to drink while TTC

[ncob]

(name changed for this)

I have known of people having a glass of champagne over christmas dinner etc while pregnant and always thought I wouldnt do it.

Fast-forward to now, been TTC over a year (irregular cycles, endo etc). I have basically been teetotal this entire time. Not a big drinker so it wasn't too hard. Have had the occasional drink during/ immediate post-period when I know theres 0 chance of getting pregnant (DH away etc), still I could count this on one hand in the last 15 months or so.

Just feel a bit fed up and fancy a drink this bank hol weekend (i doubt ill have one as in 2 week wait currently and dont want to mess up my chances) but going forward, is it such a crime to drink occasionally till you do get pregnant? Surely most people do? Annoying that men dont have to think of any of this.

Surely most people do?

Yes, I would say that most people continue as normal until they get a positive test.

This wouldn't be something I'd even think about tbh.

It never occurred to me not to drink.

Actually before I found out I was pregnant with my first DC I was at a wedding with a free bar.

I was on a holiday with a lot of cocktails and wine.

I just drank until I got a BFP. Then I didn’t drink (except for a Buck’s Fizz on Christmas morning when I was 36 weeks).

The week before I found out I was on holiday eating pate, soft cheeses, lots of wine etc.

...and all your babies turned out fine?

I'm TTC and when I saw the doctor for a different issue, she said not to go crazy but if I'm sure I'm not pregnant then it's ok.

Think about how many babies are conceived after a night of drinking!

I drank when I was 6 weeks pregnant but didn't think I was pregnant. Little man is fine

Unless you were a previously very heavy drinker (which could reduce fertility) there is no reason at all to remain completely the total whilst TTC. Your baby isn’t even connected to your blood stream for the first 8 weeks let alone at the moment of conception.

I drank to excess at a hen weekend before I found out, would have been been 4-5 weeks pregnant. DD was born with a heart defect and had to have surgery. I'll always think it was my fault, even though I'll never know whether it made a difference. With DS I only drank for half the month, from my period until ovulation.

And the first thing you will be told if you are struggling to conceive is to give up alcohol!

Context, DS is in his 20's

We were not trying to conceive. I got horrendously drunk on NYE, when I was already pregnant. Mortified obviously when I found out.

He's fine, happy, healthy, fit and well educated and we can laugh about it together now!

True - although I'm not a big drinker to begin with. So this wouldn't make a difference to usual habits for some of us!

I didn't go sober when ttc - it didn't occur to me.

In fact, I found out I was pregnant a week after drinking for hours on end at a wedding.

Alcohol is dreadful for egg quality so I haven’t drunk in 3 years ttc. All my fertility consultants have advised against it (IVF Dr and reproductive immunologist) I’ve also had 14 miscarriages so (understandably) more cautious than most. I would rather not have alcohol as some stupid reason to beat myself up about if ultimately I end up childless. Each to their own though.

Also FYI it takes 3 months for lifestyle and dietary changes to show up in egg and sperm quality improvements.

Read “It starts with the egg”.

A couple of women I know but including my ex landlady/also a friend drank whilst TTC. In fact when I met ex landlady for coffee she said both times she’d been at weddings and had smoked (only 1 or 2 cigarettes) and drank whilst there and said beforehand she’d not drank etc with no luck, the two times at weddings she said she was more relaxed and swore that’s what helped her conceive both times. Gave up alcohol immediately she got BFPs.

When I conceived at 17 (had termination) I was definitely drinking probably not hugely though, wasn’t TTC so a surprise pregnancy. Second time around at 22 (engaged) was half and half TTC so didn’t drink at all, got pregnant but had miscarriage at 4.5 months. Consultant said it was just one of those things that I miscarried.

@ncob I don’t have your health problems (or nothing diagnosed, I have been having gynaecology issues lately). However I did take longer to fall pregnant with my second (not in any way close to possible infertility I will stress), but when I did it was when I thought there was 0% of it happening - on the last day of my period. I know for certain that’s the day it happened as it was my birthday (😳) and he was measuring 2.5 weeks bigger on his 12 week scan (was actually 15 weeks!). Now having full irregular cycles where I’m back to ovulating at the end of my period but not TTC (may be peri).

Other than that, have a drink or 5. Or more. The fact is that the occasional few glasses of alcohol really don’t make a difference. Falling pregnant may or may be something that will need extra help, as long as you’re not constantly binging and not under any other medical advice or medication at the moment then just enjoy yourself every so often.

But you are born with all your eggs.

It’s fine.

Didn't occur to me not to drink but then I haven't had any fertility issues.
Alcohol does impact on sperm quality so perhaps your partner should abstain too? Might make you feel more supported if you definitely don't want to drink

Yep, perfect.

I of course didn't drink once I had BFP.

If you have endo and have been ttc for a year without success then you’re not in the same boat as the other posters here. Alcohol is not helpful for you on your journey.

I have had six Mc and also have endo and every expert (medical/holistic/you name it) has suggested no alcohol at all while ttc. We even had a Zita West clinic male fertility expert get DH to dramatically cut his alcohol intake down to just a couple of glasses of red wine a week (DS conceived and carried to term 3 months later).