Breast-feeding & Diet Soda

In addition to wondering how to get the baby to latch, how long to feed and choosing which way to hold their baby, many new moms may also find themselves wondering about their diet. It is well known that some of what a new mother eats makes its way into her milk supply. As a result, there are certain foods, herbs and beverages that should be consumed with caution, including diet soda.

Diet Soda with Aspartame (NutraSweet)

Diet soda with aspartame, a low calorie artificial sweetener, is safe to drink while breast-feeding, as aspartame is rapidly broken down in the body after ingestion. Dr. Thomas Hale, author of "Medications and Mother's Milk," says even in doses three to four times higher than what would normally be ingested, "the milk levels are too low to produce significant side effects in normal infants." A person would have to consume the equivalent of 17 cans of soda before an increase in the amount of aspartame could even be detected.

Diet Soda with Saccharin (Sweet'N Low)

A sweetening agent with no nutritional value, saccharin is approximately 300 times sweeter than sucrose. According to Sweet'N Low, a New York-based artificial sweetener manufacturer, saccharin has an established safety record that indicates it is safe for consumption during breast-feeding.

Diet Soda with Sucralose (Splenda)

The American Pregnancy Association says that sucralose, a non-caloric sweetener made from sugar, is certified by the Food and Drug Administration as being safe for everyone to consume, including pregnant and lactating women. The reason behind this appears to be that sucralose is poorly absorbed by the body after consumption, making it unlikely that it will have any effect on a woman's milk supply.

Diet Soda with Aspartame and PKU (Phenylktonuria)

In situations where either a mother or a baby has PKU or Phenylktonuria, an inherited metabolic disorder that is detected shortly after birth, it is best to avoid consuming diet sodas sweetened with aspartame. Aspartame contains phenylalanine, an amino acid that babies born with PKU are not able to break down. The enzyme that normally breaks down the phenylanine is completely or nearly deficient, leading to a build up of the amino acid in the blood and body tissues.

Diet Soda and Caffeine Levels

Although the occasional glass or can of diet soda will have no noticeable effect on your milk supply, as with any caffeinated beverage during breast-feeding it is always best to drink it in moderation. Try to wait at least one hour to breast-feed as the caffeine peaks in your milk supply at the one-hour mark. Mothers of premature babies and newborns (under 3 months) should be extra cautious as their systems take longer to break down foreign substances. Consider limiting your caffeine intake to one or two cups a day, make sure to always drink eight glasses of water a day and, as with all diet choices, consult a physician.