To have had one small glass of champagne last night (26w pregnant)

[bluemoon2468]

Basically, what I'm trying to establish is how many mums can actually say they didn't have a sip of alcohol during their entire pregnancy?

Last night I celebrated a friend's birthday with a very small glass of champagne, just less than half of a standard size champagne flute. This was my first drink since a couple of weeks before I conceived, aside from a few very occasional sips of other people's drinks here and there (e.g. tasting a cocktail DH made a few weeks ago with a small sip). I have no particular plans to drink again whilst pregnant, but I won't rule out another small drink at some point before I give birth if I fancy it.

I'm pretty comfortable with my decision, but am just wondering whether in reality most mothers engage in the occasional drink in pregnancy or stay strictly tee total?

[BoringUserName00]

@Coronabegone

Please don't tell me what to do or don't do, okay? I have no issues regarding drink. I rarely drink . It's not important to me. Not that any of that is your business.

And I don't need to have scientific evidence that it is a risk. The fact that none of us can be sure of the risk would be enough for me not to drink during pregnancy

[Raaaa]

Tbf if there was no risk, the nhs recommendation probably wouldn't be to avoid alcohol

[Coronabegone]

@BoringUserName00 pleases don't liken a half a glass of champagne to someone who is likely to give their baby foetal alcohol syndrome then? It's ok for you to spout vile nonsense to someone who asked about half a glass of champagne, but you don't like judgement !

hypocrite much?

[HowLongCanICallitBabyWeight]

I didn't, just thought there was no point it's only nine months

[LaurieMarlow]

Tbf if there was no risk, the nhs recommendation probably wouldn't be to avoid alcohol

No, the advice seems to be as it is because women can’t be trusted.

Policing pregnant women is very commonplace.

[HowLongCanICallitBabyWeight]

I do actually know two people with foetal alcohol syndrome, one is adopted and bio mum had lots of issues so it's likely she didn't moderate alcohol consumption in pregnancy. The other his mother drank a few times in very early pregnancy before she knew. There's so little research and so little known about how much and at what time the highest risk was I just didn't see the point, I wouldn't have enjoyed it. Didn't drink for a good while after either, too shattered!

[BoringUserName00]

@Coronabegone

Nothing I have said is vile or nonsense. I said above that one glass is unlikely to lead to fetal alcohol syndrome. I have given my opinion above as the OP has asked for people's opinions. She can take them or leave them. She must have some concern about the effects of alcohol otherwise she wouldn't have posed the question on here.

But you're judging me on something you've made up yourself, that's what I don't like

[Coronabegone]

Stop talking nonsense @BoringUserName00, you mentioned FAS the first time you posted on here, it was unkind and irrelevant when OP confirmed half a glass of champagne as a toast.

Nice thing to put in the head of a mum to be who really hasn't risked their unborn child, very supportive .....NOT!

[updownleftrightstart]

The fact that none of us can be sure of the risk would be enough for me not to drink during pregnancy

But none of us can be sure of the risk of anything at all in pregnancy.
Why is alcohol singled out as something you shouldn't have at all?

[bluemoon2468]

@BoringUserName00 just to clarify, I'm not concerned about the effects of very, very light drinking. I am in no doubt that I didn't risk my baby in any way. As I said in my original post, I was just curious as to the reality of what proportion of pregnant women drink (lightly), as it's not something that's really 'okay' to talk about and I thought this anonymous forum was a good place to get an idea of the answer.

[Raaaa]

"Tbf if there was no risk, the nhs recommendation probably wouldn't be to avoid alcohol

No, the advice seems to be as it is because women can’t be trusted.

Policing pregnant women is very commonplace."

Women can't be trusted because drinking too much is bad, therefore it's down to what is the safe limit, no one knows and everyone would probably have a different limit, hence why they say to avoid?

[BoringUserName00]

@bluemoon2468

Hi OP I hope you have found the forum useful in providing the answer you want. And I hope you haven't found my answers vile as one poster suggested. I've just tried to give my honest opinion which you can take or leave.

[TheWernethWife]

I had my son in the 70s when it was the norm (in my town, can't say for others) to have a glass of stout when pregnant - "to build up your strength". New mothers stayed in hospital for 10 days and a local brewery donated bottles of stout to be distributed among them.

[Igotthemheavyboobs]

I didn't have any alcohol after I found out at 5 weeks. I had about half a glass of wine the week before and that is it. But I don't judge others, I wasn't a big drinker before anyway so didn't miss it even over Christmas, New Year and my 30th birthday (all within 2 weeks)

If people want to drink during their pg, that is their choice. I had an alcohol free beer in a restaurant at 8 months and had some filthy looks from some people so I know the judgement and it's not nice.

[nextnamex]

I didnt personally but that's because I'd had 2 miscarriages prior and did everything by the book - didnt want to risk anything so thought was better to err on the side of caution

[howaboutchocolate]

I had a little bit of alcohol, bucks fizz at Christmas etc. There is no evidence that a tiny bit causes harm, alcohol damage is something that builds, not from the odd exposure.

What I did avoid, and I suspect the majority of "oh god no I didn't touch a drop of alcohol" people didn't, was anything with an increased risk of listeria like salad leaves, soft cheese, deli meats, premade sandwiches etc.

There are lots of risks in pregnancy, most of them small. I weighed up the risk vs the outcome and decided that FAS was not a risk from a small exposure to alcohol, but even a tiny exposure to listeria could have devastating affects, however rare it is to get it.

[nextnamex]

@howaboutchocolate I'm not sure about that, not sure what country you're in but where I'm from the risks from listeria and toxoplasmosis is pretty well documented. some people just feel better not drinking in pregnancy and that's fine, same as those who have weighed the risks and decided they will do. it doesnt automatically mean those that didnt want to ate soft cheese lol

[howaboutchocolate]

@nextmatex I meant the people who are sanctimonious about not drinking alcohol. In my experience, the ones I know happily judge other pregnant women for drinking while not giving a shit about the listeria risk because they want to eat what they want to eat. I've read medical journals, the risk from listeria is scarier to me so that's what I prioritised. I'm in the UK, the NHS says to avoid soft cheeses but not other things that are just as risky, and there's a bunch of people who are like "I ate brie and I was fine" which totally misunderstands the risk factor.

[namechangetheworld]

I didn't drink any alcohol throughout either pregnancy. I didn't think the risk was worth it.

[Camomila]

I never had a whole actual glass of alcohol in either pregnancy (apart from alcohol free beer) but I did eat things like shop bought tiramisu a few times and had a sip of DHs drink once or twice.
I missed salami and nice cheese more tbh.

[Serin]

I'm old and was encouraged to drinks pints of Guinness all through my pregnancy.
The kids turned out fine though.
It's not something I'd do now obviously.

[Redsummer]

I personally havent or wouldnt drink during pregnancy but that's just my choice. I voted YANBU though because I'd never judge someone who did have the occasional drink and its unlikely to cause any harm

Pregnancy can be tough and i can understand that a small glass of wine every now and again is a nice little treat

[Gimmecaffeine]

I had the odd 100ml glass of wine when I fancied. Maybe 5-6 times during my pregnancy. I read the research and felt I was being cautious. I'm a nurse, and a few of my my nurse and doctor friends who have been pregnant did the same.

The NHS guidance aims to stop FASD. Saying 'no, never' is clearer than the previous 'yes, sometimes', because a 40kg woman who drinks 3 glasses of wine in a week might be at risk of FASD. Lots of people just don't 'get' units, even now, and the guidance needs to reflect that.