Expert Q&A

	By Aneema Van Groenou, M.D. General Medicine

I'm a sugar junkie. But now that I'm pregnant, I'm wondering if artificial sweeteners are a good option?

When choosing a drink during pregnancy, keep in mind that all sweeteners – even natural sugars like brown sugar or honey – also will affect your fetus. Some women report that their fetus is more active after they drink something sweet. I've actually seen a fetus' heart rate go up (while I was monitoring it) after a woman had some cranberry juice!

So what about artificial sweeteners? The American Dietetic Association says that aspartame (Nutrasweet and Equal) and acesulfame-K (Sunett) are safe during pregnancy if used in moderation. Do not have more than four packages of these sweeteners or two cans of diet drinks a day. These are the most common artificial sweeteners in diet soft drinks. Pregnant women should avoid saccharin because it crosses the placenta and may remain in the fetus' system for a long time and may increase the baby's risk of bladder cancer. Saccharin has been approved by the FDA, so don't worry if you have some by mistake.

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