When economist Emily Oster published Expecting Better in 2013, she probably didn’t expect to be labeled the “wine mom whisperer.” Yet, that’s exactly what happened after she suggested something almost no American pregnancy book dared to say: an occasional drink while pregnant may not be harmful.

The reaction was swift. Doctors, health officials, and parenting blogs accused her of undermining public health messaging. Some even blamed her for giving pregnant women a “justification” to drink. But did she? Or did she simply shine light on data many professionals already quietly accept?

What Oster Actually Said

Oster, a professor at Brown University, didn’t invent new science. She combed through existing medical studies and public health data, often with a more critical and analytical eye than traditional pregnancy guides. What she found was that the evidence condemning all alcohol consumption during pregnancy wasn’t as clear-cut as it’s often portrayed.

Heavy drinking and binge drinking? Undeniably dangerous. But the occasional glass of wine — especially after the first trimester — has not been shown to cause harm in the available studies. Oster concluded that one drink per day in the second and third trimesters is unlikely to pose a risk. She even admitted to having the occasional glass of wine during her own pregnancies.

Still, Oster didn’t hand out permission slips. She emphasized that her book was about informed choice, not relaxed rules. She wanted to give women the actual numbers and let them decide for themselves, based on their own values and risk tolerance.

The Medical Pushback

Many healthcare professionals didn’t see it that way. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists continues to advise complete abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy, citing the lack of evidence showing a safe amount. From their perspective, any suggestion that alcohol might be okay opens the door to risky behavior and misinterpretation.

The CDC even went so far as to suggest that all women of childbearing age avoid alcohol unless they are on birth control. That messaging, which many called patronizing, reflected the broader approach: better to be overly cautious than under-protective.

Oster’s critics argued that she oversimplified complex science and underestimated how her words might be used — or misused — by women eager to hear what they wanted to hear.

A Risky Message or a Realistic One?

Here’s the thing. Women who are determined to have a glass of wine during pregnancy will probably do so, regardless of what a book says. Oster didn’t create the urge — she acknowledged its existence. Rather than pretending all women will blindly follow every guideline, she offered context.

And maybe that’s why her book resonated. Pregnancy can feel like a minefield of rules, warnings, and fear. Oster’s approach treated women as capable of understanding nuance, and of making choices based on data rather than dogma.

Critics say she took a risk. Supporters say she treated readers with respect. But either way, the decision to drink or not during pregnancy ultimately falls on the individual.

Conclusion

So, did Expecting Better give women a “justification” to drink? It gave them information. Whether someone views that as empowering or irresponsible often depends less on the content and more on how we believe pregnant women should be treated — as autonomous adults or as patients who need strict rules.

Oster didn’t pour anyone a glass of wine. She just said if you’re going to, here’s what the research shows. The rest is up to you.

References

• Oster, Emily. Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong—and What You Really Need to Know. Penguin Press, 2013.
• Oster, Emily. “I Wrote the Book on Pregnancy. Here’s What I Actually Did.” Time, Sept. 2019.
• Business Insider. “What Emily Oster Really Says About Drinking Wine During Pregnancy.”
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Why Take the Risk?” Campaign, 2016.
• Lincoln, Jennifer, MD. Commentary via public platforms and media.
• Armstrong, Elizabeth. Conceiving Risk, Bearing Responsibility: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and the Diagnosis of Moral Disorder. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003.