Got a Diet Coke habit? You may want to kick it to the curb, caffeine-free, or not.

A new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) suggests that women who drink artificially-sweetened carbonated beverages on a daily basis run a greater risk for preterm delivery, and the higher the intake, the greater the risk. While the authors say that further studies are needed to confirm their findings, the study is certainly food for thought.

Pre-term birth occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy. An estimated one in eight babies in the US are born before their time. Pre-term birth is risky because of health risks to the baby and possibly, death. Read more about pre-term birth here.

There was no association between sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages and pre-term birth in the AJCN study. That doesn’t mean you should switch to regular carbonated drinks, however. They are full of sugar and not much else, and do little to promote your health or your baby’s well-being.

Ditch the diet soda and drink three glasses of low-fat milk every day instead. You’ll get the calcium, vitamin D, protein, and other nutrients that you and your baby need.

Have you seen my other blog at USATODAY.com?  It features tips for feeding your family healthy foods, and offers a weekly recipe that I prepare with my children as part of Cooking With My Kids.