If you’re pregnant, there are a few drinks you should avoid. These include energy drinks and soda, which contain caffeine. Green tea is safe to drink while pregnant. However, avoid soft-serve ice cream, as it contains higher levels of listeria. Alcohol should also be avoided during pregnancy, as it can harm your unborn baby.

Additionally, drinking beverages with high amounts of caffeine can increase your chances of having a difficult or low birth weight baby.

What drinks to avoid while pregnant simply boils down to common sense. While the rules on foods to avoid while pregnant can seem confusing, there are just a few important takeaways to keep you and your baby safe from harm.

Caffeine is safe during pregnancy

Caffeine is safe during pregnancy, as long as the dose is kept to a minimum. The ACOG recommends that women should consume no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine daily. This limit includes coffee, energy drinks, and tea. Coffee drinkers should also watch for other ingredients in their coffee, such as sugar and artificial sweeteners, which can have negative effects on the unborn baby.

Energy drinks

Energy drinks are known to contain large amounts of sugar. A single 8 -ounce can of energy drink contains about 150-300 milligrams of sugar. This is more than the maximum recommended amount for a single drink. Drinking a diet high in sugar can increase the risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, and may also cause birth differences.

Soda

It is safe to drink soda while you are pregnant, as long as you drink a small amount. However, it is important to avoid caffeine, which has been linked to a decreased fecundity in pregnant women. The Food Standards Australia recommends a daily limit of 200 milligrams of caffeine for a woman to consume.

Green tea

While drinking green tea can be beneficial for the mother-to-be, it is important to monitor your caffeine intake during your pregnancy. The caffeine found in green tea can lower your absorption of folic acid, a crucial nutrient for neural tube development in the fetus. The caffeine in green tea can also cause indigestion and heartburn.

Unpasteurized milk

Despite its name, unpasteurized milk is not a safe drink for pregnant women. It is contaminated with bacteria and microbes that can be harmful to the mother and unborn baby. Pasteurized milk has undergone a highly effective process to kill these microbes. However, raw milk still contains bacteria and should be avoided by pregnant women. It can also lead to listeriosis, which is a serious infection that can kill a pregnant woman and her unborn child.

Soft-serve ice-cream

Drinking soft-serve ice cream while pregnant can be dangerous for the unborn child. It increases the levels of blood sugar, and it increases the risk of gestational diabetes. Sorbets, frozen yogurt, and sorbets are safe to consume during pregnancy, but don’t drink ice cream from fast-food restaurants or McDonald’s.

Fish

It may be tempting to consume fish drinks while pregnant, but these beverages can pose some health risks. For one thing, raw fish contains dangerous bacteria, which can cross the placenta and affect the developing foetus. According to the FDA, it is not safe to consume raw fish during pregnancy.

All in all, for mothers-to-be looking to eat healthy during pregnancy, the message is clear. Exercise caution and stay safe by keeping your food as clean as possible. If you are unsure as to whether or not a food is safe to eat, call your healthcare provider. She will be best able to assess your diet and advise on future eating plans.