To ask if you drank alcohol during pregnancy

[Butterflyflower1234]

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).

No imo it's irresponsible and I don't understand how people can't go to a party/ 9 months without touching alcohol.

Yes I did. Not for the first 15 weeks as I just didn't want to (I didn't drink coffee or tea either). I then had a two week holiday and drank a bit while I was away, and then I went back to hardly having anything at all except for the odd glass of red wine in the last weeks.

I think the advice on drinking in pregnancy is patronising and assumes pregnant women are too stupid to regulate themselves. Those who don't care will drink anyway. Those who do care will watch the amounts.

There is no evidence that FAS can be caused by very low alcohol consumption, so I really wouldn’t panic about this. Just do what you want to do.

No. I had alcohol free cider which was just as lovely.

Yes, half a glass of prosecco or wine maybe a handful of times. Absolutely fine. There is no evidence that small amounts of alcohol do any harm assuming you are otherwise healthy and receiving good antenatal care.

I wish someone would invent an alcohol free wine which actually tastes good. So many ppl quoting beer options, but who wants a beer with their lovely meal?!

Yes I had a small glass of something 1-2 times a week after the first trimester. I also drank coffee within guidelines. None of it had the slightest impact on my two healthy babies.

No wine or spirits. Went over to 0.0 beer. Had a couple of beers with alcohol, but I was further along in the pregnancy, 6 months or so, and not on the same day! Really, I just didn't fancy it.

Nothing at all - I don't believe one small glass of wine with a meal every week or so would do any harm, but personally it would just make me want another glass! So I stick to soft drinks.

I did. At the time the midwife said 1-2 units once a week was the maximum so sometimes I'd have a small glass of wine or cider if I wanted it. However I think the guidelines are now not to consume any at all, so in the unlikely event of another pregnancy, I probably wouldn't have any.

I wish someone would invent an alcohol free wine which actually tastes good.

It's not actually possible, the alcohol is central to the taste and structure of the drink.

I had the very odd glass of wine OP. I didn't really enjoy it though, which is why I didn't have more. I got sooooo bored of sugary soft drinks.

Yes, a glass of wine maybe once every 2 or 3 weeks after I got past 20 weeks. Done so with both my girls, both very bright and happy. However I understand it is a big no no for many. You'll get a lot of judgement but as with everything with parenting it is your decision to make.

Not a drop. FAS is entirely avoidable by just not drinking. It’s a no-brainer for me.

I'm 17 weeks. I had a couple of drinks at a family party before I knew (I'd tested and it was too early for a positive anyway). Otherwise no.

I can barely eat or drink at the moment so I don't miss alcohol at all.

Not a drop. FAS is entirely avoidable by just not drinking.

There as never been a case of FAS linked to a single, rare alcohol drink. Women with brains can look at what the evidence shows and make a reasoned decision that one glass of wine at a birthday party is going to be fine.

Yes, I always found alcohol-free wine incredibly disappointing - may as well drink posh grape juice. And I hate beer of any description, so the fact that there are good alcohol-free beers available was no help.

I found posh lemonades and freshly squeezed lemon/lime juice with brown sugar and topped up with sparkling water (a sort of alcohol-free caipirinha substitute, I guess) were a sort of substitute for that 'having a drink' experience, especially in the very hot summer in which I was pregnant with dd.

Women with brains can look at what the evidence shows and make a reasoned decision that one glass of wine at a birthday party is going to be fine.

I’m always appalled at how few women out there seem to possess these brains.

In total, probably 4 or 5 glasses of red during my entire pregnancy. To be honest it made me feel a bit ill whenever I did drink during pregnancy so I didn’t really miss it.

So sorry I missed the other threads, I'm not on MN every day so I must have missed them.

Thanks for the replies. I think they are all very sensible and pragmatic. I'm not pregnant yet but it's nice to know that actually it's my choice if I do decide to have a little drink.

I've seen there's things like nosecco (prosecco with no alcohol) so I'm keen to try that.

I had a glass of wine on both Xmas day and NYE with DC2 and DC3. I was 8 months + in both pregnancies though (yes I did have two mid January children. Poor sods!)

Yes, occasionally - like others I couldn't touch anything at all - not coffee or tea or anything with any strongish smell or taste for the first 3 or 4 months, but after that I just went back to normal - never drunk, but a glass of wine with dinner, or a beer at the weekend if I felt like it.

By the time I was nearly 2 weeks overdue, even the midwife was saying to just have a nice relaxing bath with a glass of red wine - everything ached!

but it's nice to know that actually it's my choice if I do decide to have a little drink.

When was it ever not your choice about what to put into your own body?

Nope just because I read studies to suggest that different people had different susceptibilities so if you happen to be very sensitive a small amount could affect your child. For me going a few months without a drink was not a big deal though. I know sensible people who had the odd glass of wine.

I didn't, it's not long to abstain, I found a quite nice job alcoholic beer but my brain just wouldn't let me drink it. My friend's adopted brother has foetal alcohol syndrome and the professionals don't really know when is the riskiest time or how much I had an effect so I thought better safe than sorry, it's only nine months

I drank during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding. The odd glass of red here and there when I fancied it. Probably once a week. I went to a wedding and had two glasses over the course of the day one day I think. I recommend reading Emily Oysters 'expecting better' if it interests you.