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Why drink pregnancy safe mocktails?
Well there are a few reasons!
You enjoy a cocktail when not pregnant and you don't want to miss out now you are!
You aren't telling people you are pregnant and drinking something that is obviously a soft drink may raise suspicions.
You are bored of water but know the importance of keeping hydrated for a healthy pregnancy.
Can I have a cocktail whilst pregnant?
I am not here to tell you what to do!
Traditional cocktails are high in both alcohol and sugar, both things that you may want to avoid in pregnancy.
Alcohol in pregnancy
Alcohol in pregnancy has been linked to something called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), these can affect children differently however a common theme is intellectual or behavioural disorders.
Research into drinking alcohol in pregnancy is difficult as we cant randomise some women to drink and others not to, it would be unethical, so the majority of the data is retrospective.
The studies which link alcoholic drinks (even one drink a week) to behavioural issues actually include women who were also taking cocaine as well as drinking alcohol.
The general trend is that low levels of alcohol has no effect, so one cocktails once in a while might be something you choose to do. In general though cocktails have a high alcohol content, so lets try to find something that is non alcoholic and still tasty.
Sugar in pregnancy
Many cocktails include sugar syrups or sweet liquors, in pregnancy there is some data to show a mothers sugar intake can predispose her child to asthma and eczema.
A high sugar diet can also increase our chances of developing gestational diabetes.
If we are including sugars in our pregnancy mocktails it is best to stick to fruit sugars in juices and things like raw honey which has its own antimicrobial health benefits!
First trimester pregnancy mocktail recipes
In our first trimester we may feel low in energy and nauseous (not sure why they call it morning sickness) , we might also be waiting until that 12 week ultrasound scan to reveal our news to the world so we might one a cocktail look-alike to help keep our secret! So here comes my first trimester hero mocktail......a Mojito
Mama Mojito recipe
Ingredients:
Lime juice
Mint
Ice
Brown sugar (optional)
Soda water or sparkling water
Method
Squeeze half of your lime juice into a glass reserving the other half for garnish
Add some ice , mint and the brown sugar if you are using it and give it a mix to bruise the mint and release some flavour.
Top up with the soda water/
Add mint and lime as a garnish
Citrus and mint are great for relieving nausea and if you serve this in the same glass as the alcoholic mojito you cant tell the difference.
In a bar you can ask for a soda water with lime and mint (but ask for it in the same glass as they would serve a mojito!) just remember which is yours if other people are drinking the alcoholic version, perhaps a different straw!
If you are in your first trimester and secretly researching pregnancy and birth there is no better way to set yourself up for success than working with a Doula or a Virtual Doula like me!
You can sign up to my mailing list and get my free e-book 15 things a virtual doula can do for you straight into your inbox… no risk anyone will see you liking a post or commenting on a Reel!
Mama Mule
Ingredients
Ginger beer
Lime
Ice
Mint / herb of choice
Method
Squeeze half of your lime into a glass reserving the other half for garnish
Add some ice
Top up with the ginger beer
Add mint / herbs and lime as a garnish
Ginger is another great nausea buster along with the lime, when you add a garnish no one will be able to tell this apart from a Moscow Mule
Second Trimester Mocktail recipe
In your second trimester you might have a burst of energy and be less bothered about keeping your pregnancy a secret, hydration is very important as your amniotic fluid builds.
The NHS recommends that pregnant women drink 8–10 cups of fluids a day, or around 1.6 litres
Pregnancy Colda
Ingredients
1/2 cup Pineapple juice
1/2 cup Coconut water
1/2 Lime
1/3 cup coconut cream or coconut milk
Ice
1/2 cup Frozen Pineapple chunks
Method
Add everything to a blender except the ice and blend!
Pour over Ice
One of my favourite summer mocktails. Replacing half of the pineapple juice with coconut water reduces the sugar content and coconut water is full of electrolytes! The whole fruit in this provides some fibre as well!
Infused Waters
Infused waters are so easy to make and can really help you to up your fluid intake, all you need to do is add the ingredients to your water botttle (a wide necked one so you can get them out!)
Some ideas are:
Cucumber and mint leaves - Spa vibes
Grapefruit and blueberry
Raspberry and fresh mint
Strawberry and kiwi
Pear and ginger slices
Lemon juice and ginger slices
Orange slices / Orange juice and cranberry
An infused water bar is a great idea at a baby shower!
Third Trimester Mocktails
One the home run! You may be less able to drink high volumes now as your baby is taking up all the room, and you might be suffering from indigestion / nausea again. We could also be trying to fit in our 6 dates a day and raspberry leaf tea (which lets be honest tastes nothing like raspberry!).
Long Island Raspberry leaf tea
Ingredients
Brewed and cooled raspberry leaf tea
Raspberries
Mint
Raw honey
Ice
Method
Put the ice, raspberries and raw honey in a glass and mix to bruise the mint and raspberry and dissolve the honey
Pour over the cooled tea
Garnish with more mint
Raspberry leaf tea has been traditionally used for hundreds of years as a uterine tonic to help tone the uterus ready for labour!
If you want to try it you can do so from 32 weeks in increasing amounts paying attention to if it giver you cramps (reduce the amounts or stop if it does!)
Sticky Toffee Mudslide
Ingredients
1 Frozen Banana
4 dates
2 tbs Greek yoghurt
1tsp peanut putter (optional)
Whole milk
Method
Pop in a blender and add enough milk to get the consistency you like!
Eating dates in late pregnancy has been associated with higher cervical dilation on admission to hospital and a lower induction rate.
They are high in sugar to pairing it with high protein and high fat in this recipe can help counteract that!
Labouraid
Ingredients
1 cup coconut water
1 cup water
Juice of 1 lemon or two small limes
1 table spoon of raw honey
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
Method
Mix and store in your fridge for during labour, keeps up to 5 days.
This amazing homemade electrolyte drink is perfect for keeping your essential fluids, salts and sugars balanced during labour.
A great alternative to sports drinks as it is processed sugar and additive / colouring free!
Keep your fluids up!
Don't save these drinks for special occasions! You can make them day to day to help keep you hydrated but they are also perfect from hen do's, Christmas, New year, weddings, baby showers, birthdays!
Let me know if you try any!
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