Fluid intake during pregnancy plays an important role in many matters such as the formation of the amniotic fluid, the function of the digestive system and the clearing of toxins. Expectant mothers are advised to drink an average of 10-12 glasses of water a day. Although the importance of water for pregnancy is great, expectant mothers of course also want to drink different beverages, especially on hot days.
Because of their refreshing quality or their effect on the stomach, the first drinks that come to expectant mothers’ minds are mineral water or soda. However, expectant mothers wonder whether drinking soda or mineral water during pregnancy is right for the health of the baby. Here are the answers to the questions about mineral water and soda consumption during pregnancy:
Can Mineral Water Be Drunk During Pregnancy?
Consuming mineral water during pregnancy is safe; it does not harm the mother or the baby. Because of the rich minerals it contains, it can be beneficial for the expectant mother to drink natural mineral water.
Care should be taken that the mineral water does not contain sweeteners. It is also useful to limit daily consumption to one glass of mineral water. If the expectant mother has any health problem with her stomach, she should first seek her doctor’s advice about drinking mineral water.
Is Soda Harmful During Pregnancy?
Mineral water and soda are mostly assumed to be the same kind of drink. For this reason it is useful first to learn the difference between mineral water and soda. Mineral water is a drink extracted from the depths of the earth that contains dissolved minerals and natural gas. Soda, on the other hand, is obtained by adding carbon dioxide, which provides the fizz, and sodium bicarbonate to processed water.
Mineral water contains minerals such as iron, sodium, calcium and magnesium, which can differ according to the place where it is extracted. Soda contains bicarbonate and sodium.
Together with these differences, drinking soda during pregnancy is not harmful. However, because of its rich mineral content, drinking mineral water instead of soda during pregnancy can be more beneficial. In addition, soda or mineral water should not be drunk instead of water during the day; the expectant mother should take care to meet her daily water intake.
Which Drinks Should Be Avoided During Pregnancy?
Expectant mothers with a risk of miscarriage or a particular health condition can first seek their doctor’s advice about drinking beverages during pregnancy. The points that expectant mothers going through a pregnancy without risk should pay attention to regarding beverages are as follows:
- Caffeine consumption can be limited to 200 mg. It is important to know that not only coffee but also some types of tea, chocolate and certain medicines contain caffeine, and to arrange daily consumption accordingly.
- Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is risky for the health of the mother and the baby.
- In order not to take in more calories than expected, it is useful to limit the amount of fruit juice consumed.
- Care can be taken not to drink fizzy or still beverages containing sweeteners, colourings or additives.
Expectant mothers should also certainly seek their doctor’s advice about the type of herbal tea they drink.