Who's given up alcohol completely?

I cut down a lot but mainly in solidarity with DH who was cutting down to improve his sperm quality, we would share a bottle of red over the course of a weekend and then I'd maybe have a half of guinness during the week if we were out. And that went out the window when RTD arrived every month.

There is such a lot of conflicting 'evidence' that its a mine field. For instance, I read that drinking even a small amount during IVF can cut your chances of success in half, which contradicts what coconut said (i prefer her version). But then so does stress so if having a glass of wine relieves that and makes your life livable then I don't think denying yourself completely is a good idea (or possible for most people)

I gave up with our first two during the TTC period. Then I noticed that every time I got pregnant it co-incided with a 'oh sod it' month when I had drunk, so I gave up giving up next time round. Not sure I would recommend this though!

I have given up alcoho as I am TTC - I read that it can change your hormones and as I have endo and came off the pill after 20 years on it without breaks, I thought I needed to give my body its best chance.

I also gave up chocolate but relapsed slightly this past week

Interestingly, I had a specialist gynae appt at the John Radcliffe last month and they were absolutely DEFINITE that I should not drink whilst TTC Sadly they told my OH that he COULD drink when I had told him not to as his sperm count might drop. So now he is all smug because he can drink and I can't!!!!

So I have the odd tipple but nothing much more than that - maybe once a month if at a party, at the most.

My main downfall is not eating healthily in terms of loads of fruit n veg, and low sugar etc.

We're both light drinkers anyway so no, I'm not giving up alcohol whilst ttc. By light I mean DH and I share 1 bottle of wine once a week, so I get about 3 units in a weekend. Having said that I can take or leave alcohol quite happily, so if someone convinced me I should give it up then I wouldn't miss it.

Caffeine, however, is completely non-negotiable. If I do conceive and tea doesn't make me sick, then there's no way on earth I'm giving up a good cuppa.

I gave up caffeine because I was trying to get my blood pressure down to a point where the doc wouldn't pull that "hmmm, perhaps we need to give you drugs" face every time I visited (long and boring history of panic attacks and other stuff).

Needless to say it has made bugger all difference. However as I got the most stinking awful headache for 2 days when I stopped drinking it, it is safe to say it was probably not doing me much good.

Am not giving up chocolate though. No way.

I was reading on the message boards on Fertility Friend that some women undergoing IVF in the US are advised to have a glass of red wine every day to aid implantation.

I don't know what research it based on but I quite liked that idea.

I had two mouthfuls of champagne when I was 5 weeks

Not had another drop for the past 31 weeks

Lyra, I think "they" recommend sticking below 240mg of caffeine per day. If you only drink tea, then your average cup contains about 40mg so you can drink a few of those. Also to be borne in mind though is chocolate containing a fair bit as well as paracetamol plus painkillers which also have a lot.

This coming from the woman who hasn't managed to conceive yet, so nest month I may try a diet of raw shellfish and pate, drink 18 expressos and get wasted a lot. That should do it.

No because I have been TTC for over 2 years, and because I don't think me giving up drinking would help us get pregnant as I appear quite fertile anyway.

DH however HAS given up drinking, as he had a low sperm count. And since he gave up 9 months ago his sperm count has gone from 1 million (v low) to 36 million (normal). So if you're having problems TTC I would suggest your DPs give up alcohol or at least cut down as well.

Nope, I still drink.
I've already given up the caffeine, we don't smoke and both eat reasonably heathily, so we allow ourselves a couple of bottles of wine at the weekend (can't handle hangovers, so we don't drink through the week).

I have read that you shouldnt drink excessivley round the time of ovulation. However, a lot of things are said and women still manage to conceive, many while they are pissed a bit tipsy! :D

Enjoy your alcoholic beverages while you can!

I don't think I could get by for too long without drinking at all (I know how that sounds ) and I think I would have more chance of Brad Pitt fathering my child than convincing DH to give up Guinness for longer than a week at a time

If I could guarantee a BFP if we both gave up alcohol for a month that would be different but the idea of months stretching ahead without being able to enjoy a binge drinking session at the weekend glass of wine with dinner would be a huge challenge. I think TTCing can be stressful enough when it carries on for a while and denying yourself things you enjoy makes it even harder. (Plus I do also subscribe to the idea that I will have to cut right down when pg so that will be long enough thanks)

Yes I think I managed the first month owlie! Interested as to why you've cut out caffeine, I thought it was OK at moderate levels?

I managed one month of not drinking at all whilst TTC then realised how long it was probably going to take and caved in. I can't drink bloody lime and soda for years! Hence I will have one glass when I go out, half a glass during 2WW and all the glasses when AF arrives.

I've cut out caffeine though :( :(

Mummya get your Christmas visitors to bring you out some PG Tips Decaf - it tastes no different and it's keeping me going!

@ BrassicBabe

I agree with Wombat33 - allowing myself a drink at the beginning of a new cycle, but not on the 2ww.

As others have said to deny yourself something completely just makes you want it more, and that just does not work for some people.

Sometimes DH has a glass of wine or a beer, and I just have a sip of his, so that I still get a taste of it, but am not tempted to have a whole glass to myself.

Feck, don't make me give up caffine too!

I really enjoyed my wine, but did give it up when deciding to start TTC. My husband doesn't drink really - only occassionally - socially, so no alcohol in the house.

Saying that, though, it did only take 1 month to get pregnant.

And I completely cut out coffee - but that wasn't too hard for me.

It's easier for me to cut things out then worrying about moderation!!!

Me neither. I've been TTC for a year now. It might not happen. I can't put my life on hold.

Anyway, found this in NICE guidelines p 27 (the bit they didn't publish)

"One cohort study showed that female wine drinkers (up to seven units per week) had slightly shorter waiting times to pregnancy than non-wine drinkers and drinkers of other alcoholic beverages, after adjusting for age, parity, smoking and body mass index"

Think the not drinking is because if you are TTC you might not know when you have conceived - but let's face it that seems pretty unlikely for anyone of us here of the conception board!

I've not given up, but cut back a bit. I think people would realise something was up if I cut it out entirely, and I quite like a glass of wine occasionally.

I haven't cut out caffeine entirely either, but again cut back.

Am not convinced that it's necessary to give both up when pg either.

yup; for those who are having trouble ttc they are advised that booze can have an impact on conception and risk of miscarriage - and that counts for men just as much as women.

NOPE. I have mostly quit smoking, and stopped drinking nearly 2 pints of strong black coffee a day (that's not an exaggeration either). But if I gave up drinking then I'd be miserable and get even more resentful at my monthly babyfails. And I don't want the whole period of TTCing to be followed around by the smell of burning martyr .

I also intend to drink the EXACT amount indicated during pregnant. Every week, without fail.

I was talking to a friend about alcohol and TTC - she had taken 8 months to conceive her first at age 29. She said she and her husband gave up alcohol completely for three months before conceiving and she firmly believes it helped with sperm quality etc. This sounds tragic, but I cannot make DH give up alcohol completely and neither can I for three months. But we are relatively clean living individuals otherwise and I think the stress of TTC is great enough without longing for a glass of wine or a cold beer. Everything in moderation.