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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to have one small beer at 5 weeks pregnant?

398 replies

BlackberryQ · 26/08/2017 16:36

It's a lovely wedding celebration outside on a hot day. How much harm could it do?

I'm on the fence and you can talk me out of it if it's really a bad idea!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
gingergenius · 27/08/2017 00:07

Oh and OP - try not to worry - I'm a massive tea drinker but tea made me sick in the early stages with my last one but I had major, and horribly painful caffeine withdrawal headaches and had to drink coffee just to give my body the caffeine fix it needed.

We all survived. Take all advice with a pinch of salt! You know the guidelines. You will make the right decisions for you so don't take too much to heart!

Have a lovely night and good on DP/DH for making tea....can he make one for me too please??? Grin

pigeondujour · 27/08/2017 01:32

I know it's the same person because when she namechanges, she makes efforts to be identifiable to people who have read her previous threads.

Original poster
BlackberryQ · 27/08/2017 01:34

sunnycoco I really hope you get your baby soon. I was the same with my first and freaked out at eating or drinking the slightest wrong thing because the idea of miscarrying was too bad to even think about.

jigglytuff (love the name, dds getting into Pokemon big time)!
It's ok. A couple of posters recognised me and a couple of times I drunk posted on mn resently. I absolutely do not have a drink problem. (Just a weeing problem based on having had to get up twice now since going to bed. Ahh the joys of pregnancy!)

OP posts:
Eleventybillionfucks · 27/08/2017 01:37

I drank Shandy or 0% when pregnant throughout my pregnancy. I wouldn't risk even half a pint of anything while pregnant but that's just me

pigeondujour · 27/08/2017 01:40

I'm also happy not to drink again. Like you said I'd had a few times resently where I'd got stupidly drunk and I'm glad to not be able to drink now.

Three days prior to this post, OP.

MrsTerryPratchett · 27/08/2017 01:43

Choose Science, ladies!

Original poster
BlackberryQ · 27/08/2017 01:43

pigeon I think you might have mixed me up with someone else. What did I drunk post three days ago? Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
BlackberryQ · 27/08/2017 01:44

Sorry re read your post Blush

OP posts:
pigeondujour · 27/08/2017 01:47

Yeah. Do you see what I mean?

Original poster
BlackberryQ · 27/08/2017 01:50

Yes, I meant I'm happy not to get drunk again because it's not really me and I did it a few times resently and I didn't like the idea of getting Into a bad habit that could affect dd.

OP posts:
pigeondujour · 27/08/2017 02:05

Yes, god forbid you do something while drunk that could affect her, eh?

Red, you've got the internet on your phone. That's enough friends and support for a lifetime, when you're brave enough to really ask for it.

Stressalot42 · 27/08/2017 06:35

Are you really that desperate for a drink? Do you have issues with alcohol? You've known you're pregnant for less than three weeks- surely you can go for longer than that?

PP do you have problems making a drama out of nothing? Hmm

Op hope you enjoyed your beer 🍺! It'll be fine!

SunnyCoco · 27/08/2017 07:58

Thank you OP I have everything crossed x

FlaviaAlbia · 27/08/2017 08:16

Oh, are you the cans in the park poster?

In that case I'm with Pigeon

SunshineBearHug · 27/08/2017 08:31

I wouldn't drink whilst pregnant, it's not worth it imo. Even if the risk is small, what's so great about alcohol that you can't have a soft drink? Some 'experts' say it's ok and some don't, no doubt they'll make more discoveries in time and new advice, surely not worth the risk though.

grobagsforever · 27/08/2017 08:36

Read the science ppl. The placenta doesn't form until eight weeks so it's impossible for the alcohol to reach the baby as there is no mechanism for it to do so.

Mother natures way of protecting babies we may not know are there.

But the NHS doesn't tell little wimmin the science. OP if you really wanted you could have several.

Original poster
BlackberryQ · 27/08/2017 08:45

It's really interesting to actually hear the science behind it. It makes me feel a bit better about having a drink before I knew. Like I said I basically drank half a lager over the course of about an hour so I'm not feeling guilty!

I've found the patronising reasons why women are told what to do with their bodies interesting as well. A whole other side to it.

OP posts:
SheSaidHeSaid · 27/08/2017 09:06

I drank Shandy or 0% when pregnant throughout my pregnancy. I wouldn't risk even half a pint of anything while pregnant but that's just me

You do realise that a pint of shandy IS half a pint of beer (approx), don't you? No biggie, your choice, just letting you know in case you've made a conscious decision not to drink when you actually are.

RebornSlippy · 27/08/2017 09:31

@grobags, did you read the full thread? The 'science' as you call it relates to placental development in the first trimester. This is why you are advised to avoid alcohol completely during this period. What with the placenta being pretty important and all.

The idea that there is some sort of medical consipiracy to keep women off the booze without due cause is ridiculous. Lets be factual about it; alcohol is a teratogen. But yes, of course you could have several if you wanted. Just as you said. You're taking a risk by doing so though.

I'm not addressing the OP specifically at this point as she tell us she only had a half a beer as a once off. However, for others reading who have come away from this thread believing a drink or two per week in early pregnancy is perfectly safe, it's not. Just because it was safe for some doesn't mean it will be safe for you.

sparechange · 27/08/2017 10:31

However, for others reading who have come away from this thread believing a drink or two per week in early pregnancy is perfectly safe, it's not. Just because it was safe for some doesn't mean it will be safe for you.

Seriously, reborn, why are you persisting with this?
You have your own anxieties relating to your own situation but you beyond googling a few Daily Mail stories, you can't back up your nonsense position
In contrast, several posters, including specialist scientists have debunked what you are saying

Can you give an example of someone it 'won't be safe' for? Or is this purely theoretical risk?

And can you also answer my question as to why you don't advocate the total abstinence from sex during pregnancy as that also carries risks

RebornSlippy · 27/08/2017 10:44

I'd also like to refer back to @mogulfield's post where she attached a Daily Fail link. It was unfortunate that you used that particular source, but it refers to legitimate research carried out by Professor Peter Hepper from Queens University. I've read his earlier research, which has looked at the effect of heavy drinking during pregnancy. His current research is looking at the effects of low level drinking in 18 week old fetus'; so 2.5 units per week, which is one of those little quarter bottles of wine for example.

Anyway, when the Daily Fail referred to babies stopped breathing it was rightly picked up here as a nonsense as babies don't actually breathe in utero. What they do do, however, is breathing movements, where air isn't actually inspired, they are more like practice movements in advance of birth. After drinking as little as a glass of wine, these movements stopped and didn't return for 2 to 3 hours.

Also, babies are in a constant state of fluid movement in utero, all totally normal and what we want to see. After being exposed to alcohol a startle reflex was eliciteded in the babies, causing them to 'jump' regularly. So they were quiet, not moving and then they would jump.

And as if that wasn't enough, there was more variability in brain function found in fetus' exposed to alcohol when compared to those who werent.

There was actual video footage of this in the link I posted earlier in this thread. Interestingly, this video was poo-pooed because it was produced by NOFAS. I mean, how anyone could have an issue with information from the National Organisation of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is laughable. They kind of know what they're talking about, don't ya think? Of course their agenda is to reduce cases of FAS!

Research, you see, is ever evolving. We don't have all the answers as yet. But, research like this shows a direct link between alcohol and fetal wellbeing. That's every drink. This is why I would currently advise no alcohol throughout pregnancy.

RebornSlippy · 27/08/2017 10:49

@sparechange. Did you read the BMJ article I posted? I would suggest you do. Daily Mail? Hardly. You on the other hand have read one book and received poor advice from a HCP and claim to be some sort of expert. Guess what? You're not.

I have yet to read the evidence you talk about in relation to risk from sex during pregnancy. If you'd like to send it to me, I'll do so and form an opinion.

You see, that's what I like to do. Gather evidence and make an informed decision. Not listen to iamatroll2017 on mumsnet and go away convinced they know what they're talking about.

So yeah, since you have a little bee in your bonnet about sex during pregnancy, throw over your research articles there and I'll see what I think. Although, lets face it if I say black you'll say white!

grandOlejukeofYork · 27/08/2017 10:49

Your main fallacy is equating the guidelines with the research. The guidelines are not based on the actual facts of the body of research but on economic and social reasons.
You can advise all you like, your opinions are your own. The facts though, belong to all of us and we don't have to take your sledgehammer/nut approach to them as it isn't warranted.

RebornSlippy · 27/08/2017 10:57

I've give you research @grandolejuke. Did you read it? There's more out there, but frankly it's not my 'job' to search for it for you.

Women have the right to make informed decisions during their pregnancy. The key word is informed. Before you come onto a forum where women could potentially hang onto your advice, I would suggest you fully inform yourself.

RebornSlippy · 27/08/2017 11:00

And you're absolutely right. Current guidelines suggest that 1-2 drinks per week in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters are 'safe'. New research, such as that I've spoken about from Professor Hepper will likely affect this and guidelines will be updated.

As I've previously mentioned, our current advice is, therefore, no alcohol during pregnancy in the absence of safe levels being identified to date.