To be totally freaked out an kept awake by programme last night about drinking in pregnancy??

[mrsgooglemad]

Well, as it says......currently trying to conceive baby number one and I do love the odd glass of wine. I have cut down a lot since ttc so thought I was fine. I've got friends with children and most of them say that they had the odd, very occasional drink whilst pregnant (special occasions, christmas, toast at wedding etc) and I thought this was fine. Until I saw the programme last night! It basically stated that the uk is way behind other countries with their guidelines, and that women trying to conceive or already pregnant should not drink AT ALL through the pregnancy as it definitely has effects. A parting comment at the end of the programme was something like "if you want a drink, don't get pregnant, if you want to get pregnant don't drink". I went to bed and honestly lay awake worrying about it! Ridiculous I know, as I never intend to be getting trollied if I am lucky enough to be pregnant. Anyone else totally freaked out? Or just me being a nutter?!

The point of my post is clearly not getting through. I do not have a problem with alcohol, in fact my last drink was about 3 weeks ago now I come to think about it. I will not be drinking when I am pregnant as that will be my choice. My point was that I found the programme quite frightening and an eye opener. Will I get bashed whatever I post I wonder?

moonlight Good point. I really believe if you look long enough then you will find an expert who gives you the opinion you are looking for even if you disregard dozens before them!

On this topic, probably, but not by me. People get very sanctimonious about particular subjects.

To me it seemed like commen sense to not drink while pregnant regardless of the guidelines. I did have the very very occasional glass of wine in each pregnancy on special occasions. It felt to me that regular consumption was more likely to be a problem.
My point is people will make their own minds up regardless of guidelines. I certainly wouldn't lose sleep over it.

Common* even!

Perhaps worth checking out a book called 'Expecting Better' (can't remember the author I'm afraid)? Really good for looking at comparative risk and making informed decisions throughout pregnancy and the birth, also for understanding why each of the many rules are there and why they are necessary. Who knew most sushi and (well) baked camembert is fine during pregnancy?! I missed my Friday night gins during my pregnancy, but whole baked soft cheeses and frequent trips to Yo! took the edge off it.
FWIW I had a few heavy nights on the sauce whilst pregnant before I discovered the news of our Happy Accident. I did beat myself up about it and worry, but this book helped put my mind at rest. I went on to have the odd half glass of bubbly on special occasions as a result of the stats in it (a risk level I was comfortable with). DD is a very healthy mischievous 9 month old now Everything you do is a risk to some extent, and we do a lot of things which can be classed as unnecessary risk (even popping to the shops in the car), it's all about what you're comfortable with.

Not drinking in pregnancy is easy. Not having a single glass the whole time you are ttc sounds difficult to me.

clearly I'm an alcoholic.

Thank you, will have a look. Might read it in rehab bed!

phoenixrose, prawns (cooked) and hard blue cheese like Stilton are fine in pregnancy according to the NHS.

Meant to say, thanks for the book suggestions. Very helpful thank you.

There is a very sensible (for the most part) thread running here dismissingthe utter nonsense people spout. You should read it.

And tell the sanctimonious wankers who call you a selfish alcoholic if you can't give it up to go *&V& themselves.

That programme was riddled with horseshit. And you aren't even pregnant.

It's scaremongering plain and simple. An odd glass of wine when pregnant won't harm the baby, regular heavy drinking will.

FWIW I did everything correctly in DD1's pregnancy, didn't drink, ate approved foods only, did everything recommended - she was still born with severe medical issues.

DD2 I drank occasionally (one glass of wine a couple of times during the second and third trimester). DD2 is a picture of perfect health.

I hate it when people get sanctimonious about this subject - like they deserved their healthy babies because they did everything right. Where does that leave me and DD1?

I'm not agreeing with heavy drinking at all, just the level of judgement being passed at others for very light drinking.

I am sorry you lost your first daughter, Girl. I totally get what you are saying. Doing everything "right" will never guarantee that nothing will go "wrong".

Oh gosh just realised I typed still born. Sorry my DD didn't die but was born with severe medical issues regardless of how well my pregnancy went.

I used still in the wrong context such as she still experienced problems despite me doing my best. I really hope I haven't offended someone with my appalling typo.

Oh, I did read it like that. I doubt anyone would be offended at the sentiment though

I didn't drink one drop for a year while I was having IVF and then it worked and I didn't drink for whole pregnancy.

Surely you can leave off the booze for 9 months!

Point still being spectacularly missed.
Op is expressing dismay at a scare-mongering programme, not saying she intends to down half a bottle of Jack Daniels a day.

I found the programme really annoying last night and I am still annoyed by it today.

It was just really strange because I don't find the NHS Guidelines really confusing and I don't understand what was so confusing for the focus group.

It was clearly done in a particular way to scaremonger and it worked - today I found myself looking at my children's lips and the space between their nose and mouth. I think they are not affected by the times I drunk when I was pregnant.

You don't feel like it at all in the first trimester. Lots of nausea and sometimes vomiting. The middle I might have fancied one glass every now and then. The third with chronic indigestion I preferred my bottle of Gaviscon. Worry not.

If you're trying though, stick to one or two. Otherwise you can spend 9 months worrying about it.

OP, the odd glass will do you no harm at all. Relax and ignore the scaremongers.

It was torture for me when pregnant with number 2. I went from being tee total to craving nothing but alcohol. I had to sniff people's drinks and have the odd mouthful to swish around and then spit out. Now I'm back to teetotal, just had 9 months of craving it. Very weird!

mummytowillow if you are going to comment at least read the original post and my further comments properly! Jeez......

Decaff wish I'd known that earlier, I craved prawns for about a month in the second trimester!!

NHS advice is clear that the safest approach is not to drink at all while pregnant www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/alcohol-medicines-drugs-pregnant.aspx

UK women aren't being given the wrong advice at all.

Research indicates that babies born with fas are almost exclusively born to women with chronic alcohol addiction. A glass or two a week during ttc and pregnancy is as safe as anything else. There is no evidence to suggest it is not.