To drink wine when pregnant (occasionally?)

[RedRoses718]

AIBU to have the odd glass of wine when pregnant?

Mumsnet will say you are.

“Expecting Better” by Emily Oster has a good discussion of the evidence for and against.

I know the advice is that it's ok on occasion. I also know that throughout my pregnancies I've chosen not to drink at all, just because it didn't appeal.

Why do you want to, OP? It’s a metabolic poison. Surely your baby is worth not poisoning yourself for a mere 9 months out of your life?
If you have an addiction to alcohol, you can access help via your GP.

Personally it's a no, I think you owe it to baby to be as careful and take as few risks as possible and we don't really know enough about the forming foetus but there's also studies that say a glass here and there doesn't help. I just personally didn't want to risk it.

I think it depends on how pregnant you are, I had the odd small glass in my last month, but sometimes didn't even want to finish that...

I did with both my pregnancies, it's fine

Yes, I can't see a problem if done in moderation.

Yes, it's fine in moderation.

I’m confused around the evidence about drinking in pregnancy. It seems to contradict itself.

Do we know if it’s actually harmful to drink any amount of alcohol in pregnancy?

I don’t think I would, but then, I don’t really drink.

Just to add, I’ve never drank alcohol in my 3 pregnancies. I don’t know anyone that has.

Just to add, I had a small glass of wine a couple of times during my pregnancies. I don't know anyone that hasn't.

Personally I didn't, I didn't want to take any risk during pregnancy, and alcohol is not essential.

Are you being unreasonable? Yes

I didn’t because it didn’t feel right to me. I had a sip or two in my second pregnancy but it was pointless to me, so I stopped.

How big are your glasses? Are you likely to just stick to the one?

We know That Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is real so alcohol does have provable effects on a baby. It makes sense to cut it completely or have as little as you can.

Of a recent study by the University of Bristol the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) said: “This study confirms what is already known – that there is little evidence to show light drinking in pregnancy causes harm to the developing foetus.
What seems to lie at the heart of public messages addressing alcohol in pregnancy is whether women can be trusted to understand the existing evidence, and whether they are able to recognise the difference between light and heavy drinking."
And Dr James Nicholls, director of research and policy development at Alcohol Research UK, said: “......the findings should also caution us not to create a situation where mothers-to-be are made more anxious, or subject to unnecessary moral judgement, on the issue of very light alcohol consumption.”

It’s just alcohol isn’t it? If there’s even a small risk of an adverse outcome for your baby why wouldn’t you just cut it out completely?

I think the odd small glass is fine. I did it because I don’t see any evidence whatsoever that it’s an issue.

Foetal alcohol syndrome happens when significant amounts of alcohol are drunk during pregnancy. A 100ml glass of wine every three months is not going to do that and it's ridiculous to suggest it will. Pure scaremongering.

I was going to have half a small glass with dinner at a celebratory occasion but actually couldn’t stomach it.
I know people, including midwives, who have had the odd glass throughout their pregnancy though
It’s a personal choice based on the guidelines supplied at the end of the day - some people are going to disapprove others will think it’s fine, you just have to make the right call for you

If you have an addiction to alcohol, you can access help via your GP.

Yes I’m sure the GP will send her straight to rehab for her odd glass of wine she hasn’t even decided she’s having yet.

I drank a few glasses of wine with both pregnancies, its fine.

There's no proven safe amount. It's just not worth it, surely? If something went wrong you'd have a worry at the back of your mind that it was for the sake of some wine. Well, I would anyway.
It's only a few months, you're entitled to do what you like but I don't see any benefit personally

Yes and enjoy them .

Also, can we stop with the “It’s 9 months ”

A. It’s 10
B. If you follow strict medical advice you won’t drink while trying to conceive
C. You will probably not drink while BF (even though it’s okay to do within reason) because of similar judgment
D. Most people have more than one child

It’s fine to not drink, but this perpetual policing of women doing things that have never been shown to be harmful is bordering on an obsession from some people.