Can you drink wine while pregnant?
Not advisedNo, skip wine during pregnancy, including the occasional glass. The NHS and US health authorities agree: no amount of alcohol has been proven safe for a developing baby.
Why
Alcohol crosses the placenta directly, and a baby's liver cannot process it the way yours does. Heavy drinking causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorders; the harder truth is that research has never located a safe threshold below which risk is zero, which is why the NHS advises not drinking at all in pregnancy and ACOG takes the same position. Red, white, champagne and prosecco all count identically; it is the alcohol, not the color. The reassuring flip side: if you drank before you knew you were pregnant, the risk from that early window is likely low. Stop when you know, and mention it at your booking appointment.
By trimester
The first trimester is the most sensitive window for alcohol's effects on development, but no trimester has an all-clear; the brain develops across all nine months. The safest amount at any stage is none.
Safer alternatives
- Alcohol-removed 0.0% sparkling wine
- Sparkling grape juice in a proper glass
- A good alcohol-free spritz with tonic-free bitters alternatives
Sources
- NHS https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/drinking-alcohol-while-pregnant/
- NHS https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/
Every verdict follows our sourcing methodology: official health guidelines only, most cautious position when they differ.
Frequently asked questions
I had wine before I knew I was pregnant. Should I panic?
No. The NHS is explicit that if you drank small amounts before finding out, the risk to your baby is likely low. Stop now that you know, tell your midwife so it is on record, and let the worry go.
Is one glass on a special occasion really a problem?
The honest answer is that science cannot prove one glass harms, but it also cannot prove it is safe, and that uncertainty is why every major health authority landed on zero. An elegant 0.0% sparkling wine keeps the toast without the question.
Does cooking with wine count?
A splash of wine simmered into a sauce loses much of its alcohol and the remainder spreads across servings; standard guidance does not treat cooked-in wine as drinking. A long-simmered coq au vin is a different food from a glass of merlot.
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Get instant verdicts on any foodpregAI is informational only and is not medical advice. Always check with your doctor or midwife about anything specific to your pregnancy.