Beverages during pregnancy

Every beverages entry, with a verdict

Sorted with the ones worth knowing about first. Avoid means skip it entirely; take care means it depends on how it was prepared.

• Soda

  Avoid

  Soda is not recommended during pregnancy for different reasons. It contains caffeine (which counts towards your 200 mg a day, along with your coffee and tea), lots of sugar (insulin burst), and very little your body can actually use. The sweeteners in diet soda are FDA-approved and fine, but that doesn't make it a health drink. So soda drinks are obviously not kind to a pregnant mama, especially if you overconsume them. What to drink instead: pasteurized juices and smoothies, they are sweet, too.

• Non-alcoholic brew

  Avoid

  Not recommended: "non-alcoholic" can still be 0.5% alcohol. Drink water instead.

• Aloe vera juice

  Avoid

  Although more research is needed, some organizations, like the American Pregnancy Association, recommend avoiding aloe vera juice during pregnancy. This is due to concerns that it may increase uterine contractions, as well as lower electrolyte levels. It's probably best to avoid it unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise.

• Wine for cooking

  Take care

  When cooking with alcohol you must be cautious as during the cooking process alcohol mixes with water and steam and may not evaporate off, so the dish will be a little bit "drunk". Alcohol is not recommended during pregnancy because of increased risks of miscarriage and possible birth defects that can cause lifelong harm to your child.

• Alcohol

  Take care

  Alcohol and pregnancy don't mix, sorry. You may have seen headlines saying otherwise — a 2012 Danish study is the one usually quoted, and it is tempting reading if you like a glass of wine with dinner. But no study has ever found an amount that is known to be safe, and there is no safe time to drink either. The side effects are why. It increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, can raise the odds of having a baby with a low birth weight, and raises your child's risk of problems with learning, speech, attention span, language, and hyperactivity. The most severe result of alcohol use during pregnancy is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), a lifelong condition characterized by poor growth (in the womb, after birth, or both), abnormal facial features, heart defects, and damage to the central nervous system. Babies with FAS may also have abnormally small heads and brains as well as anatomical defects, especially of the heart and spine. Damage to the central nervous system may include intellectual disability, delays in physical development, vision and hearing problems, and a variety of behavioral problems. Still think a small drink is worth it? We say no. Note: non-alcohol wine and beer still CONTAIN alcohol, but in smaller doses, so they are not recommended either. What to drink instead: water, always water!

• Non-alcoholic beer and wine

  Take care

  Tempting, we know — but no. Non-alcohol wine and beer still CONTAIN alcohol, but in smaller doses, so they are not recommended either. There is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy and no safe time to drink it, because of increased risks of miscarriage and possible birth defects that can cause lifelong harm to your child. What to drink instead: water, always water!

• Herbal beverages

  Safe

  It's okay to have herbal tea and beverages during pregnancy — peppermint and ginger both help with nausea, and ginger has the best evidence behind it. Supplements, tinctures and strong medicinal teas are another matter: they aren't reviewed the way medicines are, and few have been studied in pregnancy. Better discuss those with your doctor and choose the best herbal drinks for you.

• Hot chocolate

  Safe

  Enjoy your hot chocolate during pregnancy, but don't overdo with it as it still contains caffeine and sugar.

• Juices

  Safe

  Juices often contain the same vitamins as raw fruit do. Fresh squeezed juices you prepare yourself are better, but if you want to buy one in the store, choose a well-packed pasteurized one without chemical additions or sugar — unpasteurized juice and cider are on the CDC's avoid list.

• Coffee without caffeine

  Safe

  You can drink coffee without caffeine. Decaf isn't completely caffeine-free — a little is left behind — but it's a fraction of what's in the real thing. As a general rule, caffeine should be limited to fewer than 200 mg per day during pregnancy.

• Coffee and tea

  Safe

  Both tea and coffee contain caffeine. Yes, even your favorite green tea has caffeine in it! Although most studies show that you can consume small amounts of caffeine, there are others that show increased caffeine intake may be related to pregnancy problems like premature birth and low birth weight, sometimes even miscarriages. You don't have to cut it out completely, though, not even in the first trimester. As a general rule, caffeine should be limited to fewer than 200 mg per day during pregnancy (that's a cup of coffee or 3 cups of tea). Don't forget that caffeine is a diuretic, which means it helps eliminate fluids from the body. You will rush to the toilet much more often if you drink tea or coffee. You'd be better to drink pure water, juice, and pasteurized milk instead of tea and coffee. You can also replace your favorite caffeinated tea with herbal ones. Consult your doctor to make sure the herbal teas you choose are approved.

• Peppermint tea

  Safe

  You may have heard that peppermint tea can cause the uterus to relax, and that this can increase the risk of miscarriage. Be aware though that there is actually no scientific evidence to show a link of peppermint tea with miscarriage, and no US health authority restricts it in pregnancy. A cup or two a day is fine, it has no caffeine, and plenty of women find the smell helps with nausea. The one real catch is heartburn — peppermint relaxes the valve at the top of your stomach, so it can make reflux worse. If that's you, switch.

• Water

  Safe

  The most perfect beverage for pregnancy! Try to drink 8 to 12 cups a day — ACOG's figure. Tap is fine; bottled is not safer.

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