To be disappointed in hearing that many UK woman drink during pregnancy [shock]

[Leati]

Yesterday, I was on a thread when some of the women started questioning about US policy on drinking alcohol during pregnancies. One of the women had heard that if you have a glass of wine, you could be arrested. I assured her that wasn't true but there was chance that if you were visibly pregnant that the restaurant or bar might exercise their right to refuse service. And if a pediatrician became suspicious of drug or alcohol abuse, they could have the baby?s blood tested at birth. If the baby is found to have these in their blood, the child will be taken away. Another woman pitched that she found it disturbing that restaurants had signs warning pregnant women.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. These women seemed to believe it was actually okay to drink during their pregnancies. Hadn't they heard of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. So today, I did a little research and was shocked to learn that it is a big problem in the UK and that there is little education about it there.

Women who are angry over mothers choosing the bottle over nursing are damaging their children by drinking alcohol. This is not minor damage, in some case it is equivalent to severe mental retardation and in others it less obvious cognitive problems. Overall nearly 10% of babies born in the UK are suffering from some sort of cognitive problems directly related to alcohol exposure in the womb.

What broke my heart the most is that I have been on this site and I know that the mothers on this site care so much for their children. That while I may not always agree with everything said and our perspectives are not always the same, that we share a common love for our children. So I felt compelled to start this thread and share the information. I hope that you will share it, with your loved ones and it may spread.

I have attached some sites so you can research this yourself. These sites are both from the UK and the US.

www.fasaware.co.uk/

www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/west/series2/fetal_alcohol_syndro mfaspregnancydrinkinglearning_difficulties.shtml

www.healthychildrenproject.org/glossa ry/

that reminds me
I'm bf a 12 week old
avoided peanuts in pg as DH has asthma and so far
When can i start eating them again, or is it best to wait until not bf? Obviously there's no indication that LO has any allergies
Just wondering as crave some salted KPs

Eleusis, I could never make a disparaging comment about peanut butter! It is a gift from heaven. I had serious cravings for Planters honey roasted peanuts whilst pg with ds1 and had to have great quantities imported from US relatives.

BTW, ds1 has no allergies whatsoever, but unfortunately refuses to eat peanut butter in favour of Marmite.

I believe that the body craves what it needs, just have a few, surely that won't hurt?

Marmite over peanut butter??? Are you sure he is yours? I mean could there have been a switch at the hospital?

eleusis - understand the pb ... but what is the j?

Gosh, I was only kidding! Don't want to have started The Great Peanut Debate!!!

Argh - have stooped to copying and pasting!!

Katy - from the Food Standards Agency - Peanuts are one of the most common causes of food allergy, affecting about 1% of people, and peanut allergy can cause severe reactions. Your baby may be at higher risk of developing a peanut allergy if you, the baby's father, brothers or sisters have a food allergy or other allergic conditions such as hayfever, asthma and/or eczema.

If your baby is in this higher-risk group, you may wish to avoid eating peanuts and peanut products while you're breastfeeding and while you're introducing solid foods. You shouldn't give peanuts or peanut products to children who are at higher risk before they are three years old.

Look! look! - there's a choice included in the information. How radical

jelly (smooth jam with no bits to you), not to be confussed with "jell-o"

Ejt

J is for jelly, but as in jam, not the wibbly wobbly kind.

ooooh .... sounds good - does it matter which flavour the jelly / jam is?

nope.

easy peasy to make and it travels well.

Eleusis

Sadly, both my ds have inherited their father's palate!

Traitors.

yum - quite fancy that .... (says very asthmatic pg woman) ... but will probably have to eat it in secret - do you think that I'll be ok if I close the curtains while I munch?

It'll go well with my sushi ....

Ejt

The traditional American pb & j should probably be made with grape jelly, but they don't seem to do that in the UK. I find raspberry or strawberry to be a very good substitute!

Oooh Ejt, I like you!

I had to indulge in a bit of sushi whilst pg too. We all survived.

Hey, you know you can eat sushi if you get it cooked.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH, forgot the school run! Back in a bit!

the sushi I eat is cooked - as are the mussels, the prawns ....

Must definitely try a pb & j sandwich though ...

Thanks bobsmum

Leati never did answer my question

I hope people on my space notice this

Aw - Katy - you weigh it up yourself . I think you can still have things like cashews which are lurvely

My dh only has mild hayfever and a mild cat allergy so I figured I was pretty low risk. Sure enough my children are allergy free. But if your dh has asthma then it does look like you're best not to.

But in the spirit of this damn enormous thread - it's your choice

This isn't America, Leati. This is Britain, and we do things differently. We are not fond of mass hysteria, or of pregnant women being treated like weakminded preschoolers.

A moderate amount of alcohol DOES NOT cause fetal alcohol syndrome. I am saddened that so many innocent American women are having their lives curtailed by ridiculous social conventions that are not even based on fact!

Only in America.

Thank God.

bobsmum, I was hoping someone would say something along the lines of at 3 months the baby's developed enough to handle it iyswim (and obv provide me with a link)
Sounds as though nothing really changes like that tho
And yes, in this case I was too lazy to look it up myself!!
Apologies for typing, am holding / feeding LO