non-alcoholic beer: is it OK?

[maisiedotes]

My midwife told me a glass of wine every now and then is not only OK, but actually beneficial during pregnancy. Would a non-alcoholic beer be OK? Anyone know?
Thanks!

[mothragirl]

during my 3rd trimester i have a glass of regular beer every once in a while, i can't see that non acoholic beer would be bad. it still has a bit of alcohol in it though, so i would only have a glass with food.

[artgoddess]

It's fine, St.Pauli Girl makes a pretty good N/A beer too. But the carbonation gives me heartburn.

[mittendrin]

Non-alcoholic beer might be ok for baby, BUT NOT FOR ME : Sorry, don't like it. In fact I'm having a beer right now. I'm german, a natural drunk No offense, ladies.

[Googy]

I researched this for you and found this info online:

The term "nonalcoholic" is a bit misleading when it comes to the supposedly alcohol-free versions of beer and wine. In fact, all "nonalcoholic" beers and many nonalcoholic wines do contain some alcohol, typically less than half a percent. While few would say that the trace amount of alcohol in an occasional glass of nonalcoholic beer is going to harm your baby, it's something to be aware of — especially if you drink these beverages often or in large amounts. So before you drink up, read labels carefully and remember that "nonalcoholic" and "alcohol-free" aren't interchangeable terms: Drinks labeled nonalcoholic can contain trace amounts of alcohol, while those labeled alcohol-free can't.

Basically, I read this as meaning that nonalcoholic beer is fine every once in a while, just don't have too much too often.

[Dee-Groovy]

I hate Coors but their non-alcoholic beer is pretty good. If your midwife says regular wine is ok, I'm sure she's fine with NA beer too.

[tiffanymm]

I think that it would be fine. It actually sounds good.

[maisiedotes]

I meant to add "can I have a REAL beer? since a pint has about the same (or less?) alcohol than the glass of wine that is supposed to be OK? If it is only one a month?"

[GinaRae]

I think so, but I don't know!

I had a baby sized Mimosa yesterday. It's the first alcohol to pass these lips since I found out I was pregnant. They gave me a tiny little glass while everyone else got these big things

But then I got to have a yummy mimosa but without worry. Even though it still made me feel warm all over for a few minutes! Champagne always does something to me.

[maisiedotes]

Last week I had about a third of a guiness (sips of DH's) and I was feeling it. I guess my tolerance will be WAAAYYYY down after the baby is born...

[amylizpat]

On the non-alcoholic beer note...I figured it up last pregnancy (er, last year) and I think you'd have to drink something like a 6 pack for it to equal the alcohol in one beer, so I would say it's safe. I don't know anyone who really wants to drink that much Near Beer, though.

[Living Slowly]

Originally Posted by amylizpat

On the non-alcoholic beer note...I figured it up last pregnancy (er, last year) and I think you'd have to drink something like a 6 pack for it to equal the alcohol in one beer, so I would say it's safe. I don't know anyone who really wants to drink that much Near Beer, though.

Ugh, definitely not knocking pack a 6 pack of near beer!! But during the summer months I want so badly to just sit on my deck and have 1 ice cold brewsky. O'Douls isn't the greatest, but it does satisfy the craving.

[tini1205]

I drink the occasional N/A beer, my favorite is Gerstel from Trader Joes.
I am from Germany as well and over there non-alcoholic beer is generally seen as a non issue, sometimes even recommended to relieve water retention or help sleeplessness (the hops is said to have a relaxing effect).

Remember that many natural products like fruit juices contain and even whole ripe fruits a small amount of natural alcohol. As long as you use some common sense and don't drink it by the gallon.... enjoy!