In the midst of learning about all of the foods and drinks you can’t have while pregnant, you may be left wondering what you can have. If you’re an avid soda drinker, then “can I drink Sprite while pregnant?” likely tops your list of questions. Thankfully, we’ve got an answer for you. In today’s post, we’ll be peeling back the layers of why you should or shouldn’t have Sprite during pregnancy so you can make as informed of a decision as possible. Let’s hop in.
Can I Drink Sprite While Pregnant?
You can drink Sprite while pregnant, but should you?
Most doctors and health experts agree that steering clear of sugar-laden drinks like these is a wise choice while pregnant. But why?
The following are a few of the reasons that we don’t recommend pregnant women consume Sprite on a regular basis.
Sugar Content
It goes without saying, but consuming too much sugar, even when you aren’t pregnant, can do a lot of damage to your health.
Aside from providing virtually no nutritional content, sugar has also been known to increase blood pressure, promote weight gain, increase inflammation, and lead to a fatty liver.
Most of these effects, such as elevated blood pressure, increased inflammation, and weight gain, are already commonly associated with pregnancy. Consuming excess sugar, however, is likely only to exacerbate matters rather than make them better.
Carbonation
This is a minor side effect of drinking Sprite, but honestly, who in their right mind wants more heartburn? As you’ve likely experienced, heartburn can be at its worst during pregnancy, and often, it is ongoing.
Limiting carbonated and acidic drinks can really help take the edge off of heartburn, even if it never goes away completely.
Lack of Nutrients
As we’ve mentioned before, sugar carries with it very few benefits in terms of nutritive content. Because of this, it might be better to satisfy your sweet tooth with something more wholesome like fruit juice. There are even some fruit juices on the market that are lightly carbonated, giving you a soda-like taste but without all the junk.
You can also try sparkling water brands like Bubly; just make sure that whatever you pick doesn’t contain artificial sweeteners.
Empty Calories
Along with lacking nutritive content comes the notion that drinking Sprite on a regular basis offers calories with very little benefit.
By “drinking” your calories, you increase your caloric intake but aren’t reaping the satiating benefits that “real” food would give you. Thus, consuming a soda, especially on a regular basis, will likely contribute to weight gain that may be harder than you think to rid yourself of postpartum.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes can occur both in women with preexisting blood sugar issues and in women with no past history of such conditions. Blood sugar levels that are heightened in pregnant women are usually linked to the presence of the placenta. Thus, consuming excess sugar may increase the risks of developing gestational diabetes while pregnant.
Fetal Support
Remember that whatever you consume, your baby consumes as well. Studies show that increased intake of simple sugars can increase the risks of certain health conditions associated with pregnancy including preeclampsia and preterm labor.
Dental Health
Outside of having detrimental consequences on the health of your pregnancy, drinking Sprite on a frequent basis can wreak havoc on your oral health. According to the CDC, pregnant women may be more prone to acquiring periodontal disease than women who aren’t pregnant. As such, it is extremely important that you keep up with your oral hygiene, make frequent visits to the dentist, and keep sugar-laden sodas as a treat to be enjoyed sometimes rather than every day.
Energy Sap
Ever heard of a sugar crash? Eating and drinking foods that have excess sugar can really do a number on your energy levels. And while most people think eating sugar gives you energy, it is important to note that this is only partially true. In reality, you’ll only experience a surge in energy for a short amount of time before your energy levels drop drastically. The result is sluggish fatigue that can keep you from feeling your best as you progress through your pregnancy.
Migraines
Migraines that occur after consuming sugar when pregnant may be an indicator that something is awry. For many, this is an indicator that blood sugar levels are elevated and verging out of control. This may be your first warning sign of gestational diabetes, so be sure to mention it to your OBGYN before shrugging it off as normal.
Can I Drink Sprite During Early Pregnancy?
It’s fine to consume Sprite during early pregnancy. But bear in mind that there are better ways out there to drink to support the growth and development of your baby during this crucial time.
If it’s nausea that has you down, try sipping a plain or flavored LaCroix instead. Its refreshing taste and effervescent effect can help settle your stomach without all of the icky ingredients in Sprite.
Is Sprite Good For Nausea During Pregnancy?
Yes, Sprite can be good for dealing with nausea during pregnancy. But there are also several other ways you can control your morning sickness without ingesting so much sugar.
These include:
- Ginger Chews
- Preggie Pops
- Sparkling Water (No Artificial Flavors or Sweeteners Added)
- Fresh Air
- Mint-Flavored Chewing Gum
Can I Drink Sprite Zero While Pregnant?
You could drink Sprite Zero while pregnant, but we strongly suggest you limit your intake. Although Sprite Zero may seem like the obvious choice over regular Sprite, the truth is that artificial sweeteners may or may not still do harm to your baby. It really just depends on what type of artificial sweetener you use and how often you drink it.
Still, we would recommend you steer clear of artificial sweeteners, just to be safe.
How Much Sprite Can I Drink While Pregnant?
While there isn’t one general recommendation for how much Sprite a pregnant woman can drink per day, the usual answer is that you should consume soda in moderation. Sugar-laden foods should really be limited to rare occasions while pregnant as this is best for both you and your baby.
If, however, you choose to drink sodas that have caffeine such as Coke or Mountain Dew, understand that you are limited to consuming only 200mg of caffeine per day. This means you’ll have to watch not only your intake of sugar but of caffeine as well.
Why Do I Crave Sprite While Pregnant?
Feeling addicted to Sprite while pregnant? There could be many reasons you crave Sprite when you’ve got a baby in tow. It could be that you’re thirsty, want something fizzy on your tongue, are hooked to the sugar in the drink, or simply are accustomed to having it frequently. Whatever the case, we suggest you look for something to replace it with. At first, the substitution you choose may not taste as satisfying as the original, but over time, you’ll probably learn to love it.
Your body (and baby) will thank you for it, too!
Can I Drink Sprite While Pregnant? YES, But…
Yes, you can drink Sprite while pregnant but you should be careful to limit how much you consume. By taking in too much sugar, you are doing both yourself and your baby a disservice.
Instead of downing sugary drinks, try replacing them with your favorite all-natural fruit juice or artificial sweetener-free sparkling water. You can also try infused water on for size. No matter what you pick, be sure it benefits your body and baby before you take a swig.
Until next time!
FAQs
You can drink soda while pregnant but most healthcare professionals will recommend that you limit how much you drink. This is especially true if you have gestational diabetes or are experiencing migraines related to elevated or low blood sugar levels.
You technically can drink any soda while pregnant, however, we recommend you stick with something all-natural. Bubly, LaCroix, Bubbl’r, and Waterloo are all carbonated drinks that have fantastically fun naturally-derived flavors.
When pregnant, you should be sure to avoid drinks like alcohol, overly caffeinated drinks, certain types of tea, and pasteurized milk and juices.
While soft drinks may not cause miscarriage, they may not help matters either. Aside from this, it is important to remember that many sodas contain caffeine. By consuming caffeine while pregnant, you are elevating your risk of miscarriage, especially in the first trimester. Therefore, we strongly recommend replacing your soft drink with another more wholesome choice.
Sprite and salt are said to do wonders for the stomach and diarrhea. If you try this combination, do so on a rare occasion. Otherwise, we recommend finding a different way to settle your morning sickness woes.
Original Sprite does not contain caffeine. However, whenever buying variations of the original Sprite recipe, be sure to check the label to ensure no caffeine has been added.
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