From the diary of a nutrition consultant;
Going alcohol free for Pre-Conception, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding
It’s no secret that going alcohol free is the safest option for mums and bubs during pregnancy. But did you know it’s best to do the same during pre-conception and breastfeeding as well? Let’s break down the benefits of booting the booze and de-bunk some myths… and of course, find you a delicious alternative to sip away on and still allow you to feel special.
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Firstly, let’s nip this in the bud; ‘drinking a little alcohol during pregnancy is fine’...
You may have heard this mentioned in social settings as someone pours you a glass after you have already politely declined. While one study shows a small amount of alcohol did not impact the well being of the mother, it certainly did not highlight the developmental impact even a small amount has on a teeny, developing brain.
It has been thought that the placenta acts as a filter, protecting bubs from any toxic substance that we ingest. But actually, alcohol very easily crosses from our bloodstream, through our placenta and into bubs bloodstream, so they are exposed to the same blood level of alcohol as us grownups! Because their little liver is still developing, they are not able to metabolise that alcohol and it can stay in their system much longer than their mothers. Even a small amount of alcohol can have significant impacts on the brain, organs and nervous system development of your baby. It has also been linked to preterm labor, gestational diabetes and even low birth weight. So as your friendly neighbourhood nutritionist, (who specialises in pregnancy!) I would wholeheartedly encourage you to switch out that glass of champagne at a wedding for your very own (full, tasty and no need to share) bottle of pregnancy safe, POLKA!
Hydration, Hydration, Hydration.
Hydration during pregnancy is KEY to supporting energy, healthy levels of amniotic fluid, to keep you from being…erm, backed up AND to keep swelling (goodbye canckles!) at bay.
If you’ve ever been out all day at an event in the sun and enjoyed a few cocktails, you’ve probably noticed how dehydrated you feel the next day! Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it removes fluid from your body and out through your kidneys.
Opting for an alcohol-free drink will help you avoid the unpleasant side effects that come with being dehydrated. (But also, please do remember to still drink water!)
Better Zzzzzs
The hormones are a-raging, the tears are a-flowing and sleep may be sounding like a foreign word to your vocabulary. Restoring hormone balance and allowing ourselves to rest, recover and produce sufficient milk is the major priority in our primal bodies during postpartum. This is the time to be swapping those champagnes and wines for your soothing herbal teas and non-alcoholic beverages to make sure you get decent sleep in the moments where you can. By choosing to do so, you forgo the unnecessary extra contribution to the emotional rollercoaster and broken sleep..and who doesn’t want that?!
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Now as promised, our top suggestions instead of boozy beverages….
In those moments of celebrating and where you’d typically pop the cork to say ‘hurrah’, we love the de-alc sparking wine by POLKA. It is crisp, refreshing and truly tastes like the real deal, NOT apple juice.
If a comforting and warming glass of wine with a hearty stew in front of the fireplace is more your vibe, you don’t have to miss out! POLKA has a beautiful de-alc dry red that is sure to hit the spot without affecting you or bubs.
Or if you love a refreshing and botanical situation like a G&T, no fear.. POLKA is here. Their non-alc Botanical Spirits paired with a tonic water are utterly divine and are unbiasedly the best alcohol free gin available. Pop a spring of rosemary and a few blueberries in there…thank us later.
Polka makes it easy to embrace a better choice and ultimately, wellbeing, during pre-conception, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Sip smarter mama. xx
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Words by Kalyca Crisa from Natally Nourished