Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

11 weeks pregnant ate cake with brandy in! Worried

54 replies

prayingformyrainbowbaby · 14/05/2023 16:14

Panicking!!

Been to a 90th birthday party today was careful what I ate. My mother in law (who knows I’m pregnant) gave me some birthday cake!

This cake was made/eaten by a family member who doesn’t drink and there were young kids and teenagers at the party. I ate a bit thought it tasted odd, but not to be rude had another bit, I then over hear a bottle of brandy is in the cake!

I’m such an idiot, why did I eat the cake/why didn’t I ask if it had alcohol in it

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

EarringsandLipstick · 14/05/2023 16:16

No need for panic. Alcohol in cake will have zero impact - plus cake is cooked.

Lavenderheys · 14/05/2023 16:16

I mean this kindly but you’re going to have a very long few months if you’re going to stress at every single bit of food that passes your lips. I’m pretty sure your baby will be fine. Relax.

DustyLee123 · 14/05/2023 16:16

It will be fine.

eurochick · 14/05/2023 16:17

What harm do you think this is going to do? You probably cause more harm to your foetus every time you walk along a road. I really wish there was better information and less scaremongering for pregnant women.

SirVixofVixHall · 14/05/2023 16:17

Totally fine. Don’t worry op.

randomuser2020 · 14/05/2023 16:17

This reply has been withdrawn

Removed at poster's request due to privacy concerns.

GIJanie · 14/05/2023 16:17

Honestly, it will be fine. Chill out and try to enjoy the long, pregnancy ride.

SuperGinger · 14/05/2023 16:17

You and baby will be okay, it not a regular thing

Zonder · 14/05/2023 16:18

About a third of the alcohol remains after baking. Unless you ate half the cake I don't think you need worry. And it was a one off. Forget about it.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 14/05/2023 16:19

It’ll be hardly any and some of the alcohol will have cooked off. Try and chill a bit or it’s going to be a very long 6 months or so.

Alwaystheweather · 14/05/2023 16:20

Lavenderheys · 14/05/2023 16:16

I mean this kindly but you’re going to have a very long few months if you’re going to stress at every single bit of food that passes your lips. I’m pretty sure your baby will be fine. Relax.

This!

Oddoneouta · 14/05/2023 16:20

🤣🤣🤣🤣

TooBigForMyBoots · 14/05/2023 16:22

You'll be fine. The cake didn't have a bottle of brandy in it and most of what little alcohol it had will have evaporated during cooking.

Original poster

prayingformyrainbowbaby · 14/05/2023 16:23

This is my 4th pregnancy, I have lost all my babies, so I think I am allowed to worry. I thought the alcohol was 'burnt' off when cooking too, but apparently not so much in cakes after Googling.

OP posts:

Ponderingwindow · 14/05/2023 16:32

I make a cake that get soaked in brandy after cooking, so no burn off and another that uses alcohol in a sauce mixed in at the very last stage to maximize flavor. Even if you ate those, it would be fine. You consumed a small amount of alcohol.

I do tell people that the cakes have alcohol though so they can make their own decision and am careful about when I serve them so no one feels left out.

if you review the alcohol studies in detail, you would find that small amounts of alcohol have not been linked to any problems. The difficulty is at a public health level, how do you explain that it is ok to have a small glass of champagne at a wedding or a bit of alcohol in some food, but not too much or too often. It’s just simpler to convey the message the alcohol is dangerous in any amount.

I would never advocate that a pregnant woman take up drinking, but I also don’t believe you need to worry.

Topseyt123 · 14/05/2023 16:32

Brandy is strong tasting and not much is needed to give a cake a fairly strong taste of it.

Baking causes alcohol to evaporate, so it will be virtually nothing that you took in. So no need to panic at all.

Remember that bread dough contains a fair bit of alcohol while in the rise because it is a by-product of the yeast and sugar action. However, bread itself is not alcoholic because the alcohol evaporates during baking.

Don't worry.

Original poster

prayingformyrainbowbaby · 14/05/2023 16:34

@Ponderingwindow @Topseyt123 thank you both.

OP posts:

ZittingBiting · 14/05/2023 16:35

prayingformyrainbowbaby · 14/05/2023 16:23

This is my 4th pregnancy, I have lost all my babies, so I think I am allowed to worry. I thought the alcohol was 'burnt' off when cooking too, but apparently not so much in cakes after Googling.

You're fine. You can worry if you want but it's not necessary or helpful.

Did you lose previous pregnancies due to eating cake? Or eating/drinking anything?

No you didn't.

letsgojo · 14/05/2023 16:42

It'll be ok, try not to worry. I've never heard of brandy in a cake though, can't think of anything worse 🤢 xx

FangedFrisbee · 14/05/2023 16:42

@ZittingBiting harsh but true

Greybutterfly · 14/05/2023 17:14

I suggest that you talk to your midwife about the high levels of anxiety you have. This is going to have a greater risk to your pregnancy than eating some cake

Worriedmum9999 · 14/05/2023 18:53

Dont worry alcohol is cooked out of the cake, it just leaves behind a flavour.
Nothing to worry about, however the person who made the cake should have said

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 14/05/2023 19:08

Please don't worry .

I know the advice now is no alcohol at all during pregnancy - but when I had my DC 20+ years ago the advice was to drink in moderation - 1-2 units a week. And when my friend had her DC 10 years before this, she was actively encouraged to drink Guinness for the iron ! Our children are fine .

But I can see why you would be extra worried and in your situation I probably would be too

Zonder · 14/05/2023 20:39

Worriedmum9999 · 14/05/2023 18:53

Dont worry alcohol is cooked out of the cake, it just leaves behind a flavour.
Nothing to worry about, however the person who made the cake should have said

Bit of an urban myth. Depends how food is cooked and for how long but in a baked cake about a third of the alcohol will remain.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 14/05/2023 22:37

letsgojo · 14/05/2023 16:42

It'll be ok, try not to worry. I've never heard of brandy in a cake though, can't think of anything worse 🤢 xx

Is it not quite common in things like Christmas cake or wedding cake?

Flip

1 2 3