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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:
WaitrosesCheapestVodka · 14/02/2020 09:25

This thread is going to get vitriolic pretty quickly Grin

I did. I had 70ml-ish of fizz on Christmas Day at week 10, then had the odd very small (less than 125ml) glass when I really fancied it. Probably 6ish glasses during my pregnancy.

No one can tell you if it's safe as everyone metabolises alcohol differently. I felt safe doing this, but I'm 70kg and 5'10 and so I was confident the booze would be at insignificant amounts in my bloodstream.

Fwiw I'd probably have a small glass a week (if I wanted one) after the 1st tri if I was pregnant again.

grudieabbey · 14/02/2020 09:26

I didn’t touch a drop. I had my baby early and I think if I had drunk I would have always blamed myself even if it was totally unconnected. It’s just alcohol. Go without.

Vulpine · 14/02/2020 09:28

My first child had no idea i was pregnant for first 10 weeks or so - so carried on partying as i did in the old days! Fully grown now - no obvious side effects as far as i can tell

Rosebel · 14/02/2020 09:29

Well I did get fairly drunk one weekend but I didn't know I was pregnant. Still feel awful and worried though. I'm sure the occasional drink would be okay but I haven't touched a drink since.

Dixiechickonhols · 14/02/2020 09:30

No I didn’t. My dd was born with a missing limb (missed on scans so day I had her was biggest shock of my life) It was nothing I’d done or not done. It’s caused by a blip in blood flow that occurs at 6 weeks and she is other healthy but of course I wondered. I think if I’d had a drink the what if would always be there.

chipmunkcalling · 14/02/2020 09:32

I'm currently 33 weeks pregnant, I've had 3 small cans of stout, the mackersons ones with barely any alcohol in it, to keep iron levels up, and 1 glass of prosecco at works Christmas do, but that's all I've had this time.
I think minimal is fine, within reason.

Limensoda · 14/02/2020 09:34

I was a regular drinker but didn't drink at all throughout both of my pregnancies or breastfeeding.
I felt nauseous just at the thought of a drink so it was easy not to have one.
My pregnancies were in the 1970s and there were no big scare stories about drinking whilst pregnant....or smoking. There were waiting rooms for smokers at our ante natal clinic. I did smoke I'm ashamed to admit.
If I was pregnant today I'd do neither. You just don't know whether you are a person it will affect badly and I wouldn't take the risk. I think I was lucky that everything went ok.

ivfbabymomma1 · 14/02/2020 09:36

I drank a cocktail in error!! I ordered a mocktail but the order was mixed up! I realised after a few sips though!

caffeinefix · 14/02/2020 09:40

With DS I had the odd glass of Prosecco at special events, had a couple of weddings.

Currently pregnant, my last drink was the weekend before I found out. I've not had a drop since and don't think I will. I don't even fancy it. Have had a can of Brewdog AF and it was great.

I've had two losses so I don't want to risk anything in this pregnancy.

HmmIsThisAGoodIdea · 14/02/2020 09:44

Not at all. Ignoring any arguments about potential long term effects completely I remember how sick I felt as a teenager just trying alcohol. Given that we know it does affect baby in the womb (but not exactly how other than makes them very lethargic) it wouldn't be much of a stretch to imagine that it could make them feel very sick and disoriented in the same way we do when we're drunk. They are so tiny and helpless and rely on us entirely to protect them so why on earth would I knowingly want to make my baby feel so ill like that?

I appreciate not everyone will see it that way - I'm not judging at all, just telling you my reasons for the choice I made. Smile

puds11 · 14/02/2020 09:45

Nope, not worth it in my mind.

YouJustDoYou · 14/02/2020 09:48

No. Never. It's selfish. I'm alcohol dependant/alcoholic and have been for several decades. I drink every day. I abstained completely during all my pregnancies because the baby doesn't get a choice as to what it's being fed. How selfish do you have to be as a mother to deliberately pass a poison on to a foetus?

HmmIsThisAGoodIdea · 14/02/2020 09:48

Just to add before I found out with my first I'd just come back from a very drunken holiday! I wonder if it affects them less (in terms of making them feel rubbish!) because in the early weeks they're still very much just bundles of cells - they probably haven't developed the systems that would even make them feel the affects of alcohol. Just as well really! Blush

Damntheman · 14/02/2020 09:48

I didn't, not at all. But I was overly paranoid given a lot of women around me lost babies in the third trimester. I couldn't relax. I know people who did though and their kids seem fine :)

KaptenKrusty · 14/02/2020 09:49

I don't see the point in drinking unless i'm gonna have a few & get a bit tipsy tbh - so I wouldn't bother! haha but I really don't think a glass a week would do any harm !

Thymelord · 14/02/2020 09:52

How selfish do you have to be as a mother to deliberately pass a poison on to a foetus

Didn't take long did it!

Sackofspuds · 14/02/2020 09:53

Yes. But no more than a glass and not in 1st trimester.

BentNeckLady · 14/02/2020 09:54

One could say it’s selfish to have children when you’re an alcohol dependent alcoholic 🤷🏽‍♀️

Camomila · 14/02/2020 09:55

I drank alcohol free lager sometimes, and had the occasional (shop bought) tiramisu or mince pie and would eat food with a bit of wine in the sauce bit other than that no alcohol. Same with DS1, although with him I think I accidentally ate a few alcoholic chocolates at Christmas without thinking!

Camomila · 14/02/2020 09:58

Vaguely related - when DM had me she was in the postnatal ward over new years and they gave all the ladies a couple of cm of bubbly at midnight. I think that was very sweet!

peachesforfree · 14/02/2020 09:58

I am pg and I drink about the amount you mention. I have read lots around the subject, and am happy with my decision. MNers generally not keen on the idea though!

Stephminx · 14/02/2020 09:59

I had nothing.

CatteStreet · 14/02/2020 10:00

There was a long thread about this this week.

I had nothing for roughly the first halves of my pregnancies (one exception at 11 weeks with my third) and a very small glass every two or three weeks thereafter. I wouldn't have felt comfortable with any more, but neither did I believe I absolutely needed to abstain completely in order to eliminate all risk.

The result so far (anecdata alert) has been two dc doing well at selective secondaries (the second has a few ASC traits) and an extremely verbally adept 4yo, who needs stupidly low amounts of sleep but is a complete walk in the park behaviourally. No evidence of anything that might point towards FASD.

Willyoujustbequiet · 14/02/2020 10:03

I did before I knew. Had been due to start ivf and was told it would never happen naturally so got completely drunk as it was Christmas. I even had my period as normal.

My dd has learning difficulties. Thankfully mild. But im wrecked with guilt over it. I'll never know.

SidneyPrescott · 14/02/2020 10:03

I had half a shot of baileys in a hot chocolate and got thoroughly told off by my husband.

It was worth it 🤣

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