Crystal Light during pregnancy.. is it OK?

Sorry if this has already been discussed here, but I've had a hard time finding this answer.  Everywhere I look says that aspartame is "technically" safe (in moderation) during pregnancy, but it's seriously the only thing I can drink right now! I've tried the lemon slices and the fruit juice in water, but they're not flavorful enough for me, and too much fruit juice makes me dump. I need my Crystal Light if I'm going to get my water in every day!  Can't drink milk, don't drink juice, my tap water is nasty (filtered is very good when I'm at home so I drink that when I can, but it gets so boring! and at work I use drinking fountain water and it NEEDS crystal light in it!)

(btw... my favorite is a mix of 1 stick CL peach iced tea + 1 stick CL peach-mango green tea in a 1 liter mug. OH MY YUM.) 

So I go through about 4 "sticks" a day. Is this too much? I think it is. My midwife wants me to break this habit. I'm worried about what I'm doing to my baby, but I just can't force myself to drink anything else.  How can I break this habit?  What do/did you drink during pregnancy?  Any good alternatives?

Thanks :)

Wow, I never even thought to question it. I drink it. And it never crossed my mind that it would be an issue. I am curious if anyone has any input on this.

It's a good question and one that doesn't have a clear cut answer. From my own research and the advice of my high-risk OB office, aspartame should be avoided as much as possible, if not completely. There aren't any conclusive studies about the use of artificial sweeteners during PG.


Plain water literally made me sick post-RNY, so I drank a lot of Crystal Light too. I have since switched to products sweetened with Splenda. My favs are 4C brand (they make great single-serve sticks) as well as Diet Ocean Spray white cranberry peach juice. Both are 5 cals or less and Splenda sweetened. I add a lot of ice so it dilutes naturally. My OB is fine with this. Still, I continue to try to introduce water in various plain forms. It doesn't set well but I'm hoping I'll eventually develop a tolerance LOL


Long answer short, I would go by your Dr's recommendations

Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy!

 I'm not pregnant, nor have I ever been...but I like to check this board to see success stories of all the moms after WLS. I am hoping to be one!
Anyway, my sister in law was told that any artificial sweetener is a no no and can be harmful to the baby. Have you ever heard of Truvia? It is an all natural sugar free sweetener. It is made from the stevia plant like splenda is, but no chemicals are added in processing. Anyway, it was just new to the shelves in like November or something and not all stores carry it, but you could find it on the internet. If I want something sweet I squeeze a half lemon, add 6-8 oz of water, and 2 packets of truvia. I throw them lemon in there and some ice and it's a great way to ge****er in. Just adjust the sugar and lemon to your taste or make a big pitcher of it and keep it in the fridge..

Good luck and congrats on your pregnancy!

Thanks Ladies :)

Sometimes plain water makes me sick too, but I've found that if I drink it at room temperature, I tolerate it better.

I've never heard of 4C brand, I will have to look for it. And I have tried the Ocean Spray SF mixes but so far haven't found a flavor I like that much (the cranberry flavor tastes like dirt -- and I do mean actual potting soil -- to me).  I wish there were more Splenda-sweetened drinks on the market, but I imagine I'd get a "stay away from Splenda during pregnancy" lecture if I asked about it too.  How about Stevia?  The one time I tried it post-op (and I was less than a year post-op at the time) it made me SOOOOO sick, that I'm afraid to try it again. I'm 6.5 years post-op now.

I will have to keep playing around with safer options as my pregnancy progresses. Thing is, I *know* what I should be drinking, but I can't seem to make myself drink them. Then I end up dehydrated.  So which is worse: dehydration, or 1 litre of CL per day?   boo-hoo :(  Some of the "good" things are just repulsive to me right now (I'm only 11 1/2 weeks) but I'm sure that will change in time.  So far I've managed to avoid a lot of "naughty" pregnancy cravings (although I just HAD to have some french fries a couple of weeks ago).  I do want to break this CL habit, even though I love it so much that it makes me sad to quit it.  Oh well, it's not the first time I've had to say goodbye to a food I love, right?

I hear you....I have always hated water...and I honestly hardly ever 'feel' thirsty...I have to set aside time each day to sit and FORCE myself to drink...with my husband nagging over my shoulder to get it down.  Heck...that's why I'm awake late every night...trying to finish my last 'jug' of the day.

I'd recommend getting a small package of the 4C and tasting it and see how you like it before stocking up...try the different flavors, etc....but if you decide to stock up...I can't remember where I ordered it, but I have a TON of 4C that I ordered online - in bulk - I think it was 500 'packets' for about $100.  Just google around and you'll find it.  I also have 2-4 a day.  I have a 1 1/2 liter jug that I put two in (I used to put three but have cut it back and am OK w/two).  I'm OK w/them...but to be honest...I prefer the on-the-goes made w/asparatame (CL, Wylers, store brand...whatever).  The 4C pink lemonade is more tart than the CL brand.  I don't mind a little tart...but don't want to pucker at those first few drinks of it.   I do drink the Splenda ones...but the asparatame brands tastes better. 

That said...being pregnant and doing what's best for your baby...if I were pregnant...I'd suck it up and drink the 4C ones exclusively if that's what your dr recommends. 

Geesh, everytime I turn around, I hear of something else I shouldn't be eating or drinking that I didn't know about. Hell, I may as well live on water and lettuce! Although It would have to be thouroughly filtered water and home grown lettuce that I washed with spring water only...... over and over.

I think I am going to give myself a headache with the list of things to eat and not eat. LOL

I have 6 weeks to go and guess I am just going to stick with what I have been doing. I figure with the amount of fried potatoes, M&M's, Big Macs, etc I ate with my pre-WLS pregnancies, I am doing pretty damn good the last 2 times.

I do find it so interesting how things change as years go on.

Best of luck to you and by all means, follow the advice of your midwife. The person taking care of you is the one with the most knowledge about you and your pregnancy!

Besides the controversy about aspartame, watch out for caffeine in the teas. 1 serving of raspberry iced tea has 10mg of caffeine. Here is an article on it.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_caffeine-during-pregnancy_3955.bc

Personally I don't drink aspartame or caffeine while pg...well maybe once a week or something if out. Shari

I've asked this question several times in different formats on different boards and never get a clear answer. 

Prior to pregnancy I'd drink 64 oz of undiluted CL --made from the mixes you put into a pitcher a day.  When I got pregnant a lot of people said "no artificial sweetners" which I just cannot do!!

Even when I use Splenda I use a lot of it.... like 10 packets in a cup of coffee or 4-5 packets in a cup of tea.... and I could drink 5 glasses of tea  day.  So is 25 packets of Splenda okay????  No one can tell me that..... 

I drink 1 or 2 cans of soda a day (aspartame sweetened).  I also drink Splenda sweetened iced herbal tea.....   I have snuck in some Crystal Light and even some Diet Tea on occasion. 

I hate water!  My high-risk OB and my OB both say drinking ANYHING (but alcohol) is better than not drinking.....and there are no proven studies against artificial sweetners (besides sacchrin). 

I wish I had a better answer for you! 

Cindy

Yikes! I drink a pitcher a day (8-8 ounces glasses with tons of ice) and I never even thought that it might be bad. It's the only way I will get all the liquid I need.