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.

I decided that the occasional glass of wine would be fine. Baby decided otherwise. Felt ill after just a few sips.
So l gave up!

I barely drink anyway as don't enjoy the taste so it's not something I even think about, it doesn't require willpower from a lot of people not everyone enjoys alcohol.

It was very very easy and i would suggest that if its not then you don't have a very healthy relationship with alcohol

Stopped drinking when we started TTC and when I fell pregnant. Told myself at least it’ll be about a year without a hangover.

Unfortunately pregnancy for me was basically feeling hungover all day every day.

I didn’t find it hard after waiting so long to finally get pregnant and felt so much better without it so much so that I barely drink anymore. Could be awkward at social events in the first trimester before you have told people. Was almost glad we were in semi-lockdown at the time to avoid having to explain why I wasn’t drinking.

Giving up sugar when I had GD was 100x harder but did it for my baby’s sake.

Luckily this wasn't a thing when I had mine. In fact my consultant told me that when I was in Dublin I should drink a few pints of Guinness a day.

When I had DS1 though alcohol made me throw up. Our rugby mates decided to spike my orange juice and I spent the evening feeling very ill. They on admitted to it a few years ago because they felt guilty.

Yes, that’s the recommendation.

For me alcohol was easy, It has never been part of my routine and alcohol free beer exists.

caffeine was tougher as I’m northern therefore love a brew 😅 but you find you instinctively put the baby first, I had one tea/coffee per day and caffeine free the rest.

Pretty easy really and I love an occasional glass of wine. You just know you can’t so you don’t. I’m not addicted to alcohol so at no point did I need to use will power to not drink…

2 babies and breastfed afterwards so didn’t drink for about 18 months with both.

I was a fairly big drinker before children but it just didn’t really even occur to me to fancy having a drink while pregnant because I knew I couldn’t. The only time I was a tiny bit jealous was when everyone else was having a baileys at Christmas. I still haven’t had a drink and i’m 5 months PP, your habits just change. I did have a coffee everyday though and I know some avoid completely. I was a bit more relaxed in my second pregnancy but with my first, I wouldn’t even take a single paracetamol which is ironic considering I jumped for all the pain relief in labour.

I had hyperemesis with both pregnancies. I couldn't stomach food. Alcohol was right off the radar.
My next door neighbour adopted a boy with FES. He is now in his 30s. It has affected how he looks, how he functions in life. He lives in supported accommodation with other adults with SEN. He will never ever live an independent life. His alcoholic mother put her love of booze over the health of her baby.

I suppose people just manage because they know it's better for the baby not to drink. If I never had a drink again it would t bother me but I know it's hard for some folk.

I don’t understand how anyone would struggle with not drinking for 9 months.

Before I got pregnant I was drinking heavily, taking drugs and smoking.

The smoking I struggled with because I was addicted and it took me a couple of months to quit completely but the alcohol etc was easy.
I didn’t drink for months afterwards either because I was BF.

You have to be selfless when having a baby and if you can’t give up alcohol for 9 months, then you’re not ready to be a parent because once the baby comes you’ll be giving up a lot more than just alcohol.

Ummm - willpower not to drink - alcoholic?

If you're in awe of people who can abstain from alcohol by prioritising the wellbeing of an unborn child, and you struggle to see yourself being able to do so, then you may need to address your relationship with alcohol sooner rather than later. This isn't a healthy relationship you're describing.

No issue at all. I could never risk my baby’s health.

you can if you wish, after a lot of research I decided against it, wasn’t worth the risk for me personally.

Oh my god giving up sugar was so hard!!

chocolate over alcohol any day!

Maybe, if you cannot picture giving up something fun (drinking) for the sake of your hypothetical baby, maybe you are not yet ready to be a parent

you have to give up quite a lot to have children really, alcohol not even a big deal compared to giving up your body, your mind, your sleep and your time 😬😄

DC1 I really missed having a couple of glasses of wine on a Friday after work. Also me and DH would be out most weekends socialising and having a drink would usually be involved. I missed decompressing and rightly or wrongly a glass of wine a couple of times a week did do that. Didn’t drink during the pregnancy and enjoyed a celebratory glass of fizz a few days after DC1 arrived.

DC2 I had prolonged morning sickness and was physically exhausted with terrible SPD and the thought of alcohol didn’t cross my mind.

So two different experiences!

I’m also an adoptive mum of children with FASD. I agree with every word you say!

You literally just stop that’s it. And I went from drinking most nights (1-2) to nothing. Fetal alcohol syndrome is terrifying and not worth the risks of even a glass or two!

Some non alcoholic beers are pretty tasty (if high in sugar), if those are allowed?

My mum said she found the sharpest, less sweet apple juice and chilled it to really really cold as a wine substitute during pregnancy.

If you're not dependant on alcohol, then it's really not that difficult.

The only time I've really missed it was at a wedding I recently attended, but that was more a feeling that I'd enjoy myself much more if I was drinking, I wasn't fighting temptation.

I had 2 coffees a day. This was a long tike ago when caffeine was allowed.

I loved drinking before I was pregnant. I just didn't want to drink when I knew I was growing a baby. I had a glass of wine the night after I gave birth.