diet products and breastfeeding

I exclusively breastfed my two older girls for 3 and 4 months each and drank no diet products during this time- diet coke, diet tea and crystal light are my favorites. However, after recovering from a c-section, I really wondered how bad the saccharin in these products could be for the babies since I took pain killers and other medications due to the surgery. What is your opinion on this topic? Was I just over the top with the first two kids??? VIcki

 

I believe these products have aspartame not saccharine --

My belief in everything with breastfeeding (providing it's not unsafe) is it's ok in Moderation.

that means one can of diet coke a day should be fine... but I wouldn't drink tons.

Keep in mind that diet coke and tea are diuretics -- so early on these can really affect your milk supply -- for the worse. I'd get used to drinking tons of water instead and then you can have a diet coke as a treat. I didn't go back to my carbonation fascination until 8 mos in. Until then I got used to sparkling water with cranberry.

Good luck

Teri D

 

I do drink diet sodas... but rarely. I try to avoid most of those things while nursing... but you have a point they really pump you full of drugs after a csection so a diet pop once in awhile shouldnt be bad. Visit us over in the BF forum!

One more thing. My lactation consultant said that diet pop is actually bad for the mother because is sucks the calcium outta your bones... the last thing you need during nursing!

 

I allow myself one Diet Coke a day -- I don't drink coffee, so I need *something* LOL.

Also, I drink the kind with Splenda instead of Nutrasweet -- I don't know how much comes out in breast milk, but I remember reading that it doesn't cross the placenta, so I also drank that kind during pregnancy.

 

OK, I guess I'm a bad mom, because it never even crossed my mind not to drink diet drinks, or crystal light, or those things. Hmmm, I hope I didn't harm any of my babies (but there are so many bad things, I think they're in for it no matter what I do LOL).

 

Ooppps...sorry you already do go to the Bf forum.. duh. I dont always look to see who is posting!! (bad me!) But now that I look I realized who ya are. Sorry I guess I just thought this post shoulda been somewhere else!! hehe

 

QUOTE(HRE @ Jul 7 2007, 10:23 PM) [snapback]321133[/snapback]
OK, I guess I'm a bad mom, because it never even crossed my mind not to drink diet drinks, or crystal light, or those things. Hmmm, I hope I didn't harm any of my babies (but there are so many bad things, I think they're in for it no matter what I do LOL).


This is so true. It is so hard, and there are bad things everywhere. As sad as that is, it is true, so if that diet pop a day or whatever is really something you want, then I think that there are a lot worse things you could be doing, and there are things that are unavoidable to be exposed to that probably cause more damage than diet pop "might". You just never really can know...I think it is okay!

 

I'm with the Jack Newman school of breastfeeding philosphy -most things are safe while breastfeeding (even most meds and occasionally a glass of wine or beer). Breastfeeding shouldn't get in the way of the things you want to eat, drink, and do, and the more relaxed about it you are, the more you'll enjoy breastfeeding and not be anxious for it to end.

And yes, the prescription painkillers you took for your c-section are far, far worse than the occasional diet soda (but even those are still fine for your babies, otherwise they wouldn't have been prescribed for you).

With my first, I did go a little bit over the top, but I nursed for 2 years and eventually had to loosen up and live life! With these twins, I am really enjoying not being paranoid about everything I consume (from coffee, to diet drinks, to peanut butter).