To have one small glass of red wine at 38 weeks pregnant?

[baby2c]

I’m not a drinker at all but DH gets a bottle of red once or twice a month and tonight I really fancy just a very small glass, I’m a weirdo (according to DH) who likes ice in red wine on the rare occasion I have it. DH is only having one glass just in case I was to go into labour and he had to drive to hospital. So I was thinking of having a tiny amount with some ice and enjoying sipping it whilst watching tv in my pjs however I’m not sure if this is totally out of order or reasonable? Would you? Or did you? I haven’t touched alcohol at all since finding out I am pregnant at 4 weeks.

I'd be paranoid that I'd go into labour and baby or I wouldn't be as "strong" because of a drop of alcohol... Probably irrational, but that's my feeling.

That said, while I haven't been drinking any drinks for myself, I have been enjoying sips of dh's (just like calories in his chips...) If I combined all the sips I'd take, I'd probably have a very small/half glass myself.

For part of my pregnancy, I was buying one miniature bottle of wine per week (the 187ml ones) and usually drinking it over two separate days. It was fine, but I love my child so much I now wish I hadn’t!

Yes exactly, and if she’s breastfeeding she’ll then get people saying she mustn’t have a drink because of that 🙄

You wouldn’t enjoy it.

I bloody bet she would (and did!)

All the hysteria around one glass of anything in the third trimester is based in misogyny. The misogynistic assumption that women are too stupid to stop at one or two glasses and the misogynistic desire to control women’s behaviour and treat us as glorified incubators.

There is no evidence that a small glass of wine/champagne/whatever in the third trimester is harmful. The evidence about alcohol in pregnancy is about high intakes in the early trimesters (ie above generally recommended levels for anyone).

As with all things, extremes are rarely the answer.

A small glass of wine. What, in many countries would be considered a basic part of the evening meal. The fact that many people in the UK drink wine all evening as if it were beer doesn’t mean that everyone does.

Please point me to the peer reviewed evidence that a small glass of wine with dinner is harmful.

It’s not remotely the same thing 🙄

Some people think wearing makeup in pregnancy is toxic and harmful but let’s face it most women still do wear makeup when pregnant.

@polkadothorse

what makes you think that?

Would you give your newborn a very small glass of wine in their bottle?

The only thing you should give newborns is milk.

That doesn't mean the mother should only drink milk during pregnancy 🫠

Sorry I’m more shocked that people are putting ice and Coke in red wine!!!

Seriously though it’s your decision to make. I’m sure it would do no harm but if it’s going to make you anxious then don’t

you haven’t drank alcohol all this time, why now? YABU

It would be absolutely fine.

Towards the end of my first pregnancy I had a lovely Iranian midwife, who knew I was struggling (I was huge, my breathing was difficult if I sat down, but standing for too long killed my back, my walking was at a pace that meant I never got anywhere, and I hadn't seen my toes in weeks - I was so uncomfortable). She told me that what I needed was to find the comfiest chair in my house and just sit down with a glass of read wine and a book and try to relax for a little while.

But they do. There are a million and one SIDS risk factors. I was the most anxious first time mum in the entire world. It’s a scary world to navigate. I think drinking HUGE amounts is the SIDS risk factor and not sipping the worlds smallest glass of red wine which is recommended for well being!

Lol, this comment honestly. Why is it unreasonable to want one small glass when full term. I think YABU!!

But it's not extreme to say that the foetus is in fact exposed to alcohol in a way that a breastfed baby isn't for example (still a bit but much less) and that it is worse for the baby than for the mother. I mean, you wouldn't give a baby any alcohol in their bottle, right? Why expose the foetus to any amount of alcohol is the point I'm making here. Probably not tragic if one glass but OP asked what we thought and I don't think anyone on here has the authority to say for sure that we know 100% it won't have adverse effects. That goes for any substance. I was recently pregnant but lost it. Unrelated to the loss, I had a nasty insect bite on my leg at one point. The GP was clear that the more we manage to avoid meds the better - only if absolutely necessary, that's the golden rule and one that I heard throughout my other pregnancies as well. Someone upthread mentioned pethidine but interestingly it seems it's given less nowadays because of the potential side effects to the baby. It's all about exposure, length of exposure and the risk/benefit balance to the mother and to the baby. Up to OP to decide what's acceptable to her but avoiding alcohol has fuck all to do with misogyny. I actually lol'd at that.

I had a Mr Whippy from a van when very obviously pregnant and having a sunny day out in Margate and a woman came up to me and said ‘I’m ever so sorry but I feel I have to say something- are you aware of the risks of listeria?’

I said yes I am thank you then took a massive bite off the top. She sort of did this 😐 and walked off.

I’m very sorry for your loss but it does seem that that is influencing your standpoint here a bit.

My sister in law is a nurse and was offered all sorts of medications during her pregnancy for multiple things, and took them. In OP’s case, the baby is developed. They’re literally just putting on weight at this stage and one glass won’t have any effect because it isn’t developing anything.

Yep! It’s strange isn’t it. All of these things that you cannot do when you are pregnant and you are treated abominably and judged by others. I hope you enjoyed your ice cream!

The day I had my DC, my fiance brought pate and cream cheese to the hospital! I loved that 🥰

Except that for years we did - depending on how old you are, you probably had it, my parents certainly did when they were babies - it's what gripewater was.

And for centuries before that, everyone drank 'small beer' rather than the more dangerous water.

And it's been freely admitted by 'the authorities' that they say no alcohol because they don't trust that people can stick to one glass.

Holy shit that's scary! Presumably women of child bearing age should all always avoid blue cheese, pate etc too. Maybe it'd be best if, once menstruating, girls had a specially balanced diet aimed to be optimal for gestation. Could stay on that until menopause. No high impact aports thank you either.

Don't be daft about men - I'm sure it'd be fine for them to do what they like as long as women are kept in a constant state of readiness for pregnancy.

We live in wild and scary times.

I wouldn't but I also think one small glass of wine on one occasion is probably unlikely to do harm at 38 weeks pregnant.

I get that- previous generations grew up with different habits and circumstances but small beer v contaminated water actually illustrates my earlier point about risk/benefit. Drinking small beer was was the lesser evil. It didn't wipe out humanity but given the choice between small beer and clean water, you'd choose clean water.

Things I wouldn't put in my newborns bottle. (But would have myself when pregnant)
Curry
Paracetamol
Wine
Beer
Coke
Chocolate
Some medication ive discussed with my GP

Things that could carry a risk, but you may choose to risk assess and continue with anyway.
A glass of wine
Leaving the house
Crossing the road
Driving a car
Walking down some stairs
Catching a virus from someone at work