5 Non-Alcoholic Drinks You'll Love: Pregnant Life

From breezy summer afternoons to your July 4th and Labor Day Festivities, non-alcoholic drinks are on your menu for the season! Now that you’re pregnant, cocktails have turned into mocktails—and you’re ready to make a menu of alcohol-free bubbly, fruity, and freezing (but not so boozy) beverages to sip this summer. And we’re here to help! 

Alcohol and Pregnancy 

But first, a word on alcohol and pregnancy - the two don’t mix. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is never safe to drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy. Maternal alcohol use can result in low birthweight babies, central nervous system problems, or behavioral issues as the child ages. 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) notes that babies of mothers who drink in moderate amounts during pregnancy have an increased risk for coordination, attention, and learning problems. Children of heavy drinkers may have a smaller-than-normal head size, abnormal facial features, or lower height/weight. 

Non-Alcoholic Mocktails to Make During Pregnancy 

If you’re not ready to share your baby news with the world, then suddenly switching your favorite cocktails and liqueur picks for plain ol’ water may raise some eyebrows. Or maybe you’re already showing—and don’t want to sit empty-handed at every summer soiree. Here’s where mocktails come in. Booze-free beverages, non-alcoholic beer, non-alcoholic spirits, and creative concoctions are switched-up options the mama-to-be can explore.

If this is your first experience whipping up non-alcoholic cocktails, check out our fave make-your-own elixir mocktails!

1. Fruity Cranberry Ginger Ale 

The cranberry is more than just a tasty fruit. According to the Cleveland Clinic, cranberries have antioxidants that can reduce inflammation. The berries can also help to balance your digestive system and may also improve cholesterol levels. 

What you need:

• Cranberry juice - Choose a sugar-free, 100 percent juice option.
• Ginger ale or ginger beer (non-alcoholic)
• An orange
• Orange juice

Directions:

1. Pour the orange juice into an ice cube tray and freeze.
2. Mix equal parts cranberry juice and ginger ale or ginger beer. You can either make one glass of the non-alcoholic cocktail or an entire fizzy pitcher. 
3. Drop a few orange juice ice cubes into the drink. The cubes will add extra flavor as they melt. 
4. Slice the orange. 
5. Add one orange slice to the edge of the drink as a bright garnish.

2. Herbal Iced Tea Spritz

Maternal caffeine intake may lead to smaller sized babies at birth, according to the National Institutes of Health. If you want to minimize the risks and eliminate caffeine from your daily routine, this herbal iced tea mocktail is an easy and tasty option.

What you need:

• Your favorite herbal tea or caffeine-free green tea
• Plenty of ice
• Sparkling water
• Fresh fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, oranges, or anything juicy!

Directions:

1. Brew the iced tea. Use boiling water instead of sparkling for this step. The more tea bags you use, the stronger the taste. Refrigerate the tea until it is chilled.
2. Add ice cubes to the bottom of a pitcher. Fill the pitcher one-half of the way up with the tea. 
3. Add the sparkling water or seltzer for a fizzy surprise. 
4. Stir in the fruit to make the herbal tea spritzer into a sangria style mocktail!

3. Lemon Lime Shirley Temple

Instead of ginger ale, switch things up with this lemon-lime flavored play on the classic non-alcoholic option. 

What you need:

• Grenadine
• Lime juice or lemon juice
• Lemon lime soda
• Maraschino cherries

Directions:

1. If you’re making this mocktail by the glass, start with a few ice cubes and one ounce of grenadine. 
2. Fill the rest of the glass with approximately eight ounces of the lemon lime soda. 
3. Mix in a splash of lime juice or lemon juice for added flavor. 
4. Top the Shirley Temple with a maraschino cherry or two.

4. Mojito Mocktails 

This concoction is one of the best non-alcoholic drinks of the summer! The real deal version of the mojito includes rum, mint, lime, club soda, and sugar. Instead of rum, this booze-free beverage uses club soda. 

What you need:

• Club soda
• Mint leaves- 1 bunch
• Lime juice or limes to juice
• Simple syrup

Directions:

1. Break out a mortar and pestle to muddle the mint leaves. Save a few mint leaves to use as a garnish.
2. Add an ounce or so of lime juice and a half ounce of simple syrup as you muddle the mint leaves.
3. Add ice and the soda water to the mix.
4. Stir the mojito mocktail and add a few mint leaves to the top as a green garnish. 

5. Citrus Fruit-Filled Non-Alcoholic Sipper 

This tasty summer treat is filled with vitamin-rich citrus fruits and plenty of fizz! The lemony fresh scent of this drink may actually help with morning sickness too. According to a 2014 study, the smell of lemons can decrease nausea and vomiting symptoms in pregnancy. 

What you need:

• Lemons
• Limes
• Grapefruit
• Orange juice
• White grape juice
• Sparkling water
• Elderflower syrup
• Blueberries

Directions:

1. Make your own blueberry ice cubes. Squeeze the blueberry juice into the bottom of an ice cube tray. Add water or seltzer and freeze the cubes.
2. Cut lemons, limes, and grapefruit into thin slices. Put half to the side. Squeeze the rest into your pitcher.
3. Add a quarter-cup splash of orange juice and another quarter-cup of white grape juice as mixers.
4. Drop the blueberry cubes into the mix. As they melt they’ll release the fruity juice.
5. Fill the rest of the glass or pitcher with sparkling water.
6. Stir in one ounce of elderflower syrup.
7. Toss in the rest of the sliced fruit and serve chilled!

Other Non-Alcoholic Elixir Options 

Even if you’re primarily a home mocktail mixologist, sometimes you may want to go out for a non-alcoholic drink or two with your partner, family, or friends. Gone are the days when tequila, rosé, pina colada, or other favorites were your top picks! But this doesn’t mean you have to go for a plain booze-free option. Instead of the soda or water route, try a classic virgin margarita, a Shirley Temple, or order a non-alcoholic beer. These common concoctions and beverage menu picks are standards at many bars. This means you won’t need to spend half your night out writing cocktail recipes and double-checking mixers and ingredients. 

Do you want to learn more about what to eat and what to avoid during pregnancy? Check out our Healthy Pregnancy Diet section!