Stevia during pregnancy?

I bought some soda today that is sweetened with stevia and erythritol instead of artificial sweeteners. The idea was to find something I will be able to drink while pregnant (I find it MUCH easier to swallow vitamins with soda than with a non-carbonated beverage, and I have never liked flavored seltzer waters). I'm trying to ditch my Diet Pepsi habit.

I was at a friend's baby shower today, and the girl sitting next to me said that her OB said no stevia during pregnancy. I verified on the FDA website that the FDA has approved it as safe for general consumption, and I have to imagine it's safer than chemical artificial sweeteners (aspartame, saccharine, Splenda, etc.).

Using the real deal (sugar, honey, molasses, etc.) is a bad idea for me since I'm a type 2 diabetic. I've never cared for Splenda because, for me, it leaves a sort of icky lemony aftertaste.

Thoughts?

I have read that stevia affects hormones and is not recommended for those trying to conceive.  However, I have no idea how much stevia you'd have to consume to have an effect on hormones and I'm not sure how much it's been studied.  Pregnancy is a high-hormone time, according to my OB, and eating stuff like soy is a drop in the bucket, she said, so I *imagine* stevia might be the same.  I think you have to read up a bit and then decide if you think any risks of stevia are worth it.  FDA says it's fine.

Oh, I've read up a bit! Studies with rats and hamsters, but not so much with people, plus different studies use different parts of the stevia plant, not necessarily just the rebiana. *sigh* as with just about everything I've questioned about safety during pregnancy, there seems to be no clear right or wrong answer. Awesome  :P

hey! you pregnant? 

Nono...not yet! We will start trying in a few months  :)

work, work, work....