How much soda is ok during pregnancy

Soda is safe to enjoy when pregnant, in moderation. You should keep in mind overall hydration, added sugar, and caffeine intake when drinking soda during pregnancy. Calorie-free, neon-colored fruity flavors, with or without caffeine- oh my! Soda comes in nearly endless varieties. Some soda ingredients, such as artificial sweeteners and caffeine have nutrition considerations to take into account when expecting.

This article is an overview of different soda types including soda water, diet soda, and non-caffeinated versions. Sweetened, carbonated sodas have been the topic of much research lately, including the effects of soda drinking on pregnancy and babies.

As an expecting mother, there may be no more terrifying topic than the loss of a pregnancy, but what, if any, impact does soda have? Soda was one of the beverages studied and while the caffeine in soda contributed to a higher risk of miscarriage, the researchers found that soda itself was not a risk factor.

This means that if you are planning a pregnancy or are expecting, limiting caffeine is the most important consideration when it comes to soda. Most women are familiar with the advice to limit their caffeine intake while pregnant and the World Health Organization WHO recommends a limit of mg caffeine daily for pregnant women source: WHO.

For women with pregnancy-related incontinence, a greater need to use the restroom might be a compelling reason to opt for non-caffeinated versions.

Below are some common sodas and their caffeine contents per 12 oz mL. More details on caffeine-free sodas are found below. As you can see, most soda drinks can contain a hefty amount of caffeine, and it can mount up if you drink it often.

Bear in mind that special soda types like energy drinks can be even higher in caffeine, and we cover the safety of energy drinks during pregnancy here. Luckily for women with a craving for sodas during pregnancy, many popular sodas are either naturally caffeine-free or are sold in a non-caffeinated version, making it easier to abide by the WHO guidelines.

Caffeine-free sodas, like most root beers, ginger ale, and other light-colored sodas, can be a better choice than caffeinated varieties for women who have already had a caffeinated beverage in the day. While caffeine-free sodas are handy when it comes to decreasing caffeine intake, added sugars or other sweeteners will still be part of the ingredients lists in caffeine-free sodas. Another thing to consider when it comes to soda drinking during pregnancy is sugar.

But is drinking soda safe for your baby? When you're drinking for two, you probably shouldn't be toasting your good news with a glass of champagne. But if you're looking for a good bubbly beverage to drink, is soda a good replacement? Many flavors, including colas, some root beers, and Mountain Dew, contain caffeine -- and most experts recommend having no more than milligrams of caffeine per day.

You'd have to drink a lot of soda every day; there are 71 milligrams in a ounce serving about one can of soda , and most caffeinated sodas come in below that. In fact, a Diet Coke has 47 milligrams -- and the FDA won't allow sodas to have more than that per ounce serving -- so you'd have to drink more than 50 ounces a little more than four cans of soda to surpass the recommended caffeine limit. Then there's the sweetener. Full-sugared varieties fill you with chemicals and empty calories. And chemicals and extra calories that don't give you any nutrition are a pretty poor choice when you want to deliver every possible nutrient to your baby and avoid excess weight gain.

Diet sodas, which contain artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, could also affect a growing fetus. As long as you don't drink 70 diet sodas -- and you're not a rat -- you don't have to really worry about aspartame.

The bottom line? Drinking soda when you're pregnant may not be the best thing for you -- but it certainly isn't the worst. Elmer says. So if you just can't kick your cola habit, it's best to indulge in small amounts. Try to limit drinking soda to one can -- or less -- per day, if you can swing it.

Chamomile, for example, has been linked to preterm birth. Ginger tea is generally a safe bet and may also help with pregnancy-related nausea. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals.

We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. Moderate caffeine consumption during pregnancy.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Englund-Ogge L, et al. Association between intake of artificially sweetened and sugar-sweetened beverages and preterm delivery: a large prospective study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 96 3 Greenwood DC, et al. Caffeine intake during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Eur J Epidemiol, October ; 29 10 Azad M, et al.

Association between artificially sweetened beverage consumption during pregnancy and infant body mass index. JAMA Pediatrics. Gleason, J, et al.

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Maughan D, A randomized trial to assess the potential of different beverages to affect hydration status: development of a beverage hydration index. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Water and Healthier Drinks. Food and Drug Administration, UptoDate, Join now to personalize. Photo credit: iStock.