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/

I think if Mumsnet is going to be discussed in the media you'll need to let MNHQ know - they might want to have some input.

Since alcohol abuse issues within the UK are all over the news (bbc). I have to wonder if you ladies aren't suffering from a little denial. It is one of the first signs of an acoholic. Well ladies, good luck and goodbye.

Oh and just so you know, I tried to read all the post. Yes, 16 children under the age of four do drown in toilets.(something that many of you seem to think is cause great humor)

Is this going in the next issue of Evangelical Loons then? seriously where do you see this being published other than on your myspace page?

excuse my crankiness but I've just realised that I'm multi-fauceted and one of them needs a washer.

Leati what you seemingly cannot see is that we agree - TOO MUCH BOOZE + BABY = BAD - we get it, and may even have known before you decided to become the Uber Ranter of Doom. The reason you're getting negative reactions is because we dislike being patronised. It's the one downside to each having a mind of our own.

Leati, why do some recommendations (alcohol in pregnancy) have to be followed religiously, but others (weaning at 6 months) do not?
I think you missed all the posts where I asked you to please respond.
You can't expect people to take your abuse and not be a little irritated when you don't respond to their queries.
You're welcome for the proofreading BTW (on behalf of us all)

I am not arguing with you anymore over this, it really is pointless. One agency says it is okay for you to drink a couple of drinks a week, while many more advise expecting mothers not to. More then one woman on this post bluntly stated that they drank more than the recommendations of the one agency.

I know I sound like a broken record but she is obviously ignoring me

which one agency? you're talking about 2 in your own post?

what is worrying is that you, teetotal alcohol-denier are making less sense than we allegedly boozed-up brits.... thank goodness you don't drink.

Go read the "rough draft" post and picture it as being a postcard from Uncle Travelling Mac/Matt(?? it's been a while...) from the Fraggles

eleusis, what on earth is that meant to be? Are you saying you've dug up Leati's real life address and posted it? Because she's suggested that British mothers drink too much?

Is that a reasonable and proportionate response?

Leati, why do some recommendations (alcohol in pregnancy) have to be followed religiously, but others (weaning at 6 months) do not?
I think you missed all the posts where I asked you to please respond.
You can't expect people to take your abuse and not be a little irritated when you don't respond to their queries.
You're welcome for the proofreading BTW (on behalf of us all)

One agency says that you can drink a couple of units a week. While numerous others state that mothers should abstain from drinking. And the one agency that does allow for a couple of drinks, advised that not drinking is best.

Leati

sigh

we know that too much alcohol in pregnancy is bad. No one has argued differently (or should have done IMO). We are debating the point you have made over and over again qith huge chiunks of text from various websites that a unit or two a week leads to FAS. As far as I'm aware no reliable study has found a link.
Please respond to my questions, it's all very well saying I'm not arguing any more but I have been asking since yesterday, a little courtesy perhaps?

God forbid any of your children should struggle in school.

The finger would be pointing at your eating and drinking habits in pregnancy according to your article - yes?

You did avoid all the other things recommended by your sources?
Peanut butter?
Soft cheese?
Pate?
More than one portion of tuna a week? Artificial sweeteners?
Raw, undercooked meat - no rare steaks then? Any moisturiser containing vitamin A?

And obviously you didn't gain any more than 22-28 lbs during your whole pregnancy to avoid more dangers to your health and increasing yo blood pressure?

But you took all the advice on board didn't you? You wouldn't pick and choose the ones you thought were most applicable - surely?

Are you even reading this?

oh dear are we ALL alcoholics now? the WHOLE of the female UK population?

my god. I must ring my tee total friends and let them know. They need help and quick

Thank you x posts
Not many reliable agencies say there is a link between a small amount of alcohol in pg and FAS - the WHO certainly doesn't

Do you really think posting my address is appropriate? I am reporting this.

is it really your address?

Leati, I've already reported it, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Posting the address is out of order!

why would children under the age of 4 be in toilets alone?

anyway...leati you have at no point had a oncstructive conversation with us.

no-body attacked your children, wha twas said, you fed your daughter gluten earlier than recommended, thus risking her health.

Why is the research saying not to introduce gluten before 10months any less credible than what little research you presented for complete abstinance from alcohol during pregnancy?

Surely if you feel guidelines like these should be followed ridgedly and people should not be allowed to make sensible decisions for themselves and their children, surely you would not have introduced gluten at 6 months?

the site you tried to link to from BBC basically says that it is not known what damage it may do so they suggest abstinance. However as well informed adults we have looked at the research and the past and made a decision that low levels of alcohol during our previous pregnancies and during our mothers pregnancies (i.e. us) has not caused a whole nation of children with FAS and at the low levels we are drinking it is severley low risk of FSA, as compared to the risk you put your unborn baby in every time you drive a car/cross the road.

there was no Viscious attack, we did not avidly defend our right to drink to excess, we merely stated you have little evidence and were not holding an interesting debate just cut and pasting reams of text from other web pages, none of which is your own research!

SleeplessInTheStaceym11House - Good post, I have been following the topic with interest but have refrained from posting until now. You have put into words what I was thinking

ffs what is the address thing about?
have been reading this thread for last few days and think op is nuts, but this is out of order

Sleepless I've tried
Some recommendations HAVE to be followed...others are a little more wibbly (that's the technical term)

PMSL at whoever said what are the signs of children drowning in a toilet - legs sticking out and lots of splashing noises

bang out of order, eleusis.