Cooking With Wine While Pregnant

"What are your thoughts on the occasional glass of wine? I've heard conflicting stories. Is it okay to splurge once in a while, or is it better to play it safe?"

Unfortunately there's no research to support that an occasional glass of wine (or cocktail, or beer) is a safe bet when you're expecting — and ultimately, even a little wine while pregnant is just not worth the risk.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Surgeon General all recommend abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy, including the occasional glass of wine, altogether.

Why? Mostly because nobody knows what the safe limit is — and depending on all kinds of variables, that safe limit may vary from woman to woman and fetus to fetus.

True, in many European countries an occasional glass of wine during pregnancy, sipped with food during a meal, is accepted. But given all of the risks of drinking when you're expecting, it's best to avoid altogether. Although abstaining may seem like a high hurdle now, the next few dry months will fly by (and you will drink again!).

Looking for confirmation or more motivation to skip that glass of wine? Check with your practitioner.

Curious if you can still use wine and other types of alcohol in recipes that call for it? Refer to the chart below for how much alcohol remains after various bake or simmer times:

If you'd like an alternative to quench your thirst, try a pregnancy-safe mocktail. A few refreshing options — some of which have the added benefit of nausea-calming ginger:

Ginger mule: Mix together ginger beer, a few slices of cucumber and a squeeze of fresh lime juice and pour over ice.
Faux mojito: Combine club soda, lime juice, mint leaves and simple syrup together over ice.
Watermelon slushie: Mix watermelon, ice cubes and honey in a blender.
Fake champagne: Combine one part pineapple juice, two parts white grape and three parts ginger ale, to taste.

Best Pregnancy Mocktails

To your healthy pregnancy,

Heidi Murkoff

What to Expect When You're Expecting, 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff.

WhatToExpect.com, Alcohol During Pregnancy, May 2021.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Alcohol and Women, March 2020.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, November 2015.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Alcohol Use in Pregnancy, May 2021.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Notice to Readers: Surgeon General's Advisory on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy, 2005.