Drinks to avoid during pregnancy

Get ready to shun some of your favourites aperitifs, as our expert tells you what drinks to avoid during pregnancy

Drinks to Avoid During Pregnancy

There are many dos and don’ts during pregnancy. Restrictions on food and drink are probably the toughest to take on board. Unfortunately, harmful drinks for pregnant women can sometimes be overlooked.

Cutting out your favourite beverages may sound no fun, but it is with good reason. They can be dangerous for you and your baby. Our expert, Clinical Nutritionist Seema Singh of Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, Delhi, tells us what drinks are a complete no-no and what can be had in moderation during pregnancy.

Alcohol

Women are warned not to drink alcohol for good reason as alcohol passes straight into your baby’s body and can damage brain and organ development. All forms of alcohol, not just hard liquors, can contribute to the risks, including beers, ciders and coolers.

Raw egg fortified beverages

Drinks containing raw eggs that are not cooked well are an absolute no for pregnant ladies! Raw or undercooked eggs can carry harmful organisms such as E.Coli and Salmonella, which can lead to an intestinal infection. If you absolutely must, then please go a-hunting for pasteurised eggs to use.

Soft drinks/Diet sodas

There are many reasons why you should cut down on those soft drinks when you’re pregnant. Firstly, soft drinks contain caffeine. Additionally, drinking soda is really bad for your teeth.

During pregnancy, your teeth are more vulnerable to tooth decay because of hormonal changes and increased acidity in the mouth, especially if you experience vomiting or heartburn. In short, no sugary sodas. Don't want gestational diabetes, do we?

If you thought diet soda solves the problem, nothing could be further from the truth. Studies have found that those consuming artificially sweetened diet soft drinks gave birth prematurely more often.

Unpasteurised milk/Raw Juices

When buying fresh milk, it’s important to ensure that it is pasteurised to prevent foodborne bacteria such as E.Coli, Salmonella and Listeria. Pregnancy lowers the immunity of the immune system, making food poisoning worse and potentially more damaging. In the case of fresh juices, it might be a good idea to skip the local nice vendor and stir up something in your kitchen instead.

Tea/Coffee

Too much caffeine can cause a miscarriage or cause babies to have a low birth weight. So limit caffeine to up to 200 milligrams (mg) a day. Did you know that if you guzzle 2.5 cups of Espresso in a day, that caffeine limit is hit?

Canned drinks

Contain your caffeine intake by refusing all canned drinks. Not just caffeinated, these are also high on saccharine. For a safe pregnancy, let's just avoid these completely.

If you know of any more drinks to avoid during pregnancy, share it with fellow moms-to-be in the Comment box below.

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