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

Correct. I will never not feel annoyed reading these threads.

About 15 years, I was working on a research project that required a long term dive into the FAS research which underpins these guidelines. I was astonished at the relatively little meaningful data that formed the basis of 'official' advice to all pregnant women. Entire blocks of 'official' advice based on cases of FAS in indigenous populations where women were drinking up to 40 units of alcohol per day, is one example.

Things are no better now. FAS is an awful outcome, but people here are talking about the 'risks' of one glass of wine in the same breath as FAS. There is no risk of FAS with one glass of wine. None whatsoever.

I'm not being critical of people who are just repeating the same old lines that echo around this subject - 'no alcohol is safe' etc. We need better research, better public information, more respect for women's bodies, and better science education so that people can actually apply some common sense.

Yes, I agree. But it's an over-reaction by public health authorities and really, the people they want to target take no bloody notice.

There is no known safe amount of alcohol in pregnancy. If you feel okay about drinking, go for it. I just choose not to because I feel more comfortable with that.

There's nothing to risk.

A small amount of alcohol just isn't a risk.

Alcoholism is a genuine, serious issue, agreed.

I don't agree that using the word 'crave' is any kind of serious indicator of that. I talk about 'craving' chocolate all the time. It's just a word I use to indicate that I fancy it.

I remember old women in the 70s talking about giving babies brandy to make them sleep.

Have it

Yep I would and have done before 😊

If I said I was 38 weeks pregnant and thought I might drive into town and meet a friend, would you be advising me not to be selfish and to stay at home?

Exactly!! Would you give your newborn a cup of tea in their bottle? - No. Would you give them pureed cheese omlette - no. Use your brain

I wouldn’t sweat this at all. The only unreasonable thing is asking MN - you’re quite sensible enough to make the decision either way.

They only make this point because there is little to no research allowed to be completed due to how ethical it is to carry out research on pregnant women and their unborn babies and the affects of alcohol. Therefore it’s NOT safe because they can’t say for certain whether it is or it isn’t.

Yes of course you can and enjoy it!

And your comment contributes what exactly?
You wouldn't give a baby alcohol directly - goes without saying- but drinking does expose the foetus in the womb. A PP shared this document here and on page 8 it clearly sums it up: Research on the effects on a baby of low levels of drinking in pregnancy can be difficult to interpret. The risks are probably low, but we cannot be sure that this is completely safe.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80b7ed40f0b623026951db/UK_CMOs__report.pdf
Low does not mean zero. That's the only point worth making. Everyone then decides for themselves.

Yes, @silverygreen. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists also makes this point quite clearly.

www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/alcohol-and-pregnancy/

Keating, I have to disagree in the case of alcohol, as with any drug. Craving a glass of wine, needing a stiff drink, deserving a bottle after a hard work day-- not typical of people who can actually take or leave alcohol.

Actually, the advice is quite clear: no amount of alcohol is safe in pregnancy.

The word is used very loosely by many. I wouldn't read very much into the use of one word - if that's all you're going by.

But I said people who crave alcohol which, since it is an addictive substance, more than hints at a problem.

The vast majority of people are capable of having one glass and then stopping. Pretty patronising to suggest otherwise.

Of course if someone has a genuine problem with alcohol it's not a good idea. But it doesn't sound like this remotely applies to the OP.

Yeah maybe. On the other hand, how many people who "crave" alcohol genuinely stop at one small glass? From my point of view, it's extremely easy just not to drink for 9 months.

It's absolutely fine to have one glass of wine at 38 weeks

A child directly drinking wine is very different from a child sharing a bloodstream with somebody who has just drank wine.

The alcohol content involved in those two situations is completely different.

Drinking a small glass of wine, infrequently, will not affect your blood alcohol levels enough to harm a foetus.

Whereas a baby directly drinking a small glass of wine would probably become drunk which is obviously a no-no.

As above.

You keep restating you opinion without giving any evidence for it. If you haven't got anything new to bring to the table, why bother replying? You say you haven't got time to explain, but you do have time to reply while saying nothing

What a stupid comment.