Time to read: 5 minutes
Pregnant women are advised to completely avoid alcohol. What about beverages without alcohol, though? How safe are they? And is there a chance the child could be at risk? Is drinking non-alcoholic wine while pregnant OK?
Three out of every four women who are trying to conceive drink alcohol, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As women assume these drinks may be a “safer” substitute for traditional alcoholic beverages, more and more women are inquiring about the safety of consuming non-alcoholic beer and other alcohol-free versions of alcoholic beverages while pregnant or nursing.
What Studies Say About Drinking Non-Alcoholic Wine While Pregnant
According to this study, these beverages may have higher ethanol concentrations than what is stated on their labels. Abstinence from non-alcoholic beverages would eliminate any danger of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder because there is no known safe threshold of alcohol use during pregnancy. Even though it’s likely that consuming non-alcoholic beverages in moderation won’t harm nursing infants, temporarily postponing breastfeeding after drinking them will prevent the baby from being exposed to alcohol.
The safety of drinking non-alcoholic beverages while pregnant has not been studied, yet some drinks may contain more ethanol than what is listed on the label.
Alcohol intake affects breastfed children differently than it does pregnant women. Still, it has been demonstrated that ethanol can be found in breast milk following non-alcoholic beer consumption.
No studies specifically assess the safety of non-alcoholic beverages during pregnancy at this time. However, some studies suggest that these drinks can have higher-than-expected ethanol concentrations. In one research study, 29% of the 45 beverages examined revealed ethanol levels higher than those stated on the label. In particular, several brands that advertised alcohol percentages of 0.0% had levels as high as 1.8%.
The medical significance of such findings has not yet been fully established because the degree of maternal and subsequent fetal exposures resulting from ingesting such levels has not been determined.
Nevertheless, these findings imply that pregnant women who drink non-alcoholic or low-alcohol beverages may be exposed to significant amounts of alcohol since some may have multiple drinks at once, with the mistaken notion that they are safe.
To completely eliminate any danger of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, full abstinence from these products is advised.
Non-Alcoholic Wine - How It’s Made And How It Can Affect You
Alcohol-free wine is a fantastic substitute for women who are trying to get pregnant, are nursing, or are pregnant. However, it’s normal to be wary of what you put in your body, so it’s important to consider how non-alcoholic wine is produced.
The procedure for creating non-alcoholic wine is quite similar to making wine, but with one significant exception: the wine’s alcohol level is eliminated at the end of production.
Distillation and filtering are the two primary methods winemakers use to remove the alcohol, distinguishing the winemaking process for non-alcoholic wine from juice or alcoholic wine. Although non-alcoholic wine goes through the winemaking process, the alcohol is eliminated to a 0.0% alcohol concentration, making it safe for consumption by expectant and nursing women.
Non-alcoholic wine differs from its alcoholic counterpart as it has various effects due to its special production process. Although it has the same wonderful flavor and texture as alcoholic wine, it is alcohol-free. Because of this, many women—and men—can benefit from wine’s cardiovascular health advantages without worrying about alcohol.
Red wine can cut cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease, and lessen the likelihood of a stroke, among other cardiovascular advantages. Non-alcoholic wine has the same advantages as alcoholic wine, but with no alcohol, which enhances the health benefits of the polyphenols in the wine. Therefore, non-alcoholic wine not only does not have the adverse effects of alcoholic wine during pregnancy, but it can even be beneficial for pregnant moms.
Should I Consult With My OB-GYN First Before Consuming Non-Alcoholic Wine?
According to Mayo Clinic, drinking alcoholic beverages while pregnant has a lot of negative effects on the developing fetus’s health.
- Preterm delivery
- Congenital abnormalities
- Low birth weight
- Developmental delays and long-term cognitive disabilities
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)
- Stillbirth (in severe cases)
It is always a good idea to speak with your healthcare provider since they can provide you with advice relevant to your circumstance.
Your healthcare professional can suggest other methods for quitting drinking and connect you with supportive resources.
The Three Types Of Labels On Non-Alcoholic Drinks
You must carefully read all labels to determine each beverage’s specific volume of alcohol. You should also speak with your doctor about how even very little amounts of alcohol may affect you while you are pregnant.
Non-alcoholic
If you’re attempting to avoid alcohol, you should pay close attention to this label since it is the most prevalent.
Beverages must have a 0.5% Alcohol By Volume (ABV) or lower to be categorized as “non-alcoholic.” The title may be deceptive for people unaware of this regulation because a half-percentage point is not the same as zero.
If a beverage is labeled “Non-Alcoholic” or “N/A,” carefully study the label to determine the ABV. Typically, it says, “Contains less than 0.5% alcohol by volume.”
Alcohol removed
These drinks begin as typical alcoholic drinks. At some point throughout the manufacturing process, the alcohol is removed from the product to make a non-alcoholic form, either through filtration or a chemical method.
You must check the ABV and attempt to steer clear of these beverages when pregnant because the amount of alcohol in these products can never be totally removed, and they may have more than 0.5% ABV, which starts to blur the boundary between non-alcoholic and alcoholic.
Alcohol-free
These drinks are occasionally referred to as “0.0%” drinks because there is no trace of alcohol in them. Although the amount is so minuscule that it doesn’t detect in lab testing, that doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t any alcohol in them.
The Best Non-Alcoholic Wines To Drink While Pregnant
Do you know that you can get non-alcoholic wines at Target? You’ll be happy to know that there are now dozens of non-alcoholic wines, beers, and spirits for you to enjoy so you don’t miss out on delicious tasting drinks on any occasion, whether you’re trying to conceive, pregnant, or breastfeeding. There are also non-alcoholic vegan wine selections you can choose from.
Here is a list of the best non-alcohol wines to drink while pregnant:
- Surely Cabernet Sauvignon Non-Alcoholic Wine
- TÖST Non-Alcoholic Sparkling
- Leitz 0.0% Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé Wine
- Thomson & Scott Noughty
- VINADA Wines Chardonnay Sparkling Wine Non-Alcoholic Beverage
- St. Regis Nosecco Non-Alcoholic Prosecco
- NON 2 Caramelised Pear & Kombu
- Stella Rosa Black Non-Alcoholic Wine
- Vignette Wine Country Sodas
- Surely Cabernet Sauvignon Non-Alcoholic Wine
Is It Okay To Consume Non-Alcoholic Wine When Pregnant?
Comparatively of course, non-alcoholic options are significantly healthier for you because health experts universally concur that couples should stop drinking alcohol, even when trying to conceive.
Most expectant parents view pregnancy as a time to celebrate. Therefore, being pregnant presents an opportunity to share that excitement with others and gather for a celebration. For everyone else, this meant unlimited drinking, but the pregnant woman was usually left to sip on juices, water, lemon, lime, and bitters. Those times have passed.
We frequently believe that we can’t socialize the same way when we aren’t drinking. This can be isolating and hostile. However, there is no reason why you can’t partake in the fun with the abundance of non-alcoholic options. So pour a glass of wine that isn’t alcoholic and toast with your buddies. You’ll keep your glow and recall the entire evening.
Drinking Non-Alcoholic Wine While Pregnant FAQs
Is it okay to consume non-alcoholic wine when pregnant? Yes, to answer briefly. Non-alcoholic options are significantly healthier for you because health experts universally concur that couples should stop drinking alcohol, even when trying to conceive.
Here are the best N/A wines to drink while pregnant:
- Luminara Napa Valley Alcohol-Removed Cabernet Sauvignon
- TÖST Non-Alcoholic Sparkling
- Gruvi Non-Alcoholic Bubbly Sparkling Rosé
- Thomson & Scott Noughty
- Pierre Zēro Alcohol-Free Chardonnay
- St. Regis Nosecco Non-Alcoholic Prosecco
- NON 2 Caramelised Pear & Kombu
- Stella Rosa Black Non-Alcoholic Wine
- Vignette Wine Country Sodas
- Luminara Napa Valley Alcohol-Removed Cabernet Sauvignon
Heineken 0.0 is a non-alcoholic beer because it has less than 0.03% alcohol by volume. Concerning driving, pregnancy, or medical treatments that are sensitive to alcohol, this amount has no effect on the body and is perfectly acceptable.
Even if a non-alcoholic beverage won’t necessarily provide you with the same tranquility as a fine glass of cabernet, it’s still a pleasant way to unwind after a long day. Additionally, it’s a wonderful way to mark significant and ordinary occasions and feel included while spending the evening with friends or family.
Here are some great non-alcoholic drinks to try, ranging from sparkling wines to beers to liquors, for pregnant women or anyone trying to lighten up on booze.
- Ghia Non-Alcoholic Aperitif
- Olipop Strawberry Vanilla Sparkling Tonic
- Athletic Brewing Company Upside Dawn Golden Ale
- Bravus Non-Alcoholic Raspberry Gose
- Töst Singles Sparkling Wine
