Is it true women in Europe drink lightly?

[Rcx]

I used to live in France and most women there would have a glass of wine a day. I have had a few glasses of wine in my pregnancy, doesn't do any harm x

Bizarre, maybe it depends on the region. In my experience it's a huge taboo in France and everyone seems very strict on it. There are these signs over every alcoholic drink and I see them all over the midwife's office and in some restaurants too:

https://www.freemanrecoverycenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/fasd-lady.jpg

Personally I'm not a big drinker so it wasn't a big deal for me to cut it out entirely. I've also omitted it from meals - contrary to popular belief only about 20% of the alcohol gets cooked off, and that depends how long you cook it.

Yeah that is weird, I had a few friends there who would have 2 or 3 small glasses with a meal. But I did notice the wee pregnant lady with the cross through her on all the alcohol bottles! Maybe it was just relatively common where I was.

 

[purplecat]

I'm not to sure about the effects but I personally was a bug wine & beer drinker before getting pregnant. I Actually stopped having a few glasses of wine or beer a month or so before falling pregnant. However, a couple nights ago my husband bought me nonalcoholic wine and it was a great little treat to have with him because I did miss the taste of wine. I would recommend getting non alcoholic wine if that is one of your cravings its super yummy!!

 

[Jaycrew]

I was a big red wine drinker (once or twice a week) but now since being pregnant - I have had a few sips of wine on one glass. it was good. but then my aversion kicked in and i havent had anymore. I really want a beer. So im on a quest to find some odouls non alcoholic beer. As far as wine- i really dont think that 1 time a week will hurt baby.

 

[calm]

Its really strange, because as I said I don't drink beer or alcohol in general anyway, but since pregnant the thought of how beer smells really turns my stomach. I suppose it can go either way: or aversion or craving

 

[Gingerspice]

I'm planning on having a small glass for special occassions. It's OH 30th birthday, and mine while pregnant. Plus wedding anniversary and potentially any early Christmas as parties (esp if I go overdue again)

I'm not a big drinker anyway otherwise but did enjoy a glass sometimes. Given OH is away lots anyway I won't drink when home alone so it was hardly a common occurrence

 

[LuxAeterna]

I don't see an issue with the occasional glass of wine or beer. I think the recommendation to abstain is mostly about litigation. Also, to avoid issues with over consumption should it be "tolerated."

However, as Americans or Westerners, we over consume a lot, and have issues with moderation. I think we do more damage to ourselves with our poor diet/eating habits than the occasional glass of wine.

I don't understand demonizing a pregnant women for a glass of wine, but shrugging one's shoulders if she eats a diet high in refined carbs. There's a higher chance of the latter causing more issues than the former.

I'm not a huge drinker. I can count on both hands how many times I've had alcohol within the last year. I've contemplated having a glass or wine later in the second trimester.

Also, as other studies have shown, self-reporting is not accurate. What is moderate to one individual may not be moderate to another. So a woman who is more of a heavy drinker could very well claim she's a "moderate" drinker, thus leading to inaccurate results. A woman who is a moderate drinker could claim she's a "light drinker" due to shame or embarrassment. Maybe she doesn't want to admit she's really a moderate drinker. This skews the results.

But a glass once a week? I don't see that as a big deal. I come into contact with "there are chemicals known to cause birth defects" signs and warnings on a daily basis. They seem to be everywhere in CA. So, should I avoid going to the store, running errands and going to restaurants then? No.

It's about common sense and intellectual honesty. If one knows they're more prone to over consuming X then don't consume X. Be it refined carbs, medicine, alcohol, etc.

 

[mixedmama]

It's a personal choice. IMO you can never be sure what effect alcohol has on the baby as any amount of alcohol passes through the bloodstream into the placenta. That being said, lots of women choose have an odd glass of wine during pregnancy.

 

[vickyandchick]

I'm from the UK and I personally don't drink anymore and I was a biiiig drinker before I got pregnant.
I don't drink anymore because I'm such a big worrier and over thinker that I'd worry about it for ages afterwards, and also the thought of it is just not appealing anymore.

I know one of my aunts had a few glasses of wine when she was pregnant both times and both her kids are fine

 

[Unexpected212]

I wouldn't risk it personally. It's only 9 months. I didn't drink with my son and I don't drink this time. I know myself and if anything happened I'd torture myself with what ifs.

My midwife and doctor say no drinking so I trust their advice.

 

[Enasy]

I was a big drinker before I was pregnant, most nights after work I would have a couple. But at the end of the day alcohol is a poison and while i am responsible for what my baby consumes while he is inside me, 9 months is not that long to just go with out
But everyone has different views on it

 

[Brightxeyes]

I know that things like wine in moderation is considered okay by some people in the uk but they generally advise avoiding it completely.

But I've had people say a pint of Guinness is good for you as it's full of iron! Never tried Guinness though and I don't think I'd like it!

 

[BigAl]

I don't see any harm in the occasional small drink, I had a small bucks fizz on Christmas morning with my first. I just seemed to be needed for the occasion. I think if you have a small drink with a meal (rather than an empty stomach) the alcohol will be digested slower. I really don't know how to put it into words, but if you drank a small amount, slowly, your blood alcohol level really won't increase to a level where it will affect the baby.

I don't indulge often as it just seems easier to avoid the temptation altogether. Although if my oh is drinking a nice glass of red I have to have a few sips.

 

[NotNic]

Im in the UK and have had three alcoholic drinks this pregnancy - all for celebratory reasons (weddings etc.). I am happy to have the odd glass but I wouldn't have one glass a week. Pre-pregnancy I would easily go 3-4wks without alcohol so I don't feel the need to drink regularly now. I miss the idea of it and the freedom to have a glass if I fancy it, but I find when I'm pregnant my taste buds change and I can't stand wine. I wish I could enjoy an ice cold spritzer, but it tastes vile. Last time I couldn't enjoy a drink while bfing, and it took several months after i stopped to be able to enjoy a glass of wine again.

 

[Gnomer]

I'm not a fan of wine anyway, but I do love my lager. The thought made me want to vom during my first tri, but for the past couple of weeks I've been craving a shandy. I caved in and had a half a pint of shandy on Wednesday. And it was the most amazing thing I ever did taste! But, I know I can stop at one. And a quarter of a pint of 4% lager is tiny. I scratched the itch. I'll probably go the rest of the pregnancy without, unless I start dreaming about it again, and I may have to have another haha.

Moderation is definitely key. I don't mind a taste, but drinking to get drunk would be a massive massive no no. I'm in the UK. A pregnant woman having a shandy, or a small glass of wine wouldn't raise any eyebrows. A pregnant woman stumbling and knocking back whiskey would. I still spend the night at the pub when my boys at his grandparents, I just drink orange juice.

 

[Dobsd]

I think in more rural areas of France and Spain it isn't frowned upon, people have been doing it for generations. I'm in NZ but from the UK. It is advised against but I have had a couple of shandies in my 14 weeks (half beer, half lemonade). I wouldn't have bothered but I have been craving beer!!