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 bad effects from mengExcessive consumption of sodaanduring pregnancy.
Women who drink soda frequently during pregnancy are more likely to have a premature baby. In addition, excessive consumption of soda during pregnancy can also affect the development of the child later in life.
Various Health Risks of Drinking Soda while Pregnant
Drinking too much soda during pregnancy can have a variety of adverse effects on the health of pregnant women and fetuses, including:
1. Increases the risk of excess weight gain
Soda is a sweet drink that contains high sugar and calories, so excessive consumption of soda can cause weight gain. Excessive weight gain 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, premature delivery, and being overweight in the baby.
2. Increase the risk of birth defects
Soda contains artificial sweeteners. One of the common artificial sweeteners contained in soft drinks is aspartame. Research shows that consumption of aspartame in pregnant women can increase the risk of birth defects. However, this still needs to be studied further.
3. Increases the risk of low birth weight babies
One of the reasons pregnant women need to limit fizzy drinks is the high caffeine content. Caffeine should not be consumed in excess because this substance can cross the placenta and affect fetal development. Excess caffeine intake during pregnancy is often associated with the risk of low birth weight babies and birth defects.
4. Lack of calcium intake
The high caffeine content in soft drinks can also inhibit calcium absorption. If this happens, you are at risk for developing osteoporosis later in life.
In addition, lack of calcium intake during pregnancy can also increase blood lead levels. High lead levels in the blood of pregnant women can interfere with fetal brain development.
5. Influence children's motor development
Excessive consumption of soda during pregnancy can affect the fine motor development of the child later. Research shows that pregnant women who consume a lot of sugar, especially sugar from soda, are more likely to give birth to children who have poor problem-solving skills and poor memory.
There are various effects that may 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 juice, coconut water, milk, and smoothies. However, it is better to consult a gynecologist first to make sure.