How did you manage to not drink during pregnancy?

[enkelt2]

Just that, really. I've never been pregnant. Out of all the things pregnant women do for their children, the one thing that impresses me the most is that they can manage to not drink! For such a long time!

I'm not an alcoholic but just cannot fathom not being able to get a beer or two every couple of days, whenever I want.

So for people who used to drink regularly before your pregnancy, do you just... go cold turkey out of sheer will power?? Or did pregnancy make you alcohol-adverse?

Genuinely curious.

They did have allergies. Again thanks for the medical advice but it wasn’t totally fine for us - quite horrible side effects actually. Of course it’s fine for most people.

Pretty easy. You just don’t. I have a Pepsi max addiction and managed to kick that as well. I just focused on a healthy baby

It's pretty easy for most people. You just choose another drink. And nowadays with so many good AF beers available it's really easy.

I found trying to stay off caffeine way harder 🤪

For my first pregnancy I didn't know I was pregnant until 8 weeks and it was entirely unplanned. I had drank relatively heavily with my new boyfriend (now husband) and smoked ~10 a day, and even took MDMA once at a festival. Terrible I know, but thankfully my gorgeous son is perfect and developmentally normal (an absolute genius in my eyes).

Suddenly knowing you are growing a human really sobers you up! I will never forget it! I was drinking a glass of wine one evening and suddenly realised I felt kind of sick and had done, on and off, for a few days. I asked my boyfriend to run to the pharmacy and get a test. Never finished that glass of wine!

(I think it would have been harder were I more reliant on alcohol or cigarettes. I empathise with those women but I was lucky not to feel I really needed either.)

I LOVE wine, and I feared how I would be able to cope not drinking for so long, but then I had a positive pregnancy test and suddenly all I wanted to do was eat salad, healthy proteins, vitamins, good carbs and cucumber water. My growing pregnancy became a life I wanted to vehemently protect. Alcohol wasn't coming near me, and I avoided smokers and chemicals. I had tepid baths and decaffeinated tea. You go a bit mad because it becomes the only thing that matters. That was my experience at least.

I've smoked all my life and managed to quit cold turkey when pregnant. That was hard but the will to protect my tiny baby was stronger than the cravings. Alcohol was easy peasy, just looking at a glass of wine or beer gave me heartburn.

One of the easier sacrifices we make as parents.
Just the thought of the lasting effects of alcohol on a foetus was enough for me. As it is most people.

Because the health of my baby took priority over my need for a drink. But even with me not drinking and being a non smoker my children have severe disabilities.

Well, I drank - white wine a couple of glasses a week. There was no objection to this and doctors were of the opinion the odd glass of wine did not harm - doesn't seem to have either, both DC (now in 40s!) are intelligenct, thoughtful, helpful, well-balanced etc.

Tbh what did concern me was that I tripped over a kerb at six months pregnant with DS, and fell straight into the road, my shopping going flying. Two elderly ladies rushed to help me to my feet. Doctor not worried at all - worse things happen at sea, I suspect he thought!

I found cutting out blue cheese far harder than the alcohol

I like a drink but it's never been the best all a day end all for me. So was not a great sacrifice..

I mourned my blue cheese though.

I was vomiting 3 or more times a day from about week 3 to when I had them at week 31. Alcohol was not what I wanted.

Taking a risk with your own health is one thing, taking a risk with a tiny vulnerable baby's health is entirely different. I can't imagine how guilty I would feel if there was even a suspicion that I had harmed my child by something that is totally avoidable.

I had good fun trying out different mocktails - there are some delicious ones. My friend took me to a non alcoholic bar before and we had the most incredible drinks. I also had some 0% beers. The going off booze did not really bother me massively (days that it - like when people were having champagne - but most of the time it didn’t).

The nausea bothered me a lot and not being able to sleep because I couldn’t get comfortable and my nausea was mostly at night. I also had pains in my legs, haemorrhoids, felt weak etc… I did not love being pregnant - I love having a child but was not a fan of pregnancy bit - I am so glad I did it though!

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought the foetal alcohol disorder was only from heavy drinking. Perhaps I'm not up to date.

I've never been pregnant, but I don't really drink anyway, so I don't think it would be an issue for me.

Maybe cut back in preparation, so it doesn't seem as hard? I went off alcohol for some reason a few years ago, and I found that if you rarely have it, you just lose the taste for it.

I found it easy to stop tbh. Sometimes I wish I could sit on the sofa with a glass of red, or a cider at the pub, but generally I was fine. Non-alcoholic beers are a good alternative for when you want a drink that lasts.

Some posters are talking about decaf tea, so I just wanted to say that I really love my tea, and in my opinion the best decaf I've found is Marks and Spencers own brand, in the Tiffany blue box.

Decaf loose tea is the very best, but it's expensive and not common. Harrods do one, and it's TWELVE POUNDS for 125g. Maybe worth treating yourself to during pregnancy though!

Giving up alcohol is probably one of the easiest and straightforward things you do for your child.

There are a lot bigger changes you end up making.

Exactly! I don't understand how this is a question?

Like others have said, just don't drink in pregnancy. I have friends who'd have the odd wine slowly over an hour period. That's up to them, but I didn't see the point. Three young children now and two years alcohol free as of last week. Didn't plan to stop but now it would feel like a conflict of interest. So much to do each day and already tired etc. Removing alcohol makes life simpler and keeps energy levels more even. Believe me, this is not a choice I would have ever envisioned myself making!

Not so much will power but more that i didn’t want my children to potentially have issues related to alcohol use in pregnancy. That SHOULD stop any female having alcoh whilst pregnant. I’d drink alcohol free versions of drinks when out so that I could feel like I was having my normal drinks when out. I’m not a massive drinker anyway though so it wasn’t really an issue for me to not drink.

Oh, and OP I didn't for a second think you would have any struggles to stop drinking when it's your turn, if you pursue a child. I don't know why some people read your post as you having a potential booze problem you need to address. You may also find you packed your child's rain jacket but forgot your own, served them breakfast and didn't leave much or any (!) time for your own. The list will go on! X

Easily

Due to what she put

I'm not an alcoholic but just cannot fathom not being able to get a beer or two every couple of days, whenever I want.

If she can't not have a drink for a couple of days or even a week then op has a problem