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/

Katy44

You are right, there is a lack of solid evidence. There have been several studies that show a possible link with milder symptoms. Milder symptoms such as learning disabilities and poor academic progress.

WHO does recommend that women abstain from alcohol.

ok address is over the line, come on people!

I'm glad the post with her address on will be deleted.
I also think MNHQ might want to see what is going to be posted about them

Already been reported by me and others.

Eleusis - that photo comment was uncalled for too.

WHO recommends that weaning is at 6 months
I posted a link earlier
recommends

You are criticizing our decisions
We are pointing out that sometimes people weigh up the evidence and make decisions for themselves

drs do not know what all the causes of learning disabilities and poor academic progress are. They have recently found a link between sulphites during pregnancy and nuerological problems. Sulphites are not only in alcholic beverages but in 'pop' too

I've reported the photo comment too.

not attacking your children I mean

Katy - she doesn't read the comments about other recommendations. She has "weaning" blocked out on her swear filter.

SleeplessInTheStaceym11House

I agree, who would leave thier children near a toilet, unattended at that age. But I am sure that the parent that did fully regrets it.

Look I don't even know where this "gluten" thing is. I fed daughter infant cereal at the recommended age. The difference between you sited information and mine, is

1. Abstaining from drinking alcohol during pregnancy is the overwhelming suggestion of many different agencies while allowing for a couple glasses is the opinion of one lone agency. I looked for another agency that supported, that opinion and could not find it.

2. Beginning a child on infant cereal is advised between 4-6 months by an overwhelming number of agency and top pediatric physicians

leati i do not agree with you...however i am leaving this thread now as i think posting your address/tel no and the comment about the photo is way ott. i hope mnhq delete it soon.

Well, just make sure when you print that article (if in fact you do) you mention that the "bang out of order" comments are American and not British.

Don't pin us against them. Is is not in the National intrest of the United States. Don't you think enough people round the world hate us already? Britain is our friend. And you are pissing me off because I like Britain.

FioFioJane

That is good information to know. I genuinely believe that information like this should be shared.

but the 4-6 months they say on those packets is not what research from health agencies suggest anymore, maybe you should have done more research?

Leati, thank you for answering my questions

eleusis

I agree that United States has many of it own problems. I am not sticking my head in the sand. If I was on a post where mothers were talking about carrying guns, I would have done the same thing. I also am aware that infants in this country are born with Alcohol related illnesses including FAS.

According to Medical News today (a US publication) over 10% of pregnant women drink and 2% regularly binge drink.

But only 60% or so of the US adult population drink at all.

See how I can read the stats and post them in my own words?

SleeplessInTheStaceym11House

Maybe I should have done more research. You could be absolutely one hundred percent right.

Could you please also take the bit about attacking your children out of the article (if you haven't already), as I don't think anyone has. If I'm wrong, my apologies.

Leati - if you are going to come on here and continue to defend your standpoint; then please explain (as other posters have requested) why you have obviously 'chosen' to ignore another guideline that is deemed 'critical' for the health of our children.
I am interested to know how you have arrived at your decision and maybe explaining the decision making process to us may help you understand how some women here have chosen to continue with the occasional drink.
We are not attacking you or your children; what is being attacked is your inability to enter into a reasoned and valid two way discussion. Not much point of a forum without two way discussion.

Are you campaigning on the other side of the Atlantic too? I would be genuineley comcerned about 2% of all pregnant mothers in the US binge drinking.

bobsmum do you know what % of the british adult population drink? that would be interesting to compare to america

(i can have a reasoned debate with a person not a whole webpage worth of rubbish!)

Did you have debating practice at school?

You are not debating Leati. You are shouting from a soapbox.

Have resisted posting on this thread so far but I have just one thing to say:

PLEASE STOP CALLING US 'LADIES'!

It really, really grates.

And I'm not even going to start on 'mental retardation'.