Anyone else have a hard time giving up alcohol?

[ChocLover]

Giving up coffee isn't easy but I can adjust to decaf over time.

But I'm having a really hard time giving up alcohol. It's only been 5 days but I really miss it. Usually only a weekend drinker and not to excess (maybe a few glasses on Saturday and Sunday) and if I really feel like it half a glass on a particular weeknight.

But I'm really struggling with giving it up. I'm thinking about the no alcohol sparkling grape juices but it probably won't be enough to quell the extreme craving..

 

[purplecupcake]

You don't have to. Drink till it's pink.

I LOVE booze, I wouldn't have been able to give it up while TTC. I conceived on NYE and got by BFP on the 13th. I had been drinking beer all day the day before during the football game. Glad I did, too, since going 9 months without can be tough at times!

 

[rebeccamc]

YES! I am in the same boat (not a binge drinking but I like a few glasses over the weekend and some nights after a very long day). I have resorted to drinking juice out of my wine glass and it really isn't the same. It helps but yeah its not the same.

However I refuse to give up coffee and my theory is that as long as I don't drink more then it should be fine. Sometimes you body doesn't react well to sudden changes and giving up coffee would be too big of a change for me.

 

[imstacey21]

Just have a little wine occasionally until you don't feel like you need it.

 

[imstacey21]

YES! I am in the same boat (not a binge drinking but I like a few glasses over the weekend and some nights after a very long day). I have resorted to drinking juice out of my wine glass and it really isn't the same. It helps but yeah its not the same.

However I refuse to give up coffee and my theory is that as long as I don't drink more then it should be fine. Sometimes you body doesn't react well to sudden changes and giving up coffee would be too big of a change for me.

I read caffeine lowers your chances to conceive much.

 

[purplecupcake]

YES! I am in the same boat (not a binge drinking but I like a few glasses over the weekend and some nights after a very long day). I have resorted to drinking juice out of my wine glass and it really isn't the same. It helps but yeah its not the same.

However I refuse to give up coffee and my theory is that as long as I don't drink more then it should be fine. Sometimes you body doesn't react well to sudden changes and giving up coffee would be too big of a change for me.

I read caffeine lowers your chances to conceive much.

If you're drinking multiple cans of energy drinks, maybe, but a couple of cups of coffee is 100% fine.

 

[Moet]

I really miss it too...especially wine with my girls. It also makes me resort to things like drinking water out of a beer bottle so no one asks why I'm not drinking. I know a lot of people take a more relaxed approach to drinking and TTC, however I would be far to worried that my drinking potentially caused some harm as very important neurological development occurs early in pregnancy, often before a woman may even be aware she is pregnant. Since there has never been any safe amount determined, I would rather err of the side of caution and avoid it during the tww. I'll drink on my period once I've taken a negative test and am bleeding bright red for a few days. Maybe I'm neurotic, but I'd rather know for sure that I'm being safe. I have tried some sparkling fake champagnes etc out of a wine glass and it does help make you feel less like you are depriving yourself. Rather than sipping water while everyone else has wine etc.

 

[purplecupcake]

I really miss it too...especially wine with my girls. It also makes me resort to things like drinking water out of a beer bottle so no one asks why I'm not drinking. I know a lot of people take a more relaxed approach to drinking and TTC, however I would be far to worried that my drinking potentially caused some harm as very important neurological development occurs early in pregnancy, often before a woman may even be aware she is pregnant. Since there has never been any safe amount determined, I would rather err of the side of caution and avoid it during the tww. I'll drink on my period once I've taken a negative test and am bleeding bright red for a few days. Maybe I'm neurotic, but I'd rather know for sure that I'm being safe. I have tried some sparkling fake champagnes etc out of a wine glass and it does help make you feel less like you are depriving yourself. Rather than sipping water while everyone else has wine etc.

Before you get a positive test, there is absolutely no blood shared and therefore no way to hurt the growing bundle of cells. Most women on this board test very very early, so I don't think there really isn't much risk unless a woman had been drinking heavily and waited until she is already weeks late to test. I got my bfp at 9doo, or 3 weeks and 2 days.

 

[ChocLover]

I agree with Moët - although it's interesting to hear there is no blood shared before you get your BFP? I'll have to look into this.

I don't know if caffeine hurts chances of conception - I just know it increases risk of miscarriage. It's true the body suffers withdrawal symptoms if you take away caffeine but better go through withdrawal, possibly miss out ok conception for a month as your body adjusts - and then go into it caffeine free I think. That said it really isn't easy as I get caffeine in multiple hits - coffee, tea and chocolate. I've given up coffee and tea. Yet to give to chocolate.

 

[Moet]

I read a few places that you just need to limit caffeine to under a certain amount a day from all combined sources. Can't remember the exact amount right now. But I think you can have some without risk of harm.

Purplecake, I definitely understand that until implantation there is no risk in regards to alcohol transferring to the fetus. I just worry that I might not test super early, plus once you test and get a bfp, what if you drank the night before? Damage maybe aleady done? Definitely not trying to be preachy. Everyone has to do what they are comfortable with. I just know it would cause me unneeded stress for 40 weeks.

 

[Ariannda]

Any OB will tell you not to wor ry about any alcohol drank prior to you knowing you're pregnant, and most will tell you A drink here and there is ok. Clearly you wouldn't want a bottle of wine or a couple of shots but random drink here and there will not harm a fetus. My OB told me i can continue to drink my coffee and any soda that i want (im craving the carbonation) and ive never (this is baby 5&6) been told I have to stop having anything.

Anything in extreme excess is dangerous, pregnant or not. That being said i was paying for IUI's and had a bottle of wine the day before i took a PG test. I figured IF it was positive i might as well have one last hurrah

 

[lolalaloca]

I'm 21 years old, and I try so hard to not drink just for the same reason as everyone else, I'm ttc. Especially with summer coming around, it is just so hard -__-

 

[ChocLover]

Any OB will tell you not to wor ry about any alcohol drank prior to you knowing you're pregnant,

Yeah but that's because it's already done so stressing about it won't do any good, the stress will just do harm.

I suspect a small amount of alcohol may be ok - but unfortunately, we don't know how much is ok. We don't really know if a glass here and there is completely ok - or if it's ok for 5/10 babies - or ok for 95/100 babies etc. And even if you did know that - what risk would you be willing to take?

And - given that it would be unethical to research this (i.e. unethical to randomly assign a woman to a drink one glass a week while pregnant group) we'll never know..

 

[BeachyFeelin]

Drink till it's pink!

I refuse to alter my life anymore while TTC. Drinking in moderation is perfectly fine. A cup or two of coffee a day is fine too.

No reason to put yourself through more misery than you have to while TTC.

 

[Wish2BMom]

yes, this is huge for me for the same reasons - DH and his Dad (who lives with us) will have a few beers a few days a week - we'll play cards on the weekends, or just sitting outside grilling - I like to have my wine while they have their beers! Not binging or anything, but still. And I toggle between 'am I doing something to my body right now that'll upset conception eventually?' and 'don't be silly - TONS of women still have drinks and become pregnant'.
And I have coffee in the morning, but not a terrible amount. 2 cups at most and usually I don't finish the 2nd. My friend's doc told her, while she was preg, that a small coffee from a coffee shop (Dunkins if you're in the area) was completely fine every day if she wanted. No more than that.
Ugh - doctors appt in a week so I'll ask anyway.

 

[BeachyFeelin]

My friend recently had her babies (twins) and my cousin is currently pregnant...both have told me that their Doctor's said it's completely fine to enjoy one glass of wine or one beer a week, and same for coffee.

If that is all fine DURING pregnancy....it's fine before.

 

[Wish2BMom]

My friend recently had her babies (twins) and my cousin is currently pregnant...both have told me that their Doctor's said it's completely fine to enjoy one glass of wine or one beer a week, and same for coffee.

If that is all fine DURING pregnancy....it's fine before.

This is good to know - thanks, beachy!

 

[ChocLover]

My friend recently had her babies (twins) and my cousin is currently pregnant...both have told me that their Doctor's said it's completely fine to enjoy one glass of wine or one beer a week, and same for coffee.

If that is all fine DURING pregnancy....it's fine before.

Wow .. Then the doctors have given advice that isn't supported by evidence.

 

[ChocLover]

Anyway - I'm not judging anyone but I think if you can abstain you should. The early stage of pregnancy (wheh the heart and central nervous system develop) is when alcohol harms the child - and currently there is no evidence telling us what amount if any is "safe". I'm not an OBGYN - I'm just a clinical psychologist with a research phd in psychology - from what I know about developmental psych - if you can abstain then do so .. From what I know about what it takes to get reliable scientific evidence, I know without a doubt that there is no evidence supporting that any amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy - I feel really sad that doctors are saying otherwise. It's a sad reflection of how irresponsible some health care practitioners can be.

 

[BeachyFeelin]

My friend recently had her babies (twins) and my cousin is currently pregnant...both have told me that their Doctor's said it's completely fine to enjoy one glass of wine or one beer a week, and same for coffee.

If that is all fine DURING pregnancy....it's fine before.

Wow .. Then the doctors have given advice that isn't supported by evidence.

This actually wasn't the first time I have heard of being able to enjoy one glass of wine/beer a week during pregnancy.

My friend who recently gave birth to two very healthy babies didn't drink one glass a week (just because she didn't want to) but she did enjoy a few during her 9 month pregnancy and the babies turned out healthy and happy. And my cousin does enjoy a cup of coffee every once in a while, or some caffeinated tea.

There are studies out there to support this, but just like anything else there are people saying it's ok, and people saying it's not.

I'm not condoning pregnant women go out and drink. But I'm sure when I'm pregnant I will enjoy a cup of coffee here and there or maybe even a glass of wine on a special occasion.