Skip to main content

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Real talk: How much wine can you safely drink while pregnant? (We’re surprised)

Is alcohol safe to drink while pregnant? Read this to get more info

Young couple raising a toast with announcement of pregnancy to family during outside family lunch
Westend61 / Getty Images

Pregnancy is exciting, but it can also be a bit overwhelming, especially if it’s your first pregnancy. Pregnant women are inundated with “advice” from everyone including friends, family, and even well-meaning strangers. They tell them what they can and can’t eat, how often they should exercise, and whether it’s safe to drink any alcohol at all.

Those who enjoy the occasional glass of wine in the evenings or like to order a cocktail when out to dinner may find themselves wondering how much (if any) wine they can drink while pregnant. Is there a safe amount to drink at certain stages of their pregnancy, or should they simply become teetotalers until the baby is born?

Many suffer anxiety if they had wine before they found out they were pregnant, wondering if it could cause any harm to their unborn baby. Unfortunately, there isn’t one straightforward answer when it comes to how much wine you can drink while pregnant, but there is a lot of information out there to help you make an informed decision.

Pregnant woman on a bed
Ground Picture / Shutterstock

Can I have a glass of wine when pregnant?

Well, that depends on who you ask. Everyone knows that binge drinking and heavy drinking while pregnant can cause serious, long-term issues for the baby, but what about the occasional glass of wine over the holidays, during an evening out, or simply after a long day?

According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Pregnancy Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, alcohol just isn’t safe to consume while pregnant. “There is no safe way in which to drink wine or other alcohol while pregnant,” explained Daniel Roshan, MD, a New York City-based leading board-certified high-risk maternal-fetal OBGYN, to Very Well Family. “Alcohol is a known teratogen and cannot be considered safe for consumption during pregnancy in any amount.”

Pregnant woman holding glass of red wine
Tetra Images / Getty Images

How many glasses of wine can you have while pregnant?

However, The Independent reported on a study out of the UK that found pregnant women could consume up to two glasses of wine per week without causing harm to their unborn baby. The study found that women who drank up to two glasses of wine per week were at an average of 8% higher risk of giving birth to a slightly smaller baby but that there was “limited evidence for a causal role of light drinking in pregnancy, compared with abstaining, on most of the outcomes examined.”

Drinking wine while pregnant
Sven Hansche / Shutterstock

Will one glass of wine hurt my baby?

Most experts agree that there simply isn’t a “safe” amount of alcohol a woman can drink while pregnant. According to American Addiction Centers, exposure to alcohol during pregnancy can be linked to any of the following:

  • Preterm delivery
  • Miscarriage
  • School birth
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
  • Birth defects resulting in cardiac, skeletal, skin, renal, and other urogenital abnormalities
  • Low birth weight
  • Postnatal growth retardation
  • Cognitive, neurological, and behavioral disorders
  • Craniofacial dysmorphia
  • Reduced IQ
  • Learning difficulties

“If you choose to continue drinking alcohol while pregnant, your baby is at high risk for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders which can range from mild to severe craniofacial malformation, preterm delivery, or spontaneous abortion as well as neurodevelopmental delays and behavioral issues,” Dr. Roshan cautioned.

“Drinking alcohol in the first three months of pregnancy can cause the baby to have abnormal facial features,” Harland Adkins, a registered dietitian nutritionist, and healthcare professional explained to Very Well Family while adding that drinking alcohol at any point during pregnancy can be harmful. “Growth and central nervous system problems like low birth weight and behavioral problems can occur from drinking alcohol anytime during pregnancy.”

Family at the dinner table
Cottonbro Studio / Pexels

What if you drank before you realized you were pregnant?

There are many women who find themselves in a panic realizing they have been drinking before they discovered they were pregnant. While that can be a stressful moment for many expectant moms, experts tend to agree that for the most part, as long as a pregnant woman abstains from alcohol once they discover the pregnancy there should be no cause for concern, although you will want to inform your doctor. As per the CDC, “because brain growth takes place throughout pregnancy, stopping alcohol use will improve the baby’s health and well-being.”

A pregnant woman holding her belly and a glass of water.
Cottonbro Studio / Pexels

Can I have a glass of wine at 40 weeks pregnant?

You’ve made it to the end of a long pregnancy and you’re eager to finally meet your baby. And although it can be tempting to indulge in a glass of wine to relax, experts still note that there is no “safe” time to drink alcohol while pregnant. Some old wives’ tales used to propose a glass of wine to encourage labor, suggesting that by relaxing you will allow your labor to progress, but experts actually warn that having a glass of wine can have the opposite effect.

Mom breastfeeding newborn in bed.
Nina Buday / Shutterstock

Can I have a glass of wine while breastfeeding?

Many people are excited to have that first glass of wine after welcoming their baby, but what happens if you’re breastfeeding? Unfortunately, just like with drinking while pregnant, experts agree there is no safe amount to drink while breastfeeding. The Mayo Clinic notes that while your baby is only exposed to a small amount of the alcohol you may consume, babies eliminate alcohol at a much slower rate than adults. There is no safe amount of alcohol you can consume while breastfeeding. However, if you time things well or are supplementing with pre-pumped breastmilk or formula, you can still enjoy a drink. They simply advise to wait for the alcohol to clear your breast milk before feeding your baby.

The general consensus among most experts is that more research needs to be done on the fetal effects of mild to moderate drinking during pregnancy. Until then, most health professionals recommend that pregnant women abstain from alcohol completely, noting that there is no safe amount of alcohol to consume while pregnant. Women must be given the opportunity to make their own decisions regarding what they choose to drink and should always consult their own doctor or medical professional to understand the risks associated with alcohol consumption while pregnant so they can make their own educated decisions.

Editors' Recommendations

Kelli Catana
Contributor
Kelli is a freelance writer who has covered the world of entertainment, pop culture, parenting, and lifestyle for various…
A missed period doesn’t automatically mean you’re pregnant, but here’s what could be going on
Have a missed period but not pregnant? There are other reasons for changes in your cycle to know about
A woman smiling into the camera

If you are in your childbearing years and miss a period, your first thought is wondering if you could be pregnant. That's not always the case. There are other reasons for a missed period to be aware of, so don't automatically jump to buy a pregnancy test. Know you're not pregnant? Go through this list of other possibilities for the skip.
You are stressed
Missed period, but not pregnant? Have you been stressed lately? Stress does weird things to your body. For women, it causes an imbalance of hormones which can affect your period. Constant stress messes with your hypothalamus, which regulates your period. Long-term stress could lead to illnesses and a change in weight, which would also cause you to skip periods or stop them altogether. Find ways to regulate yourself, such as meditation, exercise, reading, or other hobbies that relax and calm you down.
Severe weight change
Speaking of a change in weight caused by stress, a drop in weight could cause skipped periods. When your body fat is too low, your body won't produce the hormones to have a period. Once your body fat is at a normal level, your periods will become regular again.

It works the other way, as well. If you gain a considerable amount of weight in a short time, you produce too much estrogen, which results in irregular periods. If you're on a journey to change your weight, make the plan safe and healthy, so you don't lose or gain too much weight too fast.
Certain health issues
There are certain chronic illnesses that could mess with your cycle. Diseases like diabetes, Cushing syndrome, Asherman's syndrome, celiac disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome are all capable of long-term missed periods or an irregular cycle. Illnesses and diseases that affect your metabolism, thyroid, blood sugar, body fat, or hormones, should all be considered as a reason if you miss a period.

Read more
What is implantation cramping like? Find out if what you’re feeling is early pregnancy symptoms
What to expect if you're experiencing implantation cramps
A woman having cramps

In very early pregnancy — the first moment, in fact — the new embryo implants itself into the uterine lining. This can cause what is called implantation cramping — cramps caused by the implantation of the embryo into the uterus. Learn more about what implantation cramps feel like, how long they last, and how to tell them apart from period cramps.

What does implantation cramping feel like?
Implantation cramps are milder than period cramps but the sensation can be similar to period cramps. They could be a dull ache or small twinges. Often they can feel more like prickling, pulling, discomfort, or twinges; more than full-on mild period cramping. You may feel them in the abdominal area, pelvic area, or lower back. And the feeling could be in the middle of the body or just on one side of the body.
Any cramping can be painful, including implantation cramping, though implantation cramps are rarely painful. If you do experience pain, you can use a heating pad or acetaminophen. Implantation cramps should not be extremely painful, and if you are experiencing a great deal of pain, you should seek medical attention. It could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy or another medical emergency.

Read more
5 things you should never say to a pregnant woman
She's already cranky, puffed, and exhausted. Please don't make it worse with these common questions for pregnant women
Pregnant married woman standing in a floral gown

These lists are sometimes hard to compile because of the beautiful complexity and differences between women. What may be offensive to one may be exactly what another needs to hear. Women, particularly pregnant women, are multidimensional, deeply thinking, individualistic human beings, and there is no "one-size-fits-all" list that applies to everyone.
However, there does seem to be an invisible boundary of privacy that drops when a woman is expecting a child. In a time when she is very likely uncertain, nervous, and potentially bombarded with any number of questions, swimming in a pool of nerves, people think this is the time to invade her space.
Most of these are well-intentioned questions, habitual, even. Rightfully so, people are excited and happy at the sight of a pregnant woman, and sometimes in that joy, manners can slip. It's important to keep in mind that many women -- particularly the more introverted ones -- are uncomfortable with all the new attention they're probably receiving. For the women who don't relish having these conversations with their family members, friends, hairstylists, and strangers in the produce section, these questions can be very awkward. Keep reading to find out the things you should never say to a pregnant woman.

'Are you going to breastfeed?'
This one is usually said with an air of haughtiness that also says, "It is the best choice, you know. Any mother who doesn’t breastfeed is just the absolute worst and shouldn’t be allowed to have children if only because of her shocking selfishness."
Ladies (and gentlemen), think about this one for a moment. While, as mentioned above, your intentions are undoubtedly lovely and kind, you may very well be deeply offending the already uncomfortable pregnant woman you’re talking to. Take into consideration that there are many reasons her answer to this question may be (gasp) "No."
Perhaps she has a medical issue that prevents her from breastfeeding. Perhaps she has a deeply rooted psychological reason she’s chosen not to. Perhaps she just feels icky about the whole thing, and despite her best efforts, just can’t move past it. Whatever the reason, she already knows breastfeeding is the healthiest and “best” option without you telling her so.
She doesn’t need to know that it’s what you did and that your babies were just healthy little horses. She doesn’t need to hear that feeding her precious, unborn baby formula is the equivalent of feeding it Tang instead of freshly squeezed orange juice. She’s thought about her choice more than you have; whatever that choice is, it's really none of your business.

Read more