Is Pepsi (caffiene soda) bad for pregnant woman?

Question

Do you know if a pregnant woman drinks a small can of Pepsi that it's gonna have a birth defect on her growing child? Please explain. Note that this woman hadn't had a soda like a month now and her body is craving for one - badly!! And, all she's been drinking since she found out that she was pregnant is fruit juice, plain water, milk, V8 vegetable juice, carrot juice, lemonade and iced tea. Would one small caffiene soda hurt her growing child if she has one?

Answer 1

yes it is! caffiene can effect your baby! but my friends doctor let her have one a month?!?!?!?? i think if yoiu take a sip or have half of one it will satisfy your craving! but as always talk to your doctor! for me it was really hard when i was pregnant cause i used to drink like 4 cans before ifound out! but then i think the whole pregnancy i drank like three cokes the entire 9 months! GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

Except for the water in it, sodas are generally not healthy for you. However, they are not so bad that you can't just occasionally have one every now & then during your pregnancy. Ironically, for some strange reason, I craved Pepsi for the first time in my life when I became pregnant with my first Child. I had basically disliked the drink up until that time. It was also the same when I was pregnant with my other two. I truly do not believe that Pepsi or any other kind of soda is so bad that a baby still growing inside their Mother is going to have birth-defects if she does drink it at that time. Alcohol is known to do that though, particularly when consumed in excess while pregnant. If any woman is still concerned, then I would recommend they just not drink any sodas 'til after the baby is born.

Answer 3

A can of soda is not going to cause harm. There has been no proof that caffeine causes any type of birth defect. There is however an increase risk of miscarriage if you are a heavy caffeine drinker like 4-6 cans of soda a day, or a pot of coffee.

I have two sons who turned out fine and I drank a can of soda a day.. I drink a can a day now and im 28 weeks tomorrow.

Answer 4

Small amounts likely have no effect, but the fact is that if you care about the health of your baby, you should eliminate caffeine completely... not so much as smoking and alcohol consumption, but it is important.

Just an FYI, there is Caffeine Free Pepsi available. You can still enjoy your colas without the caffeine; higher caffeine products like coffee have the highest risk.

Also, after a month of not drinking caffeine, it would be highly unlikely that she is craving it specifically. She's probably more likely craving the sugary taste of the cola, which she can have in the caffeine-free variety.

Answer 5

Recent studies have proven that moderate caffeine consumption has little or no effect on a baby during pregnancy. 2-3 cups of regular coffee or up to 6 sodas a day are considered safe amounts. I drank my 2 cups of coffee 1 hour before my ultra sound when I was pregnant with my son and his heartrate was the same as it was when I had no coffee.

Answer 6

the downside to drinking any caffeinated soda is just that. The Caffeine. While Pregnant you are suppose to limit the amount of Caffeine you have. It is usually OK to have 1 or 2 sodas a day, just like 1 or 2 cups of coffee a day. It really depends on your situation. I would double check with your doctor/midwife to see if they have any restrictions for you.

Answer 7

I drank Pepsi when I was pregnant, but I didn't drink as much as i normally would've. I tried to quit drinking it all together, but got REAL bad caffeine headaches. I have not heard of birth defects..that is ridiculous. If that was the case, I am sure we would be seeing lots of lawsuits pending.

Answer 8

Im sure with each person you ask on this, you will get a different answer. What I can tell you is what my doctor told me. He said that one serving of caffeine PER DAY is ok for your child. He said if it is possible to consume less then that, he recommends it...but he said that alot of the hype on caffeine is taken too strongly. If his opinion is one you want to listen to, that is for you to choose...but like I said, with each person and doctor, Im sure your answers will very.
I am 22 weeks along now and consume one serving every other day on average. My sister drank soda all through her pregnancies and has 2 healthy strong children. My beliefs on it are, if you dont OVER-DUE it...and you feel it is ok...then you shouldn't worry about that one can of soda. The stress from craving it so bad is probably worse then the caffeine from one can. Take care of yourself and remember, just ask your doctor. If you trust him, go with what he says. Take care of yourself and GOOD LUCK with everything!! :)

Answer 9

In general, if you're pregnant, you should avoid caffeine. That being said, one soda is not going to cause birth defects! So, if you (or whoever the pregnant one is) feels like having one Pepsi, go for it!

Answer 10

If you're just craving a Pepsi, they do make caffeine free now.

If you're craving the caffeine, though... I don't see how just one can hurt a baby. o_o If fetuses were really that fragile, wouldn't we all be born with birth defects? Seriously, people.

Answer 11

Well, unless your tea is decaf then you drinking as much caffeine in tea as you would in a soda. That aside, I say moderation. I drink one diet dr pepper a day for most of my pregnancy. I think some people are extremists on here. If you are worried, ask your doctor.