what do you think of pregnant women drinking?

[babyonboard]

Just wondering, as we went out for a sunday roast this weekend, and I had a pint of lager shandy (it was a really hot day and it was lovely out in the pub garden)
I have generally been having a shandy or a white wine spritzer almost every weekend since I found out I was pregnant, and do not ssee the harm in it myself,
I did however get a lot of disgusted stares from various women sitting near us.
i am very proud that i stopped smoking the day I took the test, and though it has been hell i have not succumbed since, even though dp is still smoking as normal so the temptation is always there
I do not see the problem in treating myself to an occasional drink, and don't believe I should be wrapped up in cotton wool for the whole 9 months.
what are your thoughts?

[MarsLady]

I drank Guinness and red wine throughout each of my pregnancies. The babies were all good weights and very healthy.

People do give dirty looks, but to be honest couldn't give a fig! Also ate pasteurised soft cheese, liver and seafood. All things in moderation!

[twirlaround]

Drinking = fine
Drunk = bad idea

[desperatehousewife]

totally agree. The odd drink will not harm you or the baby.

[SenoraPostrophe]

I had the odd pint and the odd glass of wine.

I think the advice has changed very recently but I can't remember what to.

[bonkerz]

would rather see a pregnant woman drink a pint than smoke a fag to be honest, im 15 weeks pregnant and havent had a drop of alcohol since i found out but will definately have some on holiday when i will be 7 months! As long as you are not drinking it fast or knocking back enough to get drunk i dont see a problem with it!

[MarsLady]

good to see you bonkerz.

[bonkerz]

thanks!!!

[babyonboard]

No of course not..only ever one, and with food..
I must say though, I have a horrid memory last year of a heavily pregnant chav type in wetherspoons who was there the whole night knocking back shots, smoking (even half a cigar at one point1) and ended up almost falling over drunk.
my friend was chatting to one of her group at the bar, and he said it was disgusting and she had four kids in care already, two with severe learning disabilities..
he was still getting her a drink in though! craziness...

[BigBumpBonnie]

I agree, I'm 6.5months and do have the occassional glass. Really don't think it does any harm. Feel really embarassed about having half a lager with my Sunday lunch though. We go out every sunday and I usually have half a lager but try to hide my bump under the table. Must say I haven't had any nasty looks from anyone yet. As someone said everything in moderation (except smoking) is fine IMO.

[Angeliz]

i drank wine.
I too stopped smoking and it was hell! dd is now 4 months and i still want one!!
Hope you stared them out!!

[Fio2]

you would dehydrate without fluid

[Angeliz]

[babyonboard]

It is sad, and worse to think of all the women that are so depserate for the chance to have a baby, or those that are good as gold whilst pregnant and find their child has autism or epilepsy. it's blatant risrgard for human life. Hopefully that child too was given to someone who could look after it pproperly. you know, i sometimes think there should be enforced sterilisation for some people.
not to make myslef sound awful now, but it is dps birthday and we arer going out for dinner, do you think it would be awful of me to have a small drink..ie half of beer..considering I had one just on sunday?

[babyonboard]

God just realised how crapo I am at typing too..maybe i should teach myslef seeing as I'm stuck at home with nothing better to do...

[Fio2]

I knew two alcoholics who between them had perfectly healthy children

i myself drank nothing with my daughter and she is severly disabled

my son i had a glass of wine of an eveing toward the last few months and he is fine

[Fio2]

i mean 2 female alchies who has 2 kids each, all were ok , argh and argh again

[Nightynight]

one WHOLE shandy, every SINGLE weekend?

I drank the odd glass of wine thoughout four pregnancies. The only medical advice I ever saw was against heavy/binge drinking.

congrats on not smoking, esp if your dp is still puffing away!

[babyonboard]

some people will go crazy telling you what not to do..another time recently i was eating cashews in the pub (god now isound like an alchy...he he) and a total stranger came over and said ' i can't believe you are doing that being pregnant, think of your baby! and I hope thats just a lemonade!'
and this is london..where noone speaks to strangers..
add to that my soon to be mil trying to force feed me a nasty cabbage and mince dish when my stomach was heaving with morning sickness, the friends who tell me my multivitamins can cause birth defects, a particular food crazy friend who says i should be avoiding cows milk as its unsafe..and my mum who insists i should avoid salt at all costs..
it's craziness
can't wait till my body reverts back to being my own territory (apart fom the baby hanging off my boob of course..he he)

[babyonboard]

yes i am proud..and cross that he refuses to give up. Have told him he will have to smoke outside when the tot is born, and as we are three floors up and it will be winter may be an incentive enoguh for him..he he

[Tortington]

only tenants pilsner

[PinotGirl]

My ex-DH had an adopted sister with fetal alcohol syndrome that meant she had severe learning disabilities and also had significant health problems. Because of that I didn't drink a drop when I was pregnant with my dd.

That was just what I did but I certainly would never judge anyone who had a drink every now and then when pregnant.

[morningpaper]

I drink between 1 - 5 units a week when pregnant. The top end is over the limit I know but I always make sure it's well diluted with lots of water! (and not so I feel an 'effect' IYKWIM)

[Moomin]

think yourselves lucky - in the U.S. strangers think it's their duty to lecture you if you look as if you might sniff some alcohol. My friend who lives in NY has seen waiters refuse to serve pg women who ask for a glass of alcohol. I have some weeks when I'll drink up to 4/5 units (not all in one go) and some when the opportunity does not arise. The advice now is to drink NONE at all, which is a bit OTT, imo. My midwife the 1st time round said she thought if the odd glass of red helps a mum to relax then that's better for the baby than sitting there stressing.

I did teach twins who's mum was an alky though and they had fetal alc syndrome - not a pretty sight; but as I said their mum was a VERY heavy drinker.

I've been drinking non-al beer in the hot weather and I'm just waiting for the 1st person to even dare raise an eyebrow to me so I can shove the bottle up their noses!

[starlover]

if you look here you will see why alcohol isn't advised during pregnancy.