Consumption of sugary drinks and foods during pregnancy is okay, but must be limited. The reason is, consuming too many sweet drinks and foods during pregnancy can be harmful to health mother and fetus.
About 40% of women crave sugary drinks and foods once they are pregnant. This is actually a natural thing. However, when you are craving sweets, pregnant women should not be complacent and always obey this desire constantly.
What pregnant women consume will affect the health of pregnant women and their fetuses, even in the long term. Research shows that consuming excess sugar during pregnancy can increase the risk of obesity and pregnancy complications.
The Dangers of Too Often Consuming Sweet Drinks and Foods
The dangers of excessive consumption of sugary drinks and foods during pregnancy are various, including:
1. Obesity
Research shows that consuming excess sugar during pregnancy can increase the risk of obesity. If there is excess weight gain or obesity during pregnancy, pregnant women are at higher risk of pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia.
Not only that, children of mothers who are obese during pregnancy are even at risk for birth defects, difficult to be born because they are large, suffer from asthma, and experience growth disorders.
2. Gestational diabetes
Excess sugar consumption during pregnancy can increase the risk of gestational diabetes. Diabetes during pregnancy cannot be underestimated because it can cause various kinds of complications, ranging from preeclampsia, premature babies, to babies dying in the womb.
3. Preeclampsia
Although research is still limited, some evidence suggests that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soda or packaged soft drinks, during pregnancy may increase the risk of developing preeclampsia. This risk will also increase if pregnant women suffer from obesity.
4. Premature birth
The danger of excessive consumption of sugary drinks and foods during pregnancy is an increased risk of premature birth. In fact, a study revealed that consuming 1 serving of sugary soft drinks while pregnant can increase the risk of preterm birth by as much as 25%.
5. Poor cognitive skills
The detrimental impact of consuming sugary drinks and foods on the fetus does not only occur during pregnancy. It is known that this habit can have an impact on the development of the Little One's brain after he is born and grows up.
Research shows that women who eat high-sugar foods and drinks during pregnancy are at higher risk of having children with below-average cognitive abilities, such as problem solving and speech comprehension.
The impact of consuming sugary foods and drinks during pregnancy in excess can be detrimental to mothers and children, even in the long term. Therefore, pregnant women must control their sugar intake during pregnancy.
Pregnant women are advised to eat healthy foods and exercise regularly so that their health is maintained. In addition, don't forget to regularly check your pregnancy with your obstetrician, so that pregnant women's health and fetal development can continue to be monitored.
