Red Wine and Pregnancy
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
I have not been able to get a definitive answer on whether it is okay to drink a glass of red wine with dinner while pregnant? I know that red wine has lots of health benefits, and I really enjoy the taste. Can you give me any advice on this issue?
ANSWER
Yes, there is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, so you will need to abstain for the duration. If you find it hard not to drink, you should seek help to do so. Your baby is counting on you!
-- Cynthia, CNM. PhD.
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
