Pregnant women should avoid drinking soft drinks until the time of delivery, as they contain substances that may negatively affect the health of the mother and the fetus. In the following lines,                 "Dalili Medical" reviews the harms of soft drinks on pregnant women, according to our website.

* What is the permissible amount of soft drinks during pregnancy?

 

During pregnancy, it is considered safe to consume one or less than one serving (one serving is equivalent to 330 ml) of soft drinks or sugar-free soft drinks per day. Whether the drinks contain sugar or artificial sweeteners, the caffeine in them may be refreshing, but it may pose a risk to the fetus. It is recommended that pregnant women do not exceed 200 mg of caffeine per day. One serving of soft drinks contains between 32-42 mg of caffeine. So, if you limit your daily consumption of soft drinks to one serving, you are in a relatively safe position, but you should consider its effect on your bones and sleep.

**Soft Drink Ingredients**

Soft drinks consist of a group of elements and compounds, as follows:

- **Sugar**: It constitutes a percentage ranging from 40% to 60% of the concentration of a single drink.

- **Flavors**: They are used to give a distinctive smell and taste, such as the flavor of cola or natural fruits.

- **Citric acid**: It is added at a concentration of 1% in one package.

- **Ascorbic acid**: It is used to preserve the taste of the drink and prevent oxidation.

- **Phosphoric acid**: It is added at a concentration of 0.06% in one package.

Color, such as the caramel color used in cola.

Foaming materials.

Preservatives, such as sorbic acid at a concentration of 0.1% to prevent bacterial growth.

Pure carbon dioxide gas.

Sodium.

Carbonated water.

Caffeine.

Is carbonated water harmful to pregnant women?

 

Carbonated water is considered a safe and harmless drink during pregnancy, but some side effects may appear that may be annoying to the woman, especially if it is consumed in large quantities or contains ingredients that are harmful to the health of the mother or fetus, such as some types of added sugars. Therefore, a pregnant woman can drink carbonated water without affecting the health of her fetus, provided that she consumes it in moderation.

The most important effects of carbonated water on pregnant women

Some mothers prefer to avoid drinking carbonated water during pregnancy due to side effects that may be considered harmful, such as gases that cause a feeling of discomfort and discomfort, despite their lack of direct effect on the woman's health. Women can replace carbonated water with a group of healthy drinks to avoid exposure to gases.

Should a pregnant woman avoid drinking carbonated water?

 

Carbonated water is considered safe to consume during pregnancy, so a pregnant woman does not have to avoid it completely, but it is preferable not to overdo it. However, some women prefer to stay away from it because of the gases it may cause. Here is a list of the most important drinks that pregnant women should avoid or reduce their consumption:

- **Pumpkin juice**: Pumpkin juice does not provide the nutritional value of vitamins and minerals that other juices contain, and it also contains high amounts of sugar, so it is best to avoid it.

- **Tea**: Tea contains high levels of caffeine, and the amount of caffeine can reach its maximum when consuming only two cups. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid excessive tea drinking to avoid negative effects on the health of the mother and her fetus.

- **Coffee**: Pregnant women should reduce their coffee consumption, as they can get the maximum amount of caffeine by consuming only one cup of brewed coffee, or double the amount of instant coffee.

**Herbal tea: There is not enough information from specialists about the safety of consuming herbal tea or green tea during pregnancy in general. Therefore, it is recommended not to overdo it and to consult a doctor before consuming carbonated water.

**Unpasteurized milk: Pregnant women can benefit from drinking milk due to its high nutritional value, but they should avoid unpasteurized types or boil them before drinking if nothing else is available, to avoid potential harm caused by unpasteurized milk.

**Unpasteurized juice: Unpasteurized juice may contain types of bacteria that pose a risk to the life of the fetus. These bacteria are eliminated through the pasteurization process, so it is necessary to avoid unpasteurized juice to reduce these risks.

Is caffeinated soda harmful to pregnant women?

 

A pregnant woman should not exceed 200 milligrams of caffeine per day, as this amount is considered safe for both the mother and her fetus. Caffeinated soda, in addition to other sources of caffeine such as tea, coffee and chocolate, become harmful if this limit is exceeded. This is due to the ability of caffeine to cross the placenta and reach the fetus, which may lead to some health problems in some cases.

**The harms of caffeinated soft drinks to pregnant women**

 

Here are some of the potential harms that a pregnant woman or her fetus may be exposed to as a result of consuming large amounts of caffeinated soft drinks:

. **High blood pressure**: Caffeine consumption is associated with increased blood pressure, especially in women who are not accustomed to consuming sources of caffeine. The risks increase more in women who have a history of high blood pressure.

. **Insomnia**: Some women resort to consuming caffeine to enhance alertness, but this effect becomes negative during pregnancy, as the woman suffers from fatigue and physical changes that affect the quality of sleep, which leads to an exacerbation of the feeling of fatigue.

. **Effect on the weight of the child**: The likelihood of giving birth to a child with a low weight increases when the mother consumes amounts exceeding the safe limit of caffeine daily. There is also an increased risk of the child developingJaundice and breathing problems.

. **Complications of stress**: Caffeine increases the production of cortisol hormones, which leads to increased feelings of psychological stress. This stress during pregnancy can cause problems with emotional regulation in the child.

**Presence of caffeine:*Caffeine is one of the main reasons to avoid drinking soft drinks during pregnancy. Research conducted by the American Pregnancy Association has shown that pregnant women consuming more than 200 mg of caffeine per day may increase the risk of miscarriage. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce its consumption. In addition, caffeine can negatively affect the quality of sleep, which is vital for your health and the health of your fetus, and it also affects calcium levels in the body, which is an essential element for building your child's bones and teeth.

**Added colors and artificial sweeteners:**Although small amounts of artificial additives may not harm your child's health, studies indicate that large amounts of soft drinks containing artificial flavors or colors should be avoided. The presence of saccharin in some of these drinks has been linked to birth defects in babies. While some research suggests that aspartame or sucralose may be safe when consumed in limited amounts by pregnant women, it is important to read the labels of the soft drinks you buy to make sure they are free of ingredients that are harmful to you and your baby. No Nutrients and High Calories

Soft drinks provide very few or no nutrients, which means they do not add value to the health of the pregnant mother. However, these drinks can increase the body’s calorie levels. In short, soft drinks will not provide any vitamins or minerals that are essential for the health and development of the baby. If you love soft drinks, a sip or two every now and then will not cause any harm.

Soft drinks cause heartburn  Soft drinks can cause or worsen heartburn, especially during the third trimester of pregnancy. If you feel a burning sensation in the chest or lower throat a few minutes after drinking any soft drink, it is best to stop drinking it immediately.

Slowing down the metabolism: This happens because the drinks contain a high percentage of artificial sugars.

Causes headaches, fatigue and premature wrinkles: These symptoms are due to the artificial ingredients that dry out the head cells, which increases the appearance of cracks, wrinkles and dark spots on the skin.

Soft drinks reduce blood flow to the fetus: This is because they contain caffeine, which negatively affects the health of the fetus and leads to the loss of calcium and vitamins necessary for its healthy growth.

Increases the pregnant woman's appetite for sugars and sweets: This desire to eat sweets leads to a reduction in the consumption of beneficial foods rich in vitamins, which weakens the health of both the mother and the fetus.

Weight gain and obesity: Soft drinks increase weight and lead to obesity when consumed in excess and weaken bones and teeth and cause osteoporosis early.

Causes some health problems: Soft drinks lead to increased heart rate, hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, sugar, increased hormones and their imbalance, and increase the rate of inflammation in the vagina and uterus, causing severe pain and difficulty in childbirth.

Digestive problems: Consuming these drinks results in depriving the stomach of salivary yeasts and contributes to reducing the role of enzymes secreted by the stomach to facilitate the digestion process due to containing large amounts of carbon dioxide, which disrupts the process of absorbing and digesting food.

Is sparkling water safe for pregnant women?

 

Sparkling water is considered a safe drink for pregnant women, just as is the case with carbonated water. The harms of carbonated water do not negatively affect pregnancy, as well as sparkling water, as the harms are limited to feeling gas, which is a side effect and not a real harm. However, there are many healthy drinks that are considered better for pregnant women, such as hot water with lemon slices.

What are the natural alternatives to carbonated water suitable for pregnant women?

 

There are several options that pregnant women can rely on instead of carbonated water, whether natural or unnatural. These alternatives include:

. **Smoothies**: Pregnant women can prepare a smoothie from fresh fruits as an alternative to soda water, which provides them with many essential nutrients. However, women should monitor the amount of sugar when preparing this type of drink.

. **Milk**: If a pregnant woman wants to drink milk, it is preferable to choose pasteurized types. Milk is a good alternative to soda water, as it contains calcium and many vitamins. However, women should avoid it if they suffer from lactose intolerance.

. **Soy milk**: Pregnant women can drink soy milk as an alternative to traditional milk in case of lactose intolerance. They can also choose other types of milk, preferring types rich in calcium to enhance the benefit.

Decaffeinated coffee: If a pregnant woman wants to drink coffee, it is preferable to choose types that do not contain caffeine. This is to avoid the risks and potential harms resulting from consuming excessive amounts of caffeine, as coffee is generally considered harmful to pregnant women.

How safe is it to drink soda during pregnancy?

 

If you don’t drink too much soda or make it a daily habit, drinking soda is safe during pregnancy. However, it’s best to avoid drinking too much, as many types of soda contain caffeine, as well as some sugars that pregnant women are advised to avoid, such as saccharin found in diet soda. You should also be careful about drinking carbonated water, which contains ingredients that may pose a risk to the health of the pregnant woman or the fetus. It’s also important toIt is worth noting that the large amounts of sugar in soda may negatively affect a woman's fertility and reduce the chances of pregnancy.

Should a pregnant woman avoid energy drinks?

 

Health care providers advise pregnant women to avoid energy drinks, as these drinks contain high levels of caffeine, in addition to other ingredients that may negatively affect the health of pregnancy or the health of the pregnant woman. These ingredients include:

- **Glucuronolactone**: Glucuronolactone is extracted from gluconic acid, and may have a toxic effect. Its effects on pregnancy have not been adequately studied yet, so it is considered unsafe for pregnant women.

- **Taurine**: Taurine acid is considered safe when obtained from natural sources, but its effects on pregnant women when combined with other ingredients in energy drinks are still unknown, which necessitates avoiding it during pregnancy.

- **Ginseng**: Ginseng, an herbal supplement, is added to some energy drinks and may cause birth defects, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health in the United States.

**Guarana**: Guarana contains four times more caffeine than coffee beans, which makes it an ingredient in some energy drinks due to its stimulating effects on the body. However, it is recommended to avoid it during pregnancy due to its high caffeine content.

**Artificial sweeteners**: Although the artificial sweeteners commonly used in energy drinks are considered safe, some contain saccharin, which is believed to increase the risk of cancer and can pass to the fetus through the placenta.

**Vitamin B**: Vitamin B is important for women, but energy drinks contain levels that exceed recommended limits, making them unsafe during pregnancy.

**Sugar:** Sometimes, sugar is used instead of artificial sweeteners in energy drinks, and its consumption can lead to obesity, and it can also negatively affect women who suffer from gestational diabetes.

**Steps to get rid of soft drink addiction**

Some strategies can be followed to get rid of soft drink addiction, including these steps:

First: When you feel the desire to drink soft drinks, it is preferable to choose small packages instead of large ones. While both retain the same flavor and taste, small packages reduce health risks. Regular soft drinks can also be replaced with diet drinks.

Second: To reduce the harm of soft drinks, it is recommended to drink 250 ml of water before drinking them. This helps reduce the desire to drink more of the drink, and water also helps reduce the risks of the amounts of sugar in these drinks, which may lead to the body's resistance to insulin.

Third: It is necessary to choose the appropriate time to drink these drinks, preferably an hour before a meal or two hours after eating. Studies have shown that consuming these drinks during meals can lead to unwanted reactions in the body, and they also hinder the absorption of minerals and vitamins in food.

Fourth: Some foods should be added to your diet, such as eggs, legumes, and fish, as these foods help reduce the desire to eat sugar.

Fifth: When reducing the consumption of soft drinks, you may feel a headache as a result of caffeine withdrawal from the body, so you can take some painkillers to relieve the pain.

Sixth: If you want to drink soft drinks, you can replace them with natural juices such as lemon juice, which helps calm the nerves and promotes relaxation. You can also resort to walking or adopting some habits that help you overcome the desire to drink these soft drinks.