WIBU to have one small beer at 5 weeks pregnant?

[BlackberryQ]

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!

I wouldn't do it personally but lots of people don't even no they are pregnant at five week so if they had a small drink I don't think it would be life threatening. If you must why not have a small shandy instead?

I wouldn't have one.

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?

I wouldn't have one at 5 weeks but I've had 2 miscarriages. I would have one now (15 weeks), as I feel a bit 'safer'.
I know deep down it couldn't cause a MC but would feel guilty, if I had drunk then MC'ed.

Of course it's fine

1 beer at 5 weeks pregnant, or in fact any weeks pregnant, is going to do absolutely zero harm

Have the beer and enjoy the wedding; good luck for the rest of your pregnancy!

I really don't think a small beer is likely to do any harm. I did have the odd one in pregnancy myself, but I decided to abstain for the first tri.

You can eat shellfish btw. There's no problem with that as long as it's cooked properly.

I was quite drunk for a few weekends on the trot before I found out I was pg with both my DC and was about 6-7 weeks each time

Enjoy your sips of later, or grab a small wine and have a spritzer instead in a large glass with some ice mmmmm

I'd definitely steer clear, maybe a mocktail?

No one can tell you for definite what it could do

Yeah they can, cos Science. One small beer can do absolutely nothing to a 5 week embryo. Not a thing.

I would abstain only if the father does the same.

Yet another way to control women. There is foetal alcohol syndrome yes, but that refers to constant drinking during pg.

I am getting annoyed that a pg woman cannot have one glass of wine or a small beer now and then without being called something awful and being judged.

Go for it.

Or being asked if they have a drink problem for asking if one small beer is ok at a special occasion on a rare nice day

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?

Talk about dramatic

the OP is at a wedding on a warm day and fancies a small beer. She isn't 'desperate.

There is an excellent book called 'Expecting Better' which looks at the actual science behind the advice. Alcohol, coffee, foods etc

It's a lot more scientific and specific than the broad NHS advice, which is more driven by social economics and what the lowest common denominator of population will do than actual science.

It's well worth reading, and will also tell you that the occasional drink in the first tri is totally fine

You'll get some sanctimonious posters telling you it clearly means you are an alcoholic though...

The British rules on not drinking are because the government think women are thick, they're not based on any actual science

This. We are too stupid to know the difference between one small beer or glass of wine every few weeks and several glasses of whisky a day.

All those people saying no, have you actually looked at the science?
I'm a health professional and happily have the odd drink in pregnancy. The evidence on harm is shockingly lacking. And it's true - the NHS advice is based on the idea women can't be trusted to know the difference between an odd drink and a bottle of spirits a day.

Here is what the science says about drinking, by a Harvard professor

I did drink in all three of my pregnancies - but not in the first trimester as that is the riskiest time.

After 20 weeks I had an occasional small drink if I fancied it.

Why bother? You're entering into the organogensis phase now, very important for baby's development. Even if the risk is minimal, there is risk. Just have a soft drink. Surely a beer isn't that tempting?

You will be fine with one drink. Although personally I'd have gone for the bubbles during the speeches

I was told that the odd beer or glass of wine was fine if I fancied it. Midwife said they say zero booze because some people (not all) can't moderate their drinking.

Im 35 weeks and have had maybe a wine every 2 weeks or so if I've fancied it. I'm fit healthy and baby boy is doing fine.

im due around my birthday and have agreed with dh that we'll go out for dinner for it once baby arrives and we feel ok leaving him. I know where we're going and I know what I'm having - scallops, rare steak, more than one glass of red wine. Mmmmmm.

Control pg women now! Doesn't matter about the fathers. Women, watch out, we are watching you in ante natal, we ask you questions, we monitor you, we are all seeing.

But the child comes not just from you either. Fathers should abstain in solidarity, but they will never have to.

Command and control of women abounds everywhere now. And there is no evidence that a small drink now and then will cause any harm whatsoever. Is there? Anywhere?

Guilt tripping is amazing. And it also brings out the judgmental brigade who nodded like the Stepford Wives and did everything they were told when it was their turn. So they cannot help but judge anyone who does anything slightly different now.

Evidence please.

Worth a look.
www.nofas-uk.org/database/videopage.php

reborn
Do you advocate total abstinence from sex during pregnancy also?

Thanks everyone. Can't read it all right now but get the gist that opinions are about as 50/50 as the ones in my mind!

My midwife said the advice to drink zero was because people who drink 8 pints or a couple of bottles of wine at a time will have a different idea of what reducing alcohol means than people who have the odd glass so go ahead and have the occasional drink at weddings etc.

'Even if the risk is minimal, there is risk'

Reborn
Please do quote the peer reviewed article that backs up your statement there is risk from 1 beer at 5 weeks pregnant....