vino anyone?

[dizzydoll]

I'm abstaining. I wouldn't judge anyone for having the odd glass here or there for special occasions and that but I'm just not bothered. Even before I got pregnant I would often go months without drinking or go on a night out and decide not to drink so it's no big deal for me.
When I have LO and am breastfeeding I'm hoping to be able to express milk so that I can have the odd guilt free night out.

 

[Sarahcake]

one large glass of red wine is around 3-4 units which i never realised before, so technically 2 of those a week would be considered enough to cause some level of danger to baby, i think more research needs to be done to be honest

I definately agree with this, its such a grey area currently with so many differing opinions from health care professionals.

 

[charlie15]

I'm the same, never a big drinker myself so haven't missed it at all for the last 5 months. But last night I just really felt like having one glass of wine with my lovely meal and I really don't think for a minute it would have done any harm to bubs!

Obviously research into alcohol and pregnancy is a hard thing to do as no pregnant women will ever consent to be part of a trial saying drink 10 units of alcohol a week and we'll see if it harms your baby! but having said that I do think that there is an element of common sense in that in moderation it should be fine, In France they do as they wish when they are pregnant but the drinking culture there is not the "drunk" one that we have here! and I don't think they have a higher rate of children with developmental problems or more foetal alcohol syndrome and they definitely don't live in a society with a lower than average IQ because pregnant women would have a glass of vino with their meal!

It's totally an individual choice to eat and drink what you like in pregnancy,but now at 21 weeks I will have the occasional tipple all in all i would guess it would work out as 1-2 units of alcohol a month as not a big drinker anyway!!

 

[MrsEngland]

I won't touch it because of the fetal alcohol syndrome babies can get just from 1 glass that totally disables them. We watched a thing on it in health and social care and I'd never touch alcohol whilst pregnant now.

I really don't believe that 1 glass of alcohol can cause foetal alcohol syndrome!
All the research that I have seen varies about neurological development in children and the effects of alcohol from 5 to 9 units a week or more having a detrimental effect on children's IQ and concentration.

Well from the stuff I've seen it can, their have been parents or had 1 or 2 glasses of wine in their whole pregnancy and it has affected their childs whole life. If other people want to drink that's their choice and yes chances are things will be fine but personally I would take that risk.

 

[Charlie5]

Nothing for me but it's not unusual for me to go months without drinking anyway - I am just not a big drinker

Personally, for me, i agree with Mrs England if I was a drinker and there was any risk at all, even if its 0.01% or whatever its just not worth it - but thats my opinion and no judgement on anyone else in any way whatsoever - their decision is 100% their choice and none of my business!

 

[Xgail123]

I have had none why would you want to drink while pregnant?

 

[PrincessTaz]

I'm not drinking alcohol during this pregnancy, I'd rather just wait until after and enjoy having a drink. Someone bought me a white wine spritzer when I was 16 weeks even though I had said a million times I was happy with a J20. Anyway I didn't want to be rude so I tried to drink it but ended up only having a few sips and I felt guilty with everyone one of them so deffo not worth it for me cause I am too much of a worrier.

Each to their own though, I drink coffee now and again which some people probably choose to stay away from

 

[SpringerS]

I won't be drinking any alcohol. The thing is we know alcohol causes harm to the foetus, what we don't know is if there is a safe drinking limit and until we know that there is one, imo, it's best to abstain completely. The thing that decided this for me was learning that countries like France, where moderate drinking throughout pregnancy is common, have some of the highest rates of foetal alcohol syndrome in the world. Personally that's enough for me to feel like there is no safe limit.

Additionally, recent studies in Denmark have shown that low to moderate drinking by pregnant women carrying boys has caused drastically reduced sperm counts in those boys when they are adult men. Personally I find the chances of reducing a son's fertility way too big a risk for the sake of having the odd drink.

 

[mellyboo]

I have had none why would you want to drink while pregnant?

I think for the most part the girl's on here it's not to have a drink and get drunk its to sit back and relax and take a little bit of an edge off a little bit of stress... I don't drink to get drunk * i used to back in my party days* but they've been over for some time now..i'm 25 and legal drinking age in Canada in my province is 19...I haven't had one glass of alchahol since i've been pregnant not even a sip it's my sisters wedding so i dont think one glass to seriously take the edge of the stress off of the h e l l my family went thru with planing her wedding will hurt my babes... i plan to drink a crap ton of water after that glass tho.. I've done my re search i feel pretty confident she's going to be okay... ive seen people get piss loaded pregnant and there children turn out fine... not saying thats the right thing to do BECAUSE it is not the right thing to do...

There's so many questionable things in this world to me though... like a cell phone causes cancer and maybe tomorrow peanut butter will too!! LOL its crazyness!!


but i agree if you dont feel comfortable having that one glass by all means never feel pressured too.. i think its very personal preference.

 

[veryfondoftea]

I used to drink wine before I was pregnant but the thought makes me feel sick now! I am craving gin and tonic though! I have found that having just the tonic with a slice of lemon actually tastes like g&t so I've been having that, and I had 1/2 bottle of corona the other week.

I really doubt that the NHS would post information on their website advising that it is OK for pregnant women to have the occasional drink, up to 1-2 units per week if there was research proving that one drink causes fetal alcohol syndrome. Plus, lots of women in other cultures e.g. France drink much more often than that and I haven't heard of the majority of French babies having fetal alcohol syndrome!

 

[Sparrow85]

I honestly don't think having one every now and then will do any harm.

I loved an ice cold glass of white wine before pregnancy, but I've honestly had no desire to have any at all so I can't see me having any. It just doesn't appeal to me.

 

[TFSGirl]

I have completely abstained from both alcohol and caffeine (well, besides the small amounts of chocolate I have eaten) as, like others, I was never a drinker before hand. I have been known to easily go 6-12 months without having a drink and not bat an eyelash. I just see no need to risk anything I don't know for sure. I have kind of taken the approach this pregnancy that if it doesn't BENEFIT my child, I try to stay away from it. That has gone for foods, alcohol, caffeine etc. While they say there is no evidence that it causes harm, I still just don't NEED it so I have stayed away. Coffee has actually been MORE difficult for me to stay away from than the alcohol has been.

I do agree that in the UK and Europe and the like, it is far more accepted as well. Still, I'd personally still be abstaining if I was there.

 

[Sparrow85]

Thing is, I've done a couple of things I shouldn't do in pregnancy.

I've smoked (I quit at 6 weeks), I've drank coffee and I've had a couple of hot dogs at the cinema.

I personally wouldn't let anyone make you feel bad for it, but people will always have strong opinions on things like this. If you are happy and your baby is doing fine, I think everything in moderation is OK.

 

[TFSGirl]

Maybe I should start doing cocaine in moderation

 

[Sparrow85]

Maybe I should start doing cocaine in moderation

Well, I clearly didn't mean that but I get what you're saying.

Like I said, it's not for me but everyone's different.

 

[charlie15]

I have had none why would you want to drink while pregnant?

I think for the most part the girl's on here it's not to have a drink and get drunk its to sit back and relax and take a little bit of an edge off a little bit of stress... I don't drink to get drunk * i used to back in my party days* but they've been over for some time now..i'm 25 and legal drinking age in Canada in my province is 19...I haven't had one glass of alchahol since i've been pregnant not even a sip it's my sisters wedding so i dont think one glass to seriously take the edge of the stress off of the h e l l my family went thru with planing her wedding will hurt my babes... i plan to drink a crap ton of water after that glass tho.. I've done my re search i feel pretty confident she's going to be okay... ive seen people get piss loaded pregnant and there children turn out fine... not saying thats the right thing to do BECAUSE it is not the right thing to do...

There's so many questionable things in this world to me though... like a cell phone causes cancer and maybe tomorrow peanut butter will too!! LOL its crazyness!!


but i agree if you dont feel comfortable having that one glass by all means never feel pressured too.. i think its very personal preference.

That's a very cultural question from a culture of a country where a large proportion of people drink to get drunk. I'm 39 and my drink to get drunk days are a long way behind me, I'm also an A&E sister so on a daily basis see the catastrophic consequences of the binge drinking culture that we live in and will be no doubt tonight on my night shift! Alcohol to some is a a lovely drink to be savoured, whichever drink that may be. For me a glass of decent red wine with a lovely meal is lush, I'm not getting pissed just enjoying one glass of wine!

And yes I agree the odd tipple can help take the edge of life's stresses so why not. But it's all about choice, it will take some convincing me though that 1 or 2 glasses of alcohol can have a detrimental effect on bubs, i think it's just pregnancy scare mongering and as someone else has mentioned the NHS would not say that it's safe at a low level if there was any doubt that it wasn't for fear of litigation of which Obs and gynae have the highest rate of in the NHS.

About France having the highest rate of FAS globally, what I have read is that FAS was discovered in France but there are higher rates in The States than in France with a difference of 7 per 1000 births.

 

[TFSGirl]

Maybe I should start doing cocaine in moderation

Well, I clearly didn't mean that but I get what you're saying.

Like I said, it's not for me but everyone's different.

I know you didn't, hence the wink at the end. I guess my scientific and anthropology background makes me quick to think of all the risks of alcohol and other drugs to FULL GROWN humans, and thus I can't help but wonder why we would want to do that to our growing babies, but you are correct, it's an individual choice... I just have done SO much research on this stuff and try to abstain from it for the most part beyond a glass at Christmas or Easter that giving it to my baby seems very very odd. Again, my own personal opinion though.

 

[TFSGirl]

I have had none why would you want to drink while pregnant?

I think for the most part the girl's on here it's not to have a drink and get drunk its to sit back and relax and take a little bit of an edge off a little bit of stress... I don't drink to get drunk * i used to back in my party days* but they've been over for some time now..i'm 25 and legal drinking age in Canada in my province is 19...I haven't had one glass of alchahol since i've been pregnant not even a sip it's my sisters wedding so i dont think one glass to seriously take the edge of the stress off of the h e l l my family went thru with planing her wedding will hurt my babes... i plan to drink a crap ton of water after that glass tho.. I've done my re search i feel pretty confident she's going to be okay... ive seen people get piss loaded pregnant and there children turn out fine... not saying thats the right thing to do BECAUSE it is not the right thing to do...

There's so many questionable things in this world to me though... like a cell phone causes cancer and maybe tomorrow peanut butter will too!! LOL its crazyness!!


but i agree if you dont feel comfortable having that one glass by all means never feel pressured too.. i think its very personal preference.

That's a very cultural question from a culture of a country where a large proportion of people drink to get drunk. I'm 39 and my drink to get drunk days are a long way behind me, I'm also an A&E sister so on a daily basis see the catastrophic consequences of the binge drinking culture that we live in and will be no doubt tonight on my night shift! Alcohol to some is a a lovely drink to be savoured, whichever drink that may be. For me a glass of decent red wine with a lovely meal is lush, I'm not getting pissed just enjoying one glass of wine!

And yes I agree the odd tipple can help take the edge of life's stresses so why not. But it's all about choice, it will take some convincing me though that 1 or 2 glasses of alcohol can have a detrimental effect on bubs, i think it's just pregnancy scare mongering and as someone else has mentioned the NHS would not say that it's safe at a low level if there was any doubt that it wasn't for fear of litigation of which Obs and gynae have the highest rate of in the NHS.
About France having the highest rate of FAS globally, what I have read is that FAS was discovered in France but there are higher rates in The States than in France with a difference of 7 per 1000 births.

Just remember that for years and years, smoking was deemed to be safe all the time, including in pregnancy.

 

[Bergebabe]

whats safe and not safe changes on a daily basis. i agree drinking regularly isnt healthy while pregnant, but i honetly think one glass isnt giong to do anything. i have had the grand total of two glasses of wine and refuse to beat myself up about it considering what i have given up.

its only the last few years that caffeine has been deemed unsafe for example. how many people do you know who drank shed loads of tea/coffee through their pregnancies?

my dad got cancer from cleaning products - how many of you have stopped cleaning while pregnant?

 

[Sparrow85]

Maybe I should start doing cocaine in moderation

Well, I clearly didn't mean that but I get what you're saying.

Like I said, it's not for me but everyone's different.

I know you didn't, hence the wink at the end. I guess my scientific and anthropology background makes me quick to think of all the risks of alcohol and other drugs to FULL GROWN humans, and thus I can't help but wonder why we would want to do that to our growing babies, but you are correct, it's an individual choice... I just have done SO much research on this stuff and try to abstain from it for the most part beyond a glass at Christmas or Easter that giving it to my baby seems very very odd. Again, my own personal opinion though.

Sorry! I just don't agree with drugs at all pre-pregnancy so definite no-no during pregnancy.

That's understandable then, I haven't researched it at all as never had the desire to drink alcohol at all since bing pregnant. I just think it's really easy to judge other people (which we all do, obviously) when none of us are perfect. I found out I was pregnant at 4+2 and didn't quit smoking until 6 weeks, so would feel really hypocritical judging someone else for something that is supposed to be 'wrong'.