Is Liquor, spirits & cocktails safe during pregnancy?
Not recommended in pregnancy. While breastfeeding, limit to 1 standard drink (1.5 oz of 40% liquor) and wait 2+ hours.
What the sources say
CDC: there is no known safe amount or safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy, and all types — wine, beer and liquor — can be harmful, raising risks of miscarriage, stillbirth and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. It's never too late to stop. While breastfeeding, CDC says not drinking is safest; up to 1 standard drink a day is not known to harm the baby if you wait at least 2 hours before nursing. Pumping and dumping doesn't speed up clearance. One standard drink = 1.5 oz of 40% (80-proof) liquor; many cocktails contain more than one.
Common alternatives
Also listed as
liquor, spirits, vodka, gin, rum, tequila, whiskey, whisky, bourbon, brandy, cocktail, margarita
Sources
- CDC: About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy
- CDC: Alcohol and Breastfeeding
- Mayo Clinic: Breastfeeding and alcohol: Is it OK to drink?
- MotherToBaby: Food and Beverages to Avoid During Pregnancy
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.