Which artificial sweeteners are OK for pregnancy?

Hi,
I'm not pregnant yet, but may be in the near future. I'm curious if anyone knows if artificial sweeteners are okay to consume when pregnant. I use splenda now, but was thinkig maybe stevia would be better when pregnant.
Thanks in advance.

Thu. Oct 19, 6:59pm

You are better off chain smoking unfiltered cigarattes, freebasing cocaine, and consuming a bottle of vodka a day.

Thursday, October 19, 2006, 8:13 PM

I'm serious about this question. Does anyone else have any constructive advice?

Friday, October 20, 2006, 9:14 AM

my guess would be none. Keep it natural. Think about it this way- why are you asking this question in the first place?

Friday, October 20, 2006, 9:31 AM

They are ok to consume in moderation according to my doctor but I don't ever blindly follow a doctor's advice, I listen to myself. I knew I was pregnant when I had splenda added to my coffee and I immediately wanted to vomit.

Friday, October 20, 2006, 9:37 AM

I don't think artificial sweeteners are ever okay. But I suppose if you choose them, you should listen to your body...that was good advice.

Friday, October 20, 2006, 11:10 AM

well the obvious answer is to consult with a reputable ob/gyn specialist. your doctor can probably refer you to someone in your area. i've attached a link to a site that you may find helpful, but i strongly urge you to try to get some professional medical advise before making any decisions. you may even consult a nutritionist who specializes in pregnancy issues before you become pregnant to ensure your body has enough folate, iron, etc.

Link

Friday, October 20, 2006, 11:21 AM

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, so here's mine. Artifical sweetners are artifical, yes, but not harmful under normal consumption. I myself use artifical sweetners to a certain degree in my life. I also eat a very well balanced diet and only incorporate these items on a limited basis (Fiber One cereal, Trident gum, Diet Pepsi and Skinny Cow products). I think someone who likens artifical sweetners to tobacco, drugs or alcohol is ignorant and overzealous. When you decide to get preganant you can discuss with your Ob/Gyn what a healthy diet regime would include and then chose to incorporate artifical sweetners as you choose or don't choose.

I myself would be more worried about incorporating folic acid and other pre-natal vitamins into my diet before I excluded artifical sweetners.

Friday, October 20, 2006, 2:50 PM

um, folic acid and other nessecary nutrients for pre-pregnancy can be obtained by eating foods that naturally contain them, so one needn't take pills to get them into your body. saccharin has many red flags raised for ingestion by pregnant women.

from a google search...
"Saccharin, one of the first artificial sweeteners, is much less commonly used today. Although it hasn't been shown to cause birth defects, animal studies show that it may increase the risk of bladder cancer. When a mom-to-be ingests saccharin, it crosses the placenta into her baby's bloodstream. Research on monkeys shows that saccharin is cleared out of the baby's body more slowly than the mother's. So if an expectant mother ingests a great deal of saccharin, it could accumulate in her baby's bladder and potentially increase the baby's risk for bladder cancer. Because of this concern, some physicians ban saccharin from their pregnant patients' diets. However, if you inadvertently used saccharin before knowing you were pregnant, try not to worry. The risks, if any, of consuming a small amount in the first weeks are extremely small."

the other commonly used artificial sweeteners did not have the same concerns raised. there are a few that have been approved by the fda for consumption by pregnant women.

Friday, October 20, 2006, 3:56 PM

Some times I wish pregnant women would be as worried about their own health as their babies.... I bet alot of women would be healthier if they ate as if they were pregnant (but with portion control)...

Friday, October 20, 2006, 4:27 PM

It seems common sense to me not to eat things that are artificially produced in general, and specifically while pregnant. There are no definitive studies that prove artificial sweetners are safe during all stages of development for a baby. Why run the risk? If you want something sweet, just eat the real stuff and work the rest of your diet around to accomodate that. It's hard enough to find real food that isn't compromised by pollution (like fish) to try to work in something you know comes out of a lab.

Friday, October 20, 2006, 4:40 PM

try stevia...check at a natural food store!

Friday, October 20, 2006, 8:26 PM

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