Splenda / sweetners

Every morning I start my day with Quaker maple & brown sugar oatmeal - thinking it is a great healthy start, lots of nutrients and I even buy the low sugar version. After eating this for about 7 months now nearly every day - I read it is low sugar bc it is made with Splenda. I thought I read not to have artificial sweetner - so now I am concerned I have been doing harm this whole time.

Anyone know anything on this front? I am irritated b/c I gave up all sweetners for decaf coffee and have been so good - I wish they would be market this stuff! I can also ask my DR this week.

[Jem75]

ok - maybe not to worry - just found this:

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/artificialsweetner.htm

And This is from their site:

Can women who are pregnant or nursing use SPLENDA® or products with SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener?

Yes. The FDA has approved the use of sucralose (or SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener) for the general population and imposed no restrictions on its consumption by pregnant women and nursing mothers. SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener may be used as part of a healthy prenatal and postnatal diet.

[AmyC311]

I think Splenda is better than the others....the sweet and lows and equals and the fake sugars in diet drinks are the bad ones I believe. I stay away from all of it though. I am pretty sure that you haven't hurt your baby with Splenda because Splenda is suppose to be from Sugar and not just purely chemical. I would bet the bowl of oatmeal a day was more beneficial than harmful since I doubt the amount of Splenda was huge in porportion.

I think all the stuff we read on what to avoid is more to tell us to avoid "abusing" something or excessive use. In my first trimester I drank and craved real coca cola...so I drank it. I didn't drink gallons or liters of it but I would get lightheaded from being so sick and it seemed to help. (Now I can't drink it at all because it is so sweet...blah.)

I guess my point is is that you more than likely haven't done any harm to your baby and while I know you will still freak out about it (as all new moms do) try not to be hard on yourself. Just check the ingredients more thoroughly next time anything says "low sugar" or "sugar free" since they more than likely are using something in there to make it sweet.

[evthing4reason]

its ok in moderation. there is one sweetner to avoid, its a new one that's supose to be all natural scyhlerin ( i know that's not spelled right) also my info at the hospital said no sweet n low....but sweet n low is also a brand name which makes things with other sweetneres that are ok so it an be confusing

[justice6920]

I think Amy is right..... It probably has done more good than harm (if any harm at all) I am sure baby is just fine.... and Heck the FDA did say it was ok for pregnant women to have splenda! I am sure baby is just fine and no harm done!