Are Sweeteners dangerous during pregnancy

Answer 1

No artificial sweeteners, including sucralose (Splenda) have been proven safe. Not because they've all been proven unsafe - although some have (Aspartame, Saccharin) - but because pregnant women aren't generally amenable to being treated as guinea pigs, the testing population just doesn't exist - they test mice, etc., and theorize from those results. However, most pregnant women use sweeteners - even the bad stuff - with no ill effects. In the best scenario, you would stay away from processed food, including refined sugars - sugar does nothing but spike your insulin levels and cause inflammation - it can also increase your chances for gestational Diabetes. Nevertheless, when your hormones are surging, sometimes you just need a donut - so have one - your baby most likely will not come out with 6 arms if you do. I put back several and never had a problem. If you can forgo simple sugars - good for you - it's the first great mommy thing you can do for your little one. Also, eat lots of lean protein, green vegetables, fresh fruit and grains - and take folic acid - you cannot take too much folic acid so err on the cautionary side and take a lot- you pee out any excess on a daily basis, just like Vitamin C. Lack of folic acid can cause miscarriage and deformation and the first trimester is when it is important because that is when baby forms all the important stuff - after 1st rimester, it is just getting bigger but still don't scrimp on the folate until the baby is on the outside of you. Plus, half the population is missing a gene they discovered a few years back that compromises your body's ability to process Vitamin B and if you fall into that half - the USA rda of Vit B will not cut it for you - so take excessive folate supplements before pregnancy and throughout to be safe. Lack of folate can even interfere with insulin receptors, cause weight gain and heart disease in those over 35, and prevent pregnancy. Good luck!