Can I drink sparkling water while pregnant: Debunking myths and understanding side effects

Proper nutrition during pregnancy is crucial for supporting your and your baby’s health. That’s why it’s natural to have questions about certain products or drinks and their safety, and one of the most frequent questions is: Can I drink sparkling water while pregnant?

Generally, plain sparkling water is considered safe for pregnant women. Consuming it can give you benefits like increased hydration, digestive support, and nausea relief. On the other hand, if you have individual sensitivity, consumption of carbonated beverages can have side effects like bloating, heartburn, acid reflux, increased blood pressure, swelling, and dental erosion.

When it comes to flavored sparkling water, it can also be safe. However, it’s important to read labels and keep an eye on any additives that might be harmful to pregnant women.

{{button}}

When you’re pregnant, your nutrition becomes more important than ever. At this stage of your life, the foods and drinks you consume don’t just give you energy as they normally do. They also provide essential nutrients for your baby and support your health during pregnancy. Thus, it’s absolutely natural to wonder what you can and can’t consume, especially if this is your first pregnancy.

Among many questions related to nutrition in pregnancy, many women are asking themselves: Can I drink sparkling water while pregnant? In this article, we’ll evaluate the safety, benefits, and possible side effects of sparkling water based on existing knowledge to help you answer this question.

What Is Sparkling Water and Its Main Types?

Sparkling water is water with a distinctive bubbly feel. The fizzy texture of this water is created in the process called “carbonation.” In this process, pressurized carbon dioxide (CO 2) is added to purified water. This dissolved gas is exactly what creates the bubbles in sparkling water.

This type of water commonly comes in the following forms:

• Natural sparkling mineral water – A beverage that consists of only plain water and carbon dioxide, and is made through a natural geological process of carbonation.
• Club soda – An artificially carbonated beverage that has added minerals in its content and stands out thanks to its salty and tangy taste. It can contain sodium chloride, potassium sulfate, and sodium bicarbonate apart from carbon dioxide.
• Seltzer – An artificially carbonated beverage made by adding carbon dioxide to plain water. Although it has a slightly different taste compared to natural sparkling mineral water, it’s usually just called sparkling or mineral water.
• Flavored sparkling waters – Any kind of carbonated beverage with added flavors. It can be infused with both artificial and natural flavors. Often, it also contains sugars, sweeteners, and artificial colors.

Is Sparkling Water Safe for Pregnancy?

Now that you know what classifies sparkling water, the main question is: Can pregnant women drink sparkling water?

The short answer is “yes.” Sparkling water is generally considered safe for pregnant women. However, this statement relates mainly to plain sparkling water that doesn’t contain any additives, such as sugar or artificial flavors.

It’s important to note that any kind of fizzy drinks should be consumed moderately. Even if we’re talking about plain sparkling water, consuming too much of it can cause adverse side effects based on individual sensitivities. 

Potential Sparkling Water Pregnancy Benefits

Apart from being generally considered safe, sparkling water can even be beneficial to pregnant women. The possible benefits include:

• Better hydration – Dehydration in pregnancy can cause discomfort and create significant risks for the baby. Furthermore, it’s crucial that pregnant women consume more water than non-pregnant women to support the healthy development of the baby. If you feel like still water is unappealing, sparkling water can become a good alternative to keep you hydrated.
• Digestive support – Some studies show that moderate consumption of sparkling water can support digestive health. In particular, it can improve the process of gastric emptying and reduce constipation, which is a common issue in pregnancy.
• Nausea relief – If you’re still experiencing sickness and nausea due to pregnancy, carbonated beverages are among the top products that can help relieve morning sickness. Sparkling water works by reducing stomach acidity, which makes nausea ease.

Possible Side Effects and Risks

Despite the benefits, consuming sparkling water during pregnancy can also have some side effects, such as:

• Bloating – In moderate amounts, carbonated water is known to support digestion. However, it can have the opposite effect in some individuals and cause digestive discomfort. Carbon dioxide contained in this water can get trapped in the stomach, making excess gas build up and causing bloating. People who have digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, and similar conditions may be more sensitive to this.
• Heartburn or acid reflux – These two symptoms are rather common in pregnancy. Sparkling water can worsen them because of adding pressure in the stomach, which can potentially push up stomach acid. Thus, if you have issues with acid reflux or heartburn, you may want to avoid carbonated beverages.
• Blood pressure and swelling – Some types of sparkling water (such as club soda) are much higher in sodium than others. Excessive sodium consumption can increase your blood pressure and cause excessive swelling.
• Dental erosion – Drinks with low pH are more acidic and can erode tooth enamel. Since the overall dental health during pregnancy is weaker than when you’re not pregnant, some women may want to avoid sparkling water to maintain teeth health.

Most often, side effects appear because of individual sensitivities and may not be visible in all pregnant women who drink carbonated water. So, if you decide to drink sparkling water during pregnancy, it’s important to monitor your body’s reaction and stop consumption if you notice any discomfort or adverse effects.

Flavored Sparkling Water Pregnancy

As was mentioned earlier, plain sparkling water is generally considered safe during pregnancy. However, when it comes to flavored fizzy drinks, there might be additional considerations to keep in mind.

If you want to have flavored sparkling water, it’s always recommended to analyze the ingredients. This is crucial because flavored beverages might contain additives that might not be fully safe for pregnant women. In particular, you should watch out for the following:

• Sugar – In small amounts, sugar consumption shouldn’t affect you or your baby. However, if you consume sugary drinks frequently or in large amounts, it can make it harder to control your daily sugar intake. And excessive sugar intake can lead to a range of complications, including excessive gestational weight gain and gestational diabetes. This is especially important to consider if you have a predisposition for developing diabetes in pregnancy, for example, because of an underlying health condition like PCOS.
• Artificial sweeteners – Diet fizzy drinks that contain artificial sweeteners instead of sugar don’t increase your daily sugar intake or stimulate excessive weight gain. However, not all types of sweeteners are considered fully safe for pregnant women. According to the American Pregnancy Association, stevia, sucralose, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium are safe if consumed in moderation, whereas saccharin and cyclamate are not safe and should be avoided.
• Caffeine – Some flavored sparkling waters may also contain added caffeine. According to studies, caffeine doses of 300 mg per day or less don’t increase the risk of pregnancy complications. As for higher doses, there is still insufficient research and information on them, which is why it’s generally recommended to limit caffeine intake to a safe daily dose. Thus, it’s important to be careful with products that contain added caffeine so that you do not overconsume it.

FAQ

Can I drink sparkling water while pregnant?

Generally, yes. There is no evidence to state that plain sparkling water is unsafe for pregnant women, especially if consumed in moderation. Flavored sparkling water might also be safe in moderation and if you analyze labels before consumption. Remember the recommendations on optimal sugar and caffeine intake.

How to consume sparkling water in the safest way during pregnancy?

There are a few simple pieces of advice for maximum safety and comfort. Firstly, don’t overconsume it. Alternate between plain and sparkling water for optimal hydration. Secondly, read labels and choose natural options with no additives that can harm you. Also, keep an eye on the possible side effects and stop consuming sparkling water if you notice any discomfort. And don’t hesitate to talk to your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

What is the best water to drink while pregnant?

Generally, plain water is the best choice that keeps you hydrated and doesn’t contain any calories or additives that might harm you. To add a bit of flavor, you can infuse plain water with fruits, vegetables, and safe herbs. As for sparkling water, your best choice is a naturally flavored water with no added sugar and low/no sodium. If you want to treat yourself to something flavored once in a while, choose sugar-free sparkling water that uses natural flavoring and pregnancy-safe sweeteners. For example, ginger ale could be a good option. Natural ginger ale pregnancy might be particularly helpful with nausea.

Conclusion

So, can I drink sparkling water while pregnant? As you now know, there is no prohibition on drinking sparkling water during pregnancy, especially if we’re talking about plain carbonated water with no additives. Flavored water might also be safe. However, it’s important to adopt label-checking habits and carefully analyze ingredients before consumption. This will help you ensure that you don’t overconsume compounds that might be harmful to you, such as sugar or caffeine.

Still, it’s important to remember the possible side effects of carbonated beverages. Keep an eye on your body’s reaction to notice any adverse effects and adjust your diet accordingly.

{{pink-banner}}