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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have one small glass of red wine at 38 weeks pregnant?

430 replies

baby2c · 22/08/2025 20:49

I’m not a drinker at all but DH gets a bottle of red once or twice a month and tonight I really fancy just a very small glass, I’m a weirdo (according to DH) who likes ice in red wine on the rare occasion I have it. DH is only having one glass just in case I was to go into labour and he had to drive to hospital. So I was thinking of having a tiny amount with some ice and enjoying sipping it whilst watching tv in my pjs however I’m not sure if this is totally out of order or reasonable? Would you? Or did you? I haven’t touched alcohol at all since finding out I am pregnant at 4 weeks.

OP posts:
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BourgeoisBabe · 22/08/2025 21:32

BonfireToffee · 22/08/2025 20:52

If you’re asking on here, you sound like the kind of woman who’ll worry if you have it. I wouldn’t, but I sympathise — I had a lovely bottle of Chardonnay in the fridge from the day before I found out I was pregnant. It taunted me for nine long months!

Not comparable at all

MidnightPatrol · 22/08/2025 21:32

ttcat37 · 22/08/2025 21:30

Which part of it, pray tell?

She isn’t forcing her baby to consume alcohol.

A single glass of wine is a tiny amount of alcohol, then processed by OP’s liver and present in very tiny amounts in her blood stream.

She’s not forcing her baby to consume alcohol.

ChaToilLeam · 22/08/2025 21:32

You'll be fine. Have a wee one if you want.

MrsMitford3 · 22/08/2025 21:31

baby2c · 22/08/2025 21:07

Thanks everyone who’s been reasonable (also the people who say they wouldn’t I’m including in that), the people asking if I’d give my baby it through a bottle etc I just have no words 😂

I am currently sipping my thimble full of Malbec with some crushed ice and my feet up.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend! X

Enjoy the thimble-the only bit I am judging is ice with malbec 😂

ttcat37 · 22/08/2025 21:31

MidnightPatrol · 22/08/2025 21:30

When I was at hospital being induced, the midwives suggested I go to the pub and have a drink as it might relax me

What decade was this?

MayaPinion · 22/08/2025 21:31

When I was pregnant with my firstborn (now 19) the official guidance was ‘one or two units of alcohol once or twice a week’. I used to really enjoy my small glass of red with pizza on a Friday night. It was the one meal of the week that wasn’t super healthy ‘baby first’ and I enjoyed every second of it. Enjoy your wine!

ttcat37 · 22/08/2025 21:30

Notmyreality · 22/08/2025 21:28

What ludicrous comment.

Which part of it, pray tell?

KickHimInTheCrotch · 22/08/2025 21:30

I actually think all the Fanta I drank during my pregnancies (massive fizzy orange cravings!) probably did more harm to my DC than the occasional half pint of cider.

IllBeLookingAtTheMoon · 22/08/2025 21:30

Ice in red wine. OP is a fucking sicko.

MidnightPatrol · 22/08/2025 21:30

ttcat37 · 22/08/2025 21:27

Maybe you should ask your GP and midwife and see what they say? I imagine it’ll be a massive fucking NO because you’re pregnant. Just wait a few more weeks. Your baby cannot process the alcohol you are forcing it to consume.

When I was at hospital being induced, the midwives suggested I go to the pub and have a drink as it might relax me

StandFirm · 22/08/2025 21:29

Typicalwave · 22/08/2025 21:23

That’s ok - because she’s not thinking of doing that.

That was a rhetorical question, obviously.

Robin67 · 22/08/2025 21:28

YABU. There is no safe amount of alcohol in pregnancy.

KatyaKabanova · 22/08/2025 21:28

It'll be fine 👍

Notmyreality · 22/08/2025 21:28

ttcat37 · 22/08/2025 21:27

Maybe you should ask your GP and midwife and see what they say? I imagine it’ll be a massive fucking NO because you’re pregnant. Just wait a few more weeks. Your baby cannot process the alcohol you are forcing it to consume.

What ludicrous comment.

KatyaKabanova · 22/08/2025 21:27

TheChosenTwo · 22/08/2025 21:22

I’d not have a seconds worry or fret or guilt over a small glass of red wine once during your pregnancy.
The fact that you’re questioning it makes me think you’re the kind of person who would probably not enjoy it fully though because you’d be worried (this is not me being mean or pointing a finger I promise! I’m just not a worrier!). I didn’t drink during my pregnancies once I found out I was expecting as I just never fancied it but had I fancied a glass of wine I’d have had a small one.

I’m a bit bemused at the poster who has likened you drinking a glass of wine to pouring the glass of wine directly into the unborn child’s mouth though 😂😂

Yes, a basic misunderstanding of physiology there 😂

ttcat37 · 22/08/2025 21:27

Maybe you should ask your GP and midwife and see what they say? I imagine it’ll be a massive fucking NO because you’re pregnant. Just wait a few more weeks. Your baby cannot process the alcohol you are forcing it to consume.

MidnightPatrol · 22/08/2025 21:27

Theres no evidence to show that one glass of wine across a whole pregnancy will cause harm.

Enjoy it! Most women I know have had the odd drink during pregnancy.

MalteserGeezee · 22/08/2025 21:27

Flamingoknees · 22/08/2025 20:57

Non alcoholic Guinness is lovely and very realistic (unlike n/a wine imo) - would that be to your taste?

NHS

According to the NHS, there is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy; the safest option is to avoid alcohol completely. Drinking alcohol at any stage of pregnancy can harm your baby,

Edited

The reason the NHS says there's "no safe limit" is because they can hardly go around experimenting on pregnant women to find out what's safe. So they give a blanket "zero". Emily Poster's book is so great on all these topics and data points

EmeraldShamrock000 · 22/08/2025 21:26

I would.
The risk is minimal.
I gave birth at 36 weeks 5 days,. DS was considered full term.

Notmyreality · 22/08/2025 21:25

StandFirm · 22/08/2025 20:51

Would you give your newborn a very small glass of wine in their bottle? No. As tempting as it is, the risks aren't worth it.

No you wouldn’t. But as that isn’t what OP is suggesting then theres no problem is there?

cecilia267 · 22/08/2025 21:23

HolyMacaroniBatman · 22/08/2025 20:55

One small glass of red wine sipped slowly will get filtered out by your liver without going anywhere near your baby.

The choice is yours but medically and statistically there is no risk, don’t let anyone freak you out.

”Expecting Better” by Emily Oster is a great source of actual information on this kind of thing.

This

narcASD · 22/08/2025 21:23

No I wouldn’t and I’m pretty lax it’s just as bad as having a fag

KickHimInTheCrotch · 22/08/2025 21:23

There is really no harm in it. You are allowed to relax and are not just a baby making machine.

NoVibrato · 22/08/2025 21:23

StandFirm · 22/08/2025 20:51

Would you give your newborn a very small glass of wine in their bottle? No. As tempting as it is, the risks aren't worth it.

oh don't be stupid. Baby is well developed. You do realize that this "no alcohol in pregnancy" is a very recent thing? Generations of women had mums who drank socially during pregnancy and turned out very nicely indeed. Obviously it is better we are careful now, but let's keep things in proportion!
Mind you, ice in red wine; eek!

Typicalwave · 22/08/2025 21:23

StandFirm · 22/08/2025 20:51

Would you give your newborn a very small glass of wine in their bottle? No. As tempting as it is, the risks aren't worth it.

That’s ok - because she’s not thinking of doing that.