Is it Safe to Drink Soda while Pregnant

The safety side of drinking soda during pregnancy is often questioned. Although it is not strictly prohibited, pregnant women must be wise in consuming it. This is because there are some adverse effects from consuming excessive soda during pregnancy. Women who often drink soda while pregnant are more at risk of giving birth prematurely. In addition, excessive consumption of soda during pregnancy can also affect the child's development later in life.

Various Health Risks of Soda Drinking During Pregnancy

Drinking too much soda during pregnancy can have a variety of adverse effects on the health of pregnant women and the fetus, including:

1. Increase the risk of gaining excess weight

Soda contains high sugar and calories, so excessive consumption of soda can cause weight gain. Increasing excess body weight during pregnancy cannot be underestimated because it can increase the risk of pregnant women experiencing gestational diabetes. In addition to gestational diabetes, being overweight during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage, high blood pressure, preterm labor, and being overweight in infants.

2. Increases the risk of birth defects

Soda contains artificial sweeteners. One artificial sweetener that is commonly contained in soft drinks is aspartame. Research shows that consumption of aspartame in pregnant women can increase the risk of birth defects. However, this matter still needs to be explored further.

3. Increase the risk of babies born with a low weight

One reason pregnant women need to limit soft drinks is high caffeine content. Caffeine should not be consumed in excess because this substance can penetrate the placenta and affect fetal development. Excessive caffeine intake during pregnancy is often associated with the risk of low birth weight babies and birth defects.

4. Lack of calcium intake

High caffeine content in soft drinks can also inhibit the absorption of calcium. If this happens, you run the risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. In addition, lack of calcium intake during pregnancy can also increase blood lead levels. High levels of lead in the blood of pregnant women can interfere with fetal brain development.

5. Influence motor development of children

Excessive consumption of soda during pregnancy can affect the development of fine motor children later. Research shows pregnant women who consume a lot of sugar, especially sugar from soda, tend to give birth to children who have poor problem-solving abilities and weak memories. There are various effects that might occur if pregnant women consume soft drinks. If pregnant women really want to consume this drink, consume it in very limited quantities. In addition, pregnant women can also choose other safer drinks, such as fresh fruit juices, coconut water, milk, and smoothies. However, it is better to consult an obstetrician first to make sure.