Can you drink alcohol while in labour?

[morningpaper]

I was reading a book lately where a woman has a homebirth and when she goes into labour at 11pm, her doula tells her to 'have a glass of wine and go back to sleep'.

Is this GOOD advice or BAD advice?!

Just curious really.

My first midwife told me to smoke a joint.

If you fancy one why not? One glass won't be harmful. Can't see the hospital adopting it as lpolicy though!

I would think it was good advice to relax the woman but after 2 births, don't think a glass of wine would scratch the surface!!

One thing I learned the hard way is to make sure I've had enough to eat and drink before going into hospital. I went in at 9PM Thursday and didn't give birth till 4PM Friday and wasn't offered a drop to eat or drink. Given a drip but they never attached any saline to it. It was summer and I sweated buckets. I was dehydrated for days afterwards.

Hi Mp

I would have thought that this was not a good idea but other people may have expert advice.

kgc

I shared half abottle of champagne wiht a friend int he ward after

w=d oes thta count

I stopped off at the pub for a couple of drinks when I was on the way to hospital to have dd1.
It certainly calmed my nerves a bit

lol MI.

Did you?

I had half a bottle of champagne the day I tested positive (before testing) which in retrospect was not a good idea. A glass in labour I think is a splendid idea.

nasally - with a straw too

I'm sure a glass of wine would calm me down a bit.

However, I remember watching an episode of Quantum Leap where a woman was in labour and had to be stopped from giving birth, so she was giving brandy to drink and the alcohol stopped her contractions.

Now obviously most of my medical knowledge is from Quantum Leap so I don't know whether alcohol really DOES affect labour at all or not...

No, but I know those who did.

God I loved Quantum Leap.....

Don't see how the Champagne could not have been a good idea MI..... I was legless on quite a few occasions before realising I was pg. Not advisable obviously, but I doubt it was detrimental. Champagne was the first thing i sent dh out for the day after giving birth.

The joint thing.......realised years ago that dope freaks me out (tricky when I spent swathes of time with seriously drug addled gents). However the gas&air gave me exactly the same sensations as dope minus the paranoia (although arguably,once you are on the cusp of giving birth nothing seems scary by comparison.)

May affect labour if you had too much I presume. But I cannot see the harm in a couple of glasses - although best to take professional advice.

MP rofl

I have posted before about my alarming adoration of gas and air despite its role in my mistaking DD2's newborn labia for testicles

Very recommended to drink like a fish when had the baby MP!!!

P.s Quantum Leap was fantastic!

Am pretty sure that the effects of 2-3 glasses of wine would be less than a single dose of pethidine. Mears?

Champagne is suppose to be very good....
I would recommend a glass of alcohol to anyone, in labour you need to loose your inhibitions.

Message withdrawn

How well put, Pupuce, you do, don't you.

I do what?
Lose my inhibitions or drink champagne with clients ??? (I did that once actually ).... oh the joys of being a doula !

Only the one glass I hope pupuce?!

Nada, socci. Not even ice.

Actually truth be told it was a really good champagne and I only drank 1/2 glass - it was 1 year ago nearly to today !!! It was hot and sunny too.