Is eggnog safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about eggnog during pregnancy?

1. Commercial eggnog sold in sealed cartons is made with pasteurized eggs and milk, the same heat step that gets rid of Salmonella risk in egg dishes, which is why the carton version is the safer bet over an old-fashioned homemade batch made with raw eggs. 1
2. Raw or undercooked eggs, the kind used in traditional homemade eggnog recipes, are one of the more common ways to pick up a Salmonella infection. 1
3. A Salmonella infection during pregnancy is usually just miserable, but in rare cases it can spread into the bloodstream, and case reports have described serious complications including pregnancy loss. 2
4. There's no amount or timing of alcohol that's been shown to be safe during pregnancy, so any eggnog spiked with rum, bourbon, or brandy is one to pass on. 3
5. Drinking during pregnancy is one of the leading reasons kids end up with lifelong learning and developmental struggles from fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, so it's worth checking any premade or holiday-party eggnog for added alcohol before you drink it. 4

Is eggnog safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Morning sickness might put dairy drinks low on your list anyway, but if a craving hits, the same two checks apply from week one: look for the word pasteurized on the carton and make sure nothing alcoholic has been added.
• Second trimester. Second-trimester appetite often bounces back right around holiday party season, which is prime eggnog time. Self-serve punch bowls are the riskiest spot, since they're sometimes homemade with raw eggs and sometimes already spiked, so ask before you pour a cup.
• Third trimester. Keep both checks up through the third trimester. A Salmonella infection this late can be harder on your body and the pregnancy, so stick with a carton labeled pasteurized and skip anything boozy, even a splash added just for the adults.