Guide To Drinking Non-Alcoholic Wine While Pregnant

So you’re pregnant and the mom guilt is starting already. Can I drink non-alcoholic wine while pregnant? Am I going to be a terrible mom? Does my unborn fetus deserve better?  No, you’re not a terrible person, and yes(!!) you can drink non-alcoholic wine while pregnant. 

Caveat… (DAMMIT!) it’s ok it’s not a big one, you just need to make sure the wine is dealcoholized and 100% alcohol free. There’s no trick. Just make sure the label states dealcoholized and/or alcohol free. 

Clear as mud? For example, Athletic Brewing is a “non-alcoholic brew” (and we’re not picking on Athletic it’s our absolute favorite NA beer…well that and Heineken 0.0…we’ll get to that one too). However, Athletic contains less than 0.5% ABV.

“Isn’t that low enough?” you might be asking. That’s not alcohol-free, is it?

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).

More women are inquiring about the safety of consuming non-alcoholic beer and other alcohol-free versions of alcoholic beverages while pregnant or nursing. We assume these drinks may be a “safer” substitute for traditional alcoholic beverages.

Hey, I’m Anne. I’m the co-founder of this blog and Sober Drink Shop and the writer of this article.

Drinking Non-Alcoholic Wine While Pregnant: What Studies Show

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. Here’s where we talk about 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. 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?

Short answer, yes. Your doctor knows you and may understand something about you that’s not in this article. Duh. Because after all, not a single woman’s body is the same as another. You knew this.

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

All non-alcoholic labels are not treated equally. 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

If the label states “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 steer clear beverages when pregnant if the label states “less than 0.5% ABV”, because the amount of alcohol in these products hasn’t been totally removed.

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:

1. Prima Pavé Rosé- This is hands down our favorite dealcoholized wine. We love it so much we carry it in our shop. Female founded- the idea for Prima Pavé came to Dejou Marano while she was pregnant with their first baby. Searching for an alcohol-free wine festive enough to toast this significant moment in her life, she realized there were few options offering sophistication, complexity and food-friendly flavors. She nailed it. We carry all three wines.
2. TÖST Non-Alcoholic Sparkling- TÖST was never a fermented wine to begin with. It’s a gorgeous, light porch or brunch sipper that has flavors of white tea. It’s absolutely lovely.
3. Leitz 0.0% Non-Alcoholic Chardonnay Wine
4. Stella Rosa Black Non-Alcoholic Wine
5. Thomson & Scott Noughty
6. VINADA Wines Chardonnay Sparkling Wine Non-Alcoholic Beverage
7. St. Regis Nosecco Non-Alcoholic Prosecco
8. NON 2 Caramelised Pear & Kombu

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 feel isolating. 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.

And for all you friends of pregnant individuals, you too will keep your glow and recall the entire evening.

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