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Original poster

To ask if you drank alcohol during pregnancy

479 replies

Butterflyflower1234 · 14/02/2020 08:52

I'm curious as to people thoughts on alcohol during pregnancy?

I was always of the opinion that I wouldn't touch a single drop of alcohol during pregnancy but now I'm wondering would it be significantly harmful to have say one small glass of wine with dinner every so often (less than once a fortnight).

OP posts:
flower1994 · 15/02/2020 17:13

bingo shes got it isnt rude? maybe you should be a drinker after all, might make you a bit tolerable. lol you havent proved anything, you havent proved alcohol is okay to consume at all, all you've done is point out other things you think are just as risky

DesLynamsMoustache · 15/02/2020 17:14

(I have big issues with that book when it comes to the alcohol guidance, which is a shame as I think some of the other stuff is actually helpful and interesting).

LaurieMarlow · 15/02/2020 17:16

Also to those saying one drink a day is beyond the realms of what is being talked about

It’s far beyond the realm of the OP who talks about one small glass, with dinner, less than once a fortnight.

FudgeBrownie2019 · 15/02/2020 17:20

I didn't drink whilst pregnant. Not one drop, partly because I went off it but also just because it didn't feel safe.

There's obviously a risk to everything, but adding something to my body that posed a risk above and beyond the usual wasn't for me.

MarchDaffs · 15/02/2020 17:26

bingo shes got it isnt rude? maybe you should be a drinker after all, might make you a bit tolerable. lol you havent proved anything, you havent proved alcohol is okay to consume at all, all you've done is point out other things you think are just as risky

No ruder than your arsey little aside about making sense, and certainly not your line about being a drinker. Mind you, we've already established that you have great big double standards.

lol you havent proved anything, you havent proved alcohol is okay to consume at all, all you've done is point out other things you think are just as risky

You seem to have misunderstood. Wasn't trying to prove that alcohol isn't ok to consume, I was succeeding in pointing out that it's one of a number of avoidable risks. Some of which, like travelling in a car, we know to be a risk in a way that we don't with occasional alcohol consumption.

LaurieMarlow · 15/02/2020 17:33

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/health/pregnancy-drinking-units-allowed-health-baby-harm-a7941316.html%3famp

This article is good in explaining the limitations of the guidelines.

flower1994 · 15/02/2020 17:34

MarchDaffs okay so your response to the OP is essentially the same as mine then when we strip it back? essentially you dont personally but each to their own

flower1994 · 15/02/2020 18:03

LaurieMarlow interesting that study was done over 2 years ago, yet the guidelines remain the same. no point going back and forth, this subject will forever be debated until there is a definitive answer either way. you either agree with it or you dont simple as

Firstbub · 15/02/2020 18:11

I am sticking to 0.05% cider, but only when I get a craving. I haven’t had my 20 week scan yet and think I’d panic if I had it and there was something wrong at e scan, as I know I’d blame the drink (even though I wouldn’t have the proof).

WaitrosesCheapestVodka · 15/02/2020 18:19

Alcohol is absorbed into the blood and crosses the placenta into the baby. It's exactly the same as if the baby had drank it, it will have the same blood alcohol level as you.

There's lots of this on here, it's not quite true.

While alcohol does cross over the placenta, it's only when the alcohol level on blood is beyond what the liver can immediately process. For most this will be one small drink's worth, but as metabolism of alcohol varies significantly from person to person this can't be said with certainty. This is why the guidance is so cautious, but why for most women the odd small drink is probably safe.

There are numerous studies on alcohol and pregnancy, none of which to my knowledge have shown any link with a 1-2 unit a week intake with FAS. If anyone can reference research that does I'm interested.

Jenpop234 · 15/02/2020 18:23

A few throughout my pregnancy, not in the first trimester when the foetus is developing. Although I wasn't really that bothered. If you can't get pissed, what's the point! 😆

NeverGotMyPuppy · 15/02/2020 18:39

I find this topic really scary..what scares me is:

  1. The number of women who seem to freely accept doing as their DH/MIL etc tell them
  2. The number of women who don't understand research
  3. The number of people who cant seem to understand that wanting something that had ABSOLUTELY NO RISK TO THEIR BABY is not the same thing as being addicted to something
4 The number of women who think saying things like 'not a single drop, a healthy baby is worth so much more' is logical or makes them.somehow superior.
  1. The number of people who think that the plural of anecdote is data.

To answer the OP: I had a unit once or twice a week if I wanted it during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. If I didnt want it, I didnt have it.

MarchDaffs · 15/02/2020 18:52

MarchDaffs okay so your response to the OP is essentially the same as mine then when we strip it back? essentially you dont personally but each to their own

My response to the OP is in my first post in this thread. But I'm more interested in the discussion that's developed following on from it, about the way in which people are often much more willing to accept some risks as a risk than others.

fussychica · 15/02/2020 19:06

Not a drop as soon as I found out I was pregnant. I love wine and a g&t but wasn't prepared to take any risks as I was 35 and had been ttc for a couple of years. I had flu in the weeks before I knew I was expecting and had taken over the counter remedies and was a bit worried about that at the time.

flower1994 · 15/02/2020 19:16

MarchDaffs do you not think it's entirely up to each individual to decide that though? I dont think drinking alcohol something I absolutely dont need to do when pregnant is worth it - until someone proves otherwise I'm perfectly happy with this. like you said everyone can decide what risk theure happy with and what they think is worth it. I don't care enough about alcohol to indulge - I do care about being able to get to work and to see my friends and family. again, each to their own

MarchDaffs · 15/02/2020 19:34

I do think it's up to each individual to decide, yes, and that women should have access to accurate information to facilitate this. I'm commenting on the arguments made by people who've chosen to discuss their views on the risks, especially those who have been critical of other women taking unnecessary risks whilst also doing so themselves and those who've made junk science arguments.

underneaththeash · 15/02/2020 19:43

As PP have said there is no evidence at all that small amounts of alcohol cause any risk at all, it's only alcohol that is not metabolised by the liver that has any potential to cross the placenta anyway.

Women in the 60's were recommended to drink Guinness to improve their iron levels and incidence of FAS has not reduced after the introduction of the recommendation to abstain from alcohol consumption.

Being obese (for example) has significantly more healthy risks to your baby than drinking small amounts of alcohol.

Its been done as people generally do things to excess, so if the recommendation is to only have 2 units a week, some people cheat and have 4.

OP the occasional drink will do absolutely no harm at all.

flower1994 · 15/02/2020 20:03

MarchDaffs I dont get why this question is asked so much on here. I think it's as basic as you either follow the official advice or you dont. until it is announced that drinking doesnt do damage people will always be critical. for me, the fact you dont know for sure is enough of a deter. I'm not sure you can claim to be giving accurate information considering the fact this is even an ongoing argument is that no conclusive studies can be done. this will always go round and round in circles, there are so many threads on this subject

MarchDaffs · 15/02/2020 20:11

By all means point out what you think I've said that's inaccurate if you would like further explanation.

As for people always being critical, I agree, but that's all the more reason to point out logic fails, bad science and double standards.

orangejuicer · 15/02/2020 20:14

I didn't have any as soon as I found out I was pg.

Vinorosso74 · 15/02/2020 20:22

I drank before I realised I was pregnant (at 8 weeks). I had one very very drunken work night out which was way more than my usual amount-it was very early on. I did drink but didn't actual fancy a drink as often. Once I knew I was pregnant I didn't order a drink when out but would occasionally have half a glass of wine-this was probably less than 10 times.

flower1994 · 15/02/2020 20:28

I don't wish for further explanation as I dont think we will agree on this at all. I dont think its worth it at this point with so little evidence either way - you can compare it to driving all you like, it's not the same thing in my opinion and I dont think you'll be able to convince me it is which is fine you're entitled to believe what you want, as am I

Deelish75 · 15/02/2020 20:53

I did during my first pregnancy, a glass of champagne at a wedding and a birthday party, would have been about 5 months and then 7 months. After the second time I remember the baby being quiet/not much movement the following morning and starting to get quite worried but then in the afternoon he became lively.
Second pregnancy I felt sick almost all the way through also I think I was too anxious, I'd had a miscarriage before this pregnancy and even though I hadn't had a drink I didn't want to risk it.

muddypuddles12 · 15/02/2020 21:04

I certainly had a glass of wine every now and then during my pregnancy, I was pregnant on my 30th birthday and over Xmas. My best friend is a midwife and she also drank a glass of wine intermittently during all of her pregnancies x

Skysblue · 15/02/2020 21:50

Low to moderate drinking in pregnancy significantly increases the risk of ADHD. Not worth it.

Research journal summary here. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/30353263/

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