave me a prescription and automatically told me that I couldn't take it while nursing. Well that broke my heart. I called my leader and looked up the drug and I COULD TAKE IT! Thank God for my leader. Doctors automatically say that to cover their butt. I now have four children and have never purchased formula. I just quit nursing my 1 yr old two months ago. :( Alcohol is also non-toxic so I would even have a glass of wine with a meal and still have no problem nursing. (Especially if you eating on top of it.) Oh yeah, and I'm a Mountain Dew drinker and had one a day through all of my nursing kids and it didn't effect them. Well, enough of my addictions. (ha-ha). Seriously, contact the website: http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html
and find a leader in your area and even meet other nursing moms in your area. I met many of my friends through LLL. Good Luck and Congratulations!!!