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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

MarchDaffs · 14/02/2020 13:50

I can see that we're going to get bogged down in what's moderate and people will die on the hill of claiming that 8 pints of Stella a week totes fits within it. So let's be specific, in a way that the Professor wasn't.

Data showing, if we take it at its highest, that one drink a day ie anything from 7 to about 19 units per week, leads to an increased risk of FAS, tells us zero about the potential impact of much, much lower consumption.

GrapesAreMyJam · 14/02/2020 13:50

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

updownleftrightstart · 14/02/2020 13:52

Also a standard drink here, so one unit of alcohol, is 8g of alcohol.
In the US a standard drink is 14g, so almost double.

Someone who drinks one standard drink in the US (where Professor Susan works) is actually drinking nearly twice as much as someone enjoying one unit in the UK.

Oxfordnono12 · 14/02/2020 13:55

@Mantarays So, you believe that it is ok to drink alcohol while pregnant while having having a "problematic" relationship with alcohol.
Your opinion therefore is biased and not really factually based.

There are plenty of reason to not drink (toxic substances) Adults are well aware of this, Why would you risk your child's health and safety based on, "oh, it's just one drink"..

It is medically suggested that alcohol does go to the child therefore child is taking alcohol... Would you give the child a sip if they were out of the womb... No! Because that's dumb and irresponsible.

Ivyr0se · 14/02/2020 13:57

No never and I actually was really tempted with my fifth pregnancy.

mantarays · 14/02/2020 13:58

Oxfordnono12

I am not actually saying that, no. I believe alcohol is bad for me in any significant quantities and would rather I didn’t drink at all. Having said that, it makes no difference whether I have a problematic relationship with it or I don’t in terms of the level of risk to my child, or my bias (which I would actually argue is less than most people’s, because I don’t see alcohol as harmless on moderate quantities): there is still no evidence whatsoever that a drink a week will harm a foetus. None.

MarchDaffs · 14/02/2020 14:04

The only things I'd give a baby are breastmilk and formula but I didn't sustain myself on those when I was pregnant...

bingbangbing · 14/02/2020 14:14

I posted that link as it relates to numbers of babies born with FAS world wide. PurpleDaisies asked where they all were.

FAS has only been diagnosed since the 70's. It's also a spectrum disorder. People with a mild case will function in society in many cases. My ex has it and he was diagnosed in his forties. He certainly doesn't where a sign. Everyone on this thread has probably unknowingly met someone with it.

There almost certainly have been people around with FAS for centuries, just not diagnosed or understood.

Sure I saw something where a researcher was able to identify it in some portraits of the crowned heads of Europe...

Anyway, if people want to argue semantics and deliberately misunderstand what risk means, to justify a glass of wine, that's their right.

I reserve the right to think they're batshit though.

LowcaAndroidow · 14/02/2020 14:18

Yes, after the first trimester (when I felt too sick to drink anything) I had one or two drinks a week. I don't believe there was any real risk at that level, certainly no more risk than emptying the cat litter tray or cleaning the kitchen or washing my hair with shampoo. Less risk than travelling by car.

Drank as much as normal while breastfeeding.

updownleftrightstart · 14/02/2020 14:20

Anyway, if people want to argue semantics and deliberately misunderstand what risk means, to justify a glass of wine, that's their right.

Maybe you can define what you mean by risk in this case then. Because I am not misunderstanding what risk means, I just stand by my comments that there is no risk with very very low alcohol consumption. I am not sure what exactly I am failing to understand.

MarchDaffs · 14/02/2020 14:23

When it comes down to it bing, you posted an article from someone who thinks the instance of FAS in women who (claim to have had) one drink a day is relevant to the question of whether much less alcohol than that is safe. Your posts suggest you agree with her. With that in mind, you're not one to be calling anyone else batshit.

bingbangbing · 14/02/2020 14:28

Of course it's relevant.

Drinking is no different to smoking really.

The odd fag is probably ok, but nobody advocates it.

However, the population has been subject to education about smoking in pregnancy for much longer.

Give it a few years and this sort of thread will be very different.

ClubfootMaestro · 14/02/2020 14:30

@bingbangbing please show me any evidence that there is a risk from having one glass of alcohol in second trimester, or accept that there isn’t.

You are being very imprecise in your posts about the parameters of the points you are trying to make, and it is coming across as evasive.

ArtichokeAardvark · 14/02/2020 14:30

I had the occasional drink on special occasions in both pregnancies (I have a 2 year old and a 3 week old). Never more than one glass though and always with a meal. Both my children are healthy.

fiftiesmum · 14/02/2020 14:32

Alcohol is just one of the things that are a risk to the baby. Travelling by car, going up and down stairs, crossing the road etc. Can reduce all these by staying in bed but that leads to an increased risk of DVT.
It wasn't that long ago pregnant women were advised to take an occasional glass of Guinness for "iron and vitamins" along with their liver sandwiches.

Fluffetta · 14/02/2020 14:32

Drinking is no different to smoking really. The odd fag is probably ok, but nobody advocates it

Are you now accepting the odd glass is “probably ok” because if so that’s not what you’ve said previously on this thread and others.

MarchDaffs · 14/02/2020 14:35

How is it relevant bing? And does this work both ways too, would we assume the risk profile for people having seven times the one drink a day group is the same as those having one seventh? Fourteen times?

bingbangbing · 14/02/2020 14:37

Why would you bet your child's health on 'probably' won't have FAS?

When you could pin it down to definitely won't have FAS?

So many hard choices and terrifying responsibilities in being motherhood. This is one of the easier ones.

Tp93 · 14/02/2020 14:39

Unpopular comment here but i dont care jump down my throat 🤣
If you can't stay away from alcohol for 9 months and crave it, then don't bother having a baby. Sick of seeing people drinking or smoking while pregnant (Not my baby or body so I don't care) I've been to baby showers where the person is having a few glasses. 🙄 yeah yeah study this, study that I don't care but most of the people who I have seen drinking and/or smoking while pregnant have children with health issues or are autistic. Food for though.

MarchDaffs · 14/02/2020 14:39

Evading the question there...

cologne4711 · 14/02/2020 14:41

Drinking is no different to smoking really Disagree totally.

One to eight drinks a week is not moderate when you're pregnant

One drink a week is moderate to low. Eight is far more than I would ever drink, pregnant or not.

there is risk from occasional drinking no there isn't, unless you mean that on that one occasion someone drinks quite a lot, gets into their car and drives and has an accident. I suppose in that sense, you'd be right, but it's irrelevant whether or not you are pregnant.

MarchDaffs · 14/02/2020 14:42

Whatever else your post might be tp93, food for thought it is not.

cologne4711 · 14/02/2020 14:43

most of the people who I have seen drinking and/or smoking while pregnant have children with health issues or are autistic

Yeah right - anecdote is not evidence. That means an entire generation then, given the advice was the odd drink was fine when I was pregnant in 2002. I've seen no evidence at all that kids born between say 2000 to 2005 have health issues or are on the autistic spectrum.

And now that the advice has changed, I wonder how mothers feel who didn't touch a drop of alcohol while pregnant but find their child IS on the spectrum.

LaurieMarlow · 14/02/2020 14:44

Why would you bet your child's health on 'probably' won't have FAS?
When you could pin it down to definitely won't have FAS?

Very occasional drinking is no different to no drinking on this measure.

LaurieMarlow · 14/02/2020 14:45

Whatever else your post might be tp93, food for thought it is not.

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