Drinking in pregnancy. The message still isn't registering

[kissmethere]

Just read an article about the effects of alcohol in pregnancy. Children left with lasting effects of their mothers drinking habits and the mothers are saying they had no idea this would happen. Seriously?
I drank Guinness during my first pregnancy 18 years ago, very small amount at the end, adhering to the old wives tale that it was full of iron and malt. I knew back then that there was no way spirits or beer or loads of Guinness or much more should be consumed as it was bad for the baby. That was 18 years ago! I knew a woman when I was growing up who's son had permanent bone and facial damage as his mum was an alcoholic and fell over when she was pregnant with him, they had to operate on him while in the womb.
My point is how is it that some women still think alcohol in pregnancy is ok or claim they didn't know what damage it can do to the baby. What help are they getting if they truly know they have an addiction?

AuntieDee - in what context have you seen these cases of FAS? As far as I am aware research hasn't been able to establish a link with drinking less than 8 units a week, twice as much as the recommended 2-4 limit.

I'm always put off seeing a pregnant woman drinking whether it's a tiny glass or not. If you can stop at one glass why not stop at zero glasses than be so desperate for one.

I've never met anyone who drank "loads" in pregnancy.

Paxtecum, that's a pretty harsh statement! I drank next to nothing during my pregnancy as I didn't really fancy it. However, I think most doctors would tell you 1 - 2 UNITS (not glasses) once or twice a week from 2nd trimester is pretty harmless.

Number yes I agree with you and the RCOG that the only no-risk option is abstaining. And it's a totally valid choice! However risk is relative and this is a pretty small one according to the recent studies that are available.

I do think a lot of people are not clear on what a unit is (a small glass of wine is more than 1 unit), which is why I think it is beneficial that the leaflet provides a clear chart.

Where was this article OP? I can't imagine anyone 'doesn't know' that drinking to excess whilst pregnant may harm their baby.
For a start when you have your pregnancy booked in at 8-10 weeks they talk to you about how much you drink!

FAS is not from a couple of glasses of wine. It is not known how much you need to drink but it's generally seen amongst women with a serious alcohol habit / addiction

I have a small glass or two of wine a week and have since 20 weeks. Anyone who tells me this is wrong automatically goes into the stupid category in my head

BMO yes unfortunately yes I do know many people who do this and seen the effects of their habit. One mum I know was unable to give up vodka and redbull and on a good day for her it was just redbull. She knew but couldn't give it up. That's one example.

Bue Indeed, if someone could say to me honestly that 1 glass of wine per week was 100% safe then I would bite their hand off, but the fact they can't leads me down the road of having none at all, until baby is born.

AuntieDee - why wouldn't you do something that relaxes you and has been shown to be fine in small doses by multiple studies?
I'd advise you to read 'Expecting Better' and 'bumpology'.
Both books undertake a thorough statistical analysis of all of (well, most of!) the data on controversial or unclear topics in pregnancy, to get to the facts.
What they found was that the official guidelines are often far too conservative (except in some cases such as smoking, where they agreed it was terrible for the baby).

You sound very worked up OP. Perhaps your judgeypants are giving you a wedgie because they're hoiked up so high

...though you can't do any damage before implantation as nothing's "connected up", as it were.

kissme nobody is defending someone who would drink vodka and redbull while pregnant.

You are coming over as somewhat lacking in intelligence.

yabu

no one judges pregnant women for eating cake and that can lead to gd. No patronising 'if you don't need that cake dont eat it'.

vodka and redbull I wouldn't drink when I wasn't pregnant.....

Who have you heard say that, op?
Or are you still quoting shockarama articles designed to make people stop drinking in pg. I mean, I suppose it's theoretically possible that you have multiple friends, who all drank heavily in pg, all had babies with FAS, and all claimed not to know drinking was potentially harmful to a developing foetus. But it's a tad unlikely. It reads more like you were bored, read a propaganda article, and are filled with righteous anger at all the lesser mortals you have deemed guilty. I'd ask you to question your own naïveté, but I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt, just in case you really DO hang with the heavy drinking friends with FAS in their families. (Although I don't believe that for one minute'

It's fairly pointless ranting on here.

But if some article has got you all riled up and you are enjoying being randomly cross and self-righteous, crack on.

Yes, with each pg I had the occasional glass of wine. I am more than capable of distinguishing the difference between a glass of wine and hanging one on.

I am fascinated by the difference in outcome by race of drinking during pg, and also the difference by alcohol type. It's all very interesting.

I also have an interest in caffeine use during pg.

And an interest in cortisol from severe stress reactions during pg.

I infrequently rant about it, as ranting is utterly pointless, always targeted at the wrong audience, and does fuck all good. But carry on.

Tobysmum - maternal diet while pregnant does not cause GD. Poor diet during a period of undiagnosed GD can be an issue for an unborn baby, but unless you're at high risk that's no way to live.

Auntiedee I think most medical professionals are aware that they won't know how much a woman has really drunk during pregnancy as they are unlikely to be told the truth.

They also generally realise that medical science does not know how much alcohol needs to be drunk at what times to affect a baby. So you'll hopefully understand why I'll take your claim with a pinch of salt, as should everyone else

The answer is that we do not know how much alcohol is safe in pregnancy.Their is no 'safe' amount apart from zero.I suspect every y person and every pregnancy is different
There is one sure way of avoiding FAS which is not to drink.I did not touch a drop in any of my 4 pregnancies.
My DD2 used to have a girl in her class with FAS.She had severe physical,mental and behavioural problems.Even FT one to one was not enough to manage her.

Aha so an opinion is a rant is it? And no my judgey aren't hoiked up

So you have one friend with addiction issues. So your issue is more to do with addiction then. And your friend did know. 'She knew but was unable to give it up'. So, in order to right the wrong done knowingly to her baby, you pop on tinternet and rant at people who apparently 'don't know'.

Are you not rather more sad, supportive, and offering to get her help with her addiction?

Some years ago I was in hospital after having my hip replaced. In those days the hospital provided a smoking room and I would hobble to it on my crutches several times a day to get my fix of nicotine.

On one particular occasion a woman walked into the room HUGELY pregnant, sat on a stool, lit a cigarette and proceeded to smoke whereupon she said contractions had started. I left whilst she was halfway through a second cigarette and grunting with pain. Poor baby, I never saw the woman again.

After the first trimester I had one small (125ml) glass of wine once a week. All the studies I have read have suggested that this is fine. As far as I can see many doctors want to advise not drinking at all mainly because it is a less confusing message. I thought long and hard about what would be appropriate and, because I have a somewhat complex relationship with alcohol at the best of times, I decided that a small amount was better than running the risk of bingeing at some point.

My poor dss was born prem with major problems (I won't say what) but his Mum drank half a bottle of brandy daily throughout her pregnancy, including the day he was born.

I did not drink alcohol at all through my fist pregnancy (I wasn't even old enough to buy alcohol!), my second I did have the odd glass of wine and my third I didn't drink at all but that was only because the smell and taste knocked me sick.