To ask if you drunk alcohol during your pregnancy?

[ilovecheese1]

& if you did how much/often? Or what your opinions are on moderate drinking during pregnancy?

No didn't drink or smoke. Its pathetic if you cant postpone drinking or smoking for a matter of weeks while pregnant.

No none. Not worth the risk in my opinion.

Had a glass of wine some weeks on both my pregnancies but mostly drank non alcoholic beer.

Nothing for the first trimester, since then the odd half pint, shandy or small glass of wine. Expecting better is a good read and I’m a doctor so comfortable with the evidence and studies the guidelines are based on. Important to note the current guidelines aren’t based on any risk of harm if people stick to the old guidelines (1-2 units once or twice a week after 12 weeks) but are based on people being crap at understanding what a unit is and a concern people will misinterpret and drink a much larger amount which may carry a risk of harm.

I drank alcohol. I kind of had an inkling at the beginning before I did a test so I didn't drink as much as I would normally do. And then once I found out, I very quickly started to feel nauseous all the time, so didn't want alcohol then (or tea or coffee). Around 15 weeks I started to drink tea and coffee again (but couldn't bear frothy milk, strangely enough) and then we went on holiday for 2 weeks so I had some glasses of wine then. I then had nothing for the rest of the pregnancy except in the last few days when I drank red wine and ate pineapple and curry in the hope of moving things along a bit!

OP I really don't think think 1-2 glasses a week will harm the baby. The issue is that it''s not ethical to do studies to see what a safe limit is and also, because we little women are sooo stupid when we are pregnant we can't be trusted to make any sort of judgments about our own bodies whatsoever so are told not to drink anything.

BPAS have decent evidence based info instead of the patronising, lowest common denominator NHS guidelines. Infantalisation of pregnant women is one of my bug bears

This post puts it better than I did!

4 glasses a week is way to much.

I didn’t drink through either of my pregnancies. Why would you? It’s 9 months!

And I know someone who’s kid had Severe disabilities as she drank way to much throughout her pregnancy. Selfish cow.

None at all. My baby was ivf and there was no way I would put something so precious at risk.

Once I found out I was pregnant I didn't touch a drop, but then I don't drink in the house or have a glass of wine every now and then just for the sake of it. Only tend to drink when I have a night out. I think it's pretty safe to have the odd glass of wine or whatever your preferred tipple is.

From 2016 NICE guidelines: Women should be advised that if they choose to drink alcohol while they are pregnant they should drink no more than 1-2 UK units once or twice a week. There is uncertainty about how much alcohol is safe to drink in pregnancy, but at this low level there is no evidence of any harm to their unborn baby.

Not had a drop since I found out, I'm nearly at my due date now.
Not being goady but it's only 9 months and really isn't worth the risk to the baby to have half a glass of wine or whatever. There are lots of nice alcohol free drinks.

Not with any of my birth children as wouldn’t take that risk. I have an adopted dd with fasd and although she is amazing, I wouldn’t wish her difficulties on anyone. She has so many daily challenges due to the exposure in utero. Why take the risk? Better to abstain for 9 months (or at least from when you find out you’re pregnant.)

And I know someone who’s kid had Severe disabilities as she drank way to much throughout her pregnancy. Selfish cow

Yes, she drank way too much. But 1 unit once a week is not going to have those effects.

I am 21 weeks at the moment and have had a glass on maybe 3 or 4 occasions since week 14. And by a glass I mean half of one of those mini bottles of wine at a time, with at least 4 or 5 days in between.

Why do I do it? Because I enjoy the taste and because I don't believe that a small amount like that is going to have any detrimental effect at all. I do not have an alcohol problem as some have implied because I have no wish to abstain completely for 9 months for no proven reason. Smoking is something different entirely, the risks are proven and well established and anyone who continues to smoke in pregnancy is surely knowingly risking their baby's health.

I risk more getting behind the wheel of my car several times a week than I do by having the occasional unit of alcohol.

I think I had one bottle of beer around 30 weeks but didn't enjoy the taste then nothing until after dd was born.

Well, I hope you’re right Duggees

www.babycentre.co.uk/x536390/is-it-safe-to-drink-alcohol-during-pregnancy

I drank before I knew I was pregnant but after i found out nope i didnt touch a drop.

I had a couple of glasses of wine throughout my pregnancy from 20 weeks. Maybe a medium glass every other week, then a glass of champagne if I was at a wedding/hen. Some of my friends were mortified (as some would be on this thread) and really had a go at me.

I was very careful about my diet, exercised, looked after myself well and I was otherwise a ‘perfect’ pregnant woman. I didn’t touch caffeine at all.

I gripe is, people get all judgemental and highly sanctimonious about a woman having a drink whilst pregnant YET find it perfectly acceptable or even encourage you sit (‘rest’) and stuff your face with absolute crap! Overeating in pregnancy is far more common and causes FAR more problems than woman having a couple of drinks! Gestational diabetes, struggling through labour, being overweight and unhealthy in general is MUCH worse for yourself and baby than having having a glass of wine!

Don’t be hard on yourself OP, you were struggling and cracked and had a couple glasses of wine! You are human! It sounds like you’ve been sensible - I think you’ll be fine.

Remember that FAS is EXTREMELY rare, and is often the children of alcoholics who suffer, even then only less than half these babies are diagnosed.

Expecting Better by Emily Oster is good (I dipped in and out) and rationalises a lot of hysteria. It is controversial, but ultimately it’s about woman making an informed choice!

(My daughter is very bright 3 year now btw)!

I’m reading this thread as I’ve recently found out I’m pregnant, after having a wine and cocktail fuelled night with friends. I feel very guilty (I drank a LOT, and of course wouldn’t have done if I’d known)

I couldn’t help but google and I’ve found the worst, but reading some responses on here just made me really annoyed!

Both pregnancies I had a glass of champagne on Christmas day and with my second I had two ciders at 40+4. It was a really warm evening last summer, we were having a bbq with friends watching the world cup and I had a fab night, really relaxed and went into labour. I'd also had a sweep that morning and sex before bed so I don't think it was the alcohol that started labour

No. Because I didn't need alcohol. And anyone who can't do without for 9 months needs to reevaluate why they ever need a drink.

I don't understand why it's socially acceptable to have a glass of wine when pregnant but expectant mothers get flamed if they smoke.
From the studies i have seen drinking while pregnant is more harmful than smoking while pregnant that's why your midwife says no drinking and try and cut down on smoking.
If this was a thread about smoking people would be up in arms

Fiver- I can’t speak for other women, but for me it’s not about needing alcohol at all, it’s about having a little bit of something that I enjoy.
I don’t smoke, I have been strictly off caffeine, I have been exercising three times a week, and not over eating. So when it’s my birthday, or my wedding anniversary, I will have a glass of wine/champagne because quite frankly soda and lime gets very dull! It’s not a weekly occurrence, or even bi-weekly, but I have drunk during my second pregnancy and I don’t feel in the slightest bit guilty.

I had half a glass of champagne at a wedding, and another one at a friend’s engagement.

I had half a shandy on a sunny day because I really fancied the taste and a pint when I lost my job.

My baby was 5lb 10oz at 39+1. I don't think this has anything to do with it, she hasn't any issues, just petite.

No, not a drop.

Not self-righteous, just didn't occur to me.

I had a glass of wine or a beer every few weeks. If I went out I'd have a very, very weak shandy.

I had a surprise baby shower (whilst I was grateful it wasn't something I really wanted!) and my sister had made some really nice cocktails. She made a weak one for me, mostly juice with a bit of prosecco in and MIL knocked the glass out my hand. I was absolutely furious! I understand the risks of consuming too much alcohol but hate the idea of someone telling me that I'm not allowed to have something when it's completely my choice!

I personally don't see anything wrong with having a little drink now and then.

From the studies i have seen drinking while pregnant is more harmful than smoking while pregnant that's why your midwife says no drinking and try and cut down on smoking.

Drinking excessively can be damaging to the foetus. There isn’t any evidence (one way or the other) on whether small amounts of alcohol is harmful.

Smoking on the other hand is proven to be dangerous. The NHS does strongly advice you quit and they are been actively doing big campaigns on why you shouldn’t smoke when pregnant. The advice to cut down to one or two comes is only because smoking is highly addictive and evidence shows that it’s much easily for someone to ‘cut back’ then outright quit.