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To think WHO are trying to commit organisational suicide? They’ve said that women of childbearing age should not drink alcohol AT ALL.

503 replies

RickiTarr · 17/06/2021 01:43

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/06/16/accused-sexism-saying-women-childbearing-age-should-not-drink/

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11
mustlovegin · 18/06/2021 13:27

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

I understand what they are trying to do, I question their way if dong it.
^This
RickiTarr · 18/06/2021 17:16

I’m probably missing something or being thick, but how is it homophobic?

Because it’s not recognising the millions of lesbians “of childbearing age” who cannot become pregnant unexpectedly, and so don’t need to forswear alcohol on the off chance for reasons of possible unexpected childbearing.

Ditto infertile or sterilised women, actually.

Ditto celibate women.

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RickiTarr · 18/06/2021 17:17

@SchadenfreudePersonified

Apparently there was a WHO representative on Woman's Hour.

According to a post on Twitter her got torn a new one.

Thanks. I will do my big weekly WH catch up in the car tomorrow, starting with that episode.
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NiceGerbil · 18/06/2021 17:28

@RickiTarr

I’m probably missing something or being thick, but how is it homophobic?

Because it’s not recognising the millions of lesbians “of childbearing age” who cannot become pregnant unexpectedly, and so don’t need to forswear alcohol on the off chance for reasons of possible unexpected childbearing.

Ditto infertile or sterilised women, actually.

Ditto celibate women.

Could be raped so they'd best not drink just in case they are violently assaulted.
SatNightFever · 18/06/2021 18:00

Jeez. Maybe the WHO should spend more of its time worrying about the ‘women of childbearing age ‘ ( ie early teens ) in many cultures who are married off to older men and end up raped , impregnated and severely injured with fistula in childbirth ( when they are traded in for a younger,fresher version… oh, and rejected by their society ).

RickiTarr · 18/06/2021 18:16

Could be raped so they'd best not drink just in case they are violently assaulted.

God, yes my brain hadn’t even gone there. Coerced conception in abusive relationships too.

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RadandMad · 18/06/2021 18:48

@NiceGerbil

It's not right for any women though.

And the women you mention Sally could have a contraceptive failure or be raped.

They are placing more importance on a theoretical embryo than on an actual living woman. That's shocking.

They are placing more importance on a theoretical embryo than on an actual living woman. That's shocking

That's exactly it. Why I find it so enraging in a nutshell.

RadandMad · 18/06/2021 18:50

@Mamanyt

I had my children in the very early 1980's, and was warned that a single drink at the wrong time in pregnancy could cause fetal alcohol syndrom, which is nasty in the extreme. This is nothing new.

HOWEVER...not to drink during your entire childbearing years is a bit (ok, a LOT) much. Quit drinking from the time you go off of birth control until your child is born is far, far more reasonable.

I got absolutely plastered at a work do when I was in the very early weeks of pregnancy, before I knew I was. Child was absolutely fine.
GoingGently · 18/06/2021 19:08

Just occurred to me the new series of The Handmaid's Tale starts this weekend.

Wouldn't it be lovely to wake up and discover this was all just a guerilla marketing campaign? Sigh

NiceGerbil · 18/06/2021 19:09

Good statement from boss.

NiceGerbil · 18/06/2021 19:09

Bpas

Autocucumber

MrsRockAndRoll · 18/06/2021 21:13

Excellent statement in response to WHO

enjoyingscience · 18/06/2021 21:23

Such a strong and necessary response. Thank you BPAS.

Schoolchoicesucks · 18/06/2021 22:09

Fantastic response by BPAS.

Totallydefeated · 18/06/2021 22:13

BPAS nail it. 👏

RickiTarr · 19/06/2021 01:35

Excellent work from BPAS. If almost forgotten what unequivocal disagreement and assertion of fact looked like.

It would be nice if the BMA, GMC and similar followed suit.

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RickiTarr · 19/06/2021 01:36

I’D almost...^

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HarebrightCedarmoon · 19/06/2021 03:45

One of the best statements from any public organisation I've ever read. I can feel the passion and anger behind it. Wonderful.

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/06/2021 05:38

@TrifleCat

Blessed be the fruit !
May the Lord open!
godmum56 · 19/06/2021 11:27

@SchadenfreudePersonified

Apparently there was a WHO representative on Woman's Hour.

According to a post on Twitter her got torn a new one.

anybody got a link please?
godmum56 · 19/06/2021 11:35

its ok I found the link...... twitter.com/BBCWomansHour/status/1405536963852070912?s=20

LizzieSiddal · 19/06/2021 11:46

Fantastic response form BPAS.

If they asked men to stop drinking, this would result in far less harm to society, as a whole.

CecilyP · 19/06/2021 14:15

Mamanyt
I had my children in the very early 1980's, and was warned that a single drink at the wrong time in pregnancy could cause fetal alcohol syndrom, which is nasty in the extreme. This is nothing new.

Where was this? DS was born in ‘86 and I’ve no recollection of drink ever being mentioned at any appointment I attended. There was definitely a lot of information about not smoking but nothing regarding drink.

RickiTarr · 19/06/2021 14:53

My mother had her DC from early seventies to mid eighties @Mamanyt and she repeated the same stance you mentioned ad nauseum.

I had my first two at the end of the millennium and remember being warned against drinking at the first hospital appointment and replying that I only intended to have half a glass of champagne at each of three special occasions that fell after the first trimester. I got “a look” for that, but no contradiction. However one of those occasions was a family one and my mother made quite a scene telling me I was “damaging” my baby and it would “come out abnormal” (we are probably talking 80ml of champagne here - just for the toast). That was quite the glare off.

I don’t remember anyone medical saying much about it at all with my third ~10 years ago, maybe because I was considered an “old hand” by then? Not sure.

I DO remember my pregnant sister drinking a whole glass of red at an ordinary Sunday lunch a few years, and my mother not issuing a squeak, so I assumed someone had collared her and told her the updated guidance, which I gather was less draconian by then?

I’ve seen different studies make the news over the years but haven’t really followed the advice fluctuations closely. So I couldn’t confidently say what is changing medical research and what is a rebalancing of minor risk with women’s personhood.

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