To have a little drink even though im pregnant?

[Ncforcfthreads]

I am bricking it.
I had a small bottle of cider 2 days ago to calm my nerves and had another today.

1.3 units. I am trying not to have another one and I don't even drink!

Aibu to have a little one just to calm my nerves. Or is it really as slippery a slope as they say?

You wouldn’t give your baby alcohol as a newborn so why give it to them in the womb!!?

It is not safe to drink alcohol during pregnancy! There is no safe minimum! You’ll get lots of people saying ‘oh I had a drink during pregnancy and my baby was fine’. I’d ignore any and all comments like that.

1. Alcohol doesn’t help with anxiety, it comes back worse in the long run
2. It lowers your immune system significantly! We are in a pandemic!!

Im glad you've seen sense op. Of course alcohol a d cigarettes are worse for a baby than the mother’s stress. I said cigarettes because you mentioned them, but weren't clear whether you were now smoking.

Some people can drink a lot in pregnancy and have healthy babies. Others can drink very little and end up with a baby with Foetal alcohol syndrome. Totally not worth the risk. Anti-depressants in pregnancy can have an effect on the baby too.

You need to find other ways to cope. Maybe try pregnancy yoga on youtube. Read a book. Come of social media.

I understand, I'm pregnant too (just 10 weeks)
It is hard to be pregnant, even more so with the current state of the world but please please never turn to alcohol. Can you talk to your DH, your mum, a friend?
Try and limit how much you watch or hear the news, it is on all day everyday at the moment.

I try and focus my mind on positives (yes, it is possible to find positives even now)
Go for a walk for fresh air, anything apart from alcohol please

My friend sent me this and although it made me cry (happy tears!) It did help me, I hope it helps you too x

@CalleighDoodle do you have any supporting evidence or even anecdotal that a child was born with foetal alcohol syndrome from a mother drinking very little?

The nhs advice is dont drink at all in pregnancy, but there is no need for scaremongering.

Alcohol is not going to help your nerves at all! Once you start drinking to “calm your nerves” yes it’s a slippery slope as this situation is going to be on going for a while

It’s also not recommended for pregnant women

You wouldn’t give your new horn cider in its bottle would you? Find another way to calm yourself....

Read
Get an adult colouring book
Go for a lone walk for 15 minutes just avoid people obviously/Walk up and down the garden if you have one
Google calming techniques
You tube pregnancy yoga
Cook/bake

Stress doesn’t cause fetal alcohol syndrome, stop trying to justify it. You know YABU.

@Janaih, what @CalleighDoodle has quoted is current NHS advice. There is no safe limit of alcohol. Facts aren’t scaremongering.

I drank throughout my pregnancy but way less than usual. For example if I had wine I had a small glass topped right up with lemonade. Or for spirits I usually have them strong (pour freehand at home), but I had them much weaker than usual.
My mum drank and smoked the same as usual through all 3 of her pregnancies, my Nan did through her 2.
I know everyone will say I'm wrong but I wasn't not drinking for 9 months.

Could you turn to any other vice, right now? Chocolate? Cake? Sweets? Crisps? Ice Cream?
I’ve been having more than usual of the above (plus my normal healthy eating). Feeling guilty about baby...
But, better than turning to booze! I’ll snap out of it, won’t continue with the goodies. Can you tell yourself the same? Pour any remaining cider down the sink. I threw some sweets in the bin yesterday, for baby’s sake.

Why are you worried?

I know everyone will say I'm wrong but I wasn't not drinking for 9 months.

They will because if you can’t put your own selfishness aside to nurture a vulnerable life that’s entirely dependent on you that you’ve chosen to bring into the world then you’re doing it a great disservice. Grow up.

Why would you think alcohol was better for the baby than stress?
Stress really has a low impact on your baby, and really becomes an issue around delivery as high cortisol levels can affect length of labour and even if/when your milk comes in and how easy it is to let down that milk to feed your baby.

You really need to get a handle on this OP. If you can't get in touch with your midwife you should be calling your doctor for a telephone consultation and telling them.

There are pregnancy safe SSRIs that are good for focusing on reducing anxiety. You've got all the time in the world to drink after your baby is born.

'My mum drank and smoked the same as usual through all 3 of her pregnancies, my Nan did through her 2.
I know everyone will say I'm wrong but I wasn't not drinking for 9 months.'

That is absolutely disgusting and extremely selfish. I am actually shocked at the ignorance and idioticness of your post happymummy

OP, I am also pregnant and desperate for a drink also. I don't drink very often (and haven't during any of my pregnancies) but I feel so tempted at the moment. Life is upside down, after all!
I've managed to keep it at bay by sniffing calpol. DH thinks i'm utterly bizzare but it's doing the trick!

@Ncforcfthreads I was exactly the same as you and thought it wouldnt work! Dh bought me some non alcoholic Budweiser and it was amazing, it looks the same and tastes the same. I would have a cold one in the bath without the guilt and it was very relaxing. It was weird as even knowing it is a placebo didnt affect things like I thought it woudl and I do think something in the ingredients helped relax me as beer has relaxing properties anyway without the alcohol.

'My mum drank and smoked the same as usual through all 3 of her pregnancies, my Nan did through her 2.
I know everyone will say I'm wrong but I wasn't not drinking for 9 months.'

OP if you drink too much during your pregnancy this is what your LO could turn out like!

If a light, occasional drink was likely to do harm, there would be a hell of a lot more fetal alcohol syndrome out there. Don't stress about what you have done.

Do not have more though. Settling the nerves is a very poor reason to drink especially in these ongoing unsettling times when there is no immediate resolution within your control. Keep trying your MW team, there is help out there although it will require more persistance and patience than normal.

Step away from all the paronoia on MN before you start panic chlorinating your soft fruits. Find something escapist and disconected to distract you from the world beyond the front door. Books, film, music, long bath, anything soothing and not connected to news.

Take happymummy12345 comment as a warning OP. It clearly had a negative impact.

@heartonastring
That made me smile.
I never ever drink but it really does feel like the time to start doesnt it? I never felt the pull before, glad im not the only one not glad i gave in

Isn’t cider about 4% proof?
I think stress is definitely worse than a glass of cider with dinner.
Get a grip people.

Happymummy? Selfish mummy more like. Shocking comment.

Panic chlorinating your soft fruits has got me giggling!

But seriously, @BogRollBOGOF is right.

I had a horrible metallic taste in my mouth when I was pregnant so anything I drank tasted horrible.
I didn't drink and am pleased I didn't, it's the kind of thing that might not cause any problems, but if it did you'd never forgive yourself.