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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Who's given up alcohol completely?

33 replies

Ilovemarmite79 · 06/10/2010 22:20

I know drinking during pregnant is not good (even with recent news articles) but yesterday someone on the news said that you should give up alcohol completely if TTC. Have you?
I haven't. I drink quite a lot of a weekend at home with hubby. Wasn't going to give up as thought plenty of time that when pregnant. Now wondering if I should stop.

OP posts:

titferbrains · 06/10/2010 22:47

I think there was research saying that you can improve yr chances of conception by giving up alcohol, getting plenty of rest and exercise, and giving up smoking.

Maybe look on the Zita West website for more info?

I am not a big drinker so prob won't stop completely. I can't cope with hangovers and DD1 so I just drink a bit on the weekends and maybe 1 or 2 glasses during the week.

MummyAbroad · 07/10/2010 00:32

errr... No. I think I would go insane if I couldnt drink while TTC. I also have a DS who gets me up at 5am, so I pretty much stick to 2 glasses of wine max which I feel is pefectly respectable.

I guess I am not worried because DS was conceived in the middle of a very heavy binge drinking month (there were lots of parties!) and it all worked out fine with him (though perhaps I should have drunk MORE, he was born HUGE!!)

The way I see it a glass of wine is the consolation prize every time I test negative!

KittyFoyle · 07/10/2010 00:35

I did because I went off it. Back on it now though. Mabye I should have another baby.

RunLyraRun · 07/10/2010 09:55

Fuck no.

And if there is any decent research on this, it won't be on the Zita West website.

RunLyraRun · 07/10/2010 10:08

Hmm perhaps I should take back the "fuck no". This is the Drinkaware line on the matter.

The Danish study that they mention can be seen here, and states "the observed reduction of female fecundability even among women with a low alcohol intake (five drinks a week) was unexpected and has not previously been reported".

I drink a glass of wine most days but will now consider restricting that to a couple of times a week - life is just too stressful for me to have a realistic chance of stopping entirely.

Wombat33 · 07/10/2010 10:32

I've cut down to about 5 units a month - I allow myself the odd glass of wine at the beginning of my cycle, and then try to avoid it altogether on the 2ww, although I did have a special occasion recently and allowed myself half a small glass. I'm just so obsessed with getting that elusive BFP that it's worth it to think I'm doing everything I can to boost my chances :)

harassedinherpants · 07/10/2010 10:37

I don't drink much at all, but do have the odd drink when I want to.

Typically, I'm late this month (although several BGN's) and had two consecutive nights of 2 or 3 drinks.

Not worrying I have to say. With dd I got a bfn, got trashed with girls, then got bfp the next day.....

BrassicaBabe · 07/10/2010 10:59

That's it. My life has officially ended!

I like a drink. I have a large glass of wine every evening. Then rather more at the weekend. TTC is stressful enough. Work and life is stessful enough. And now I'm going to have to seriously think about giving up my "hobby"

RunLyraRun it's nice to meet someone else who regularly imbibes

Ariesgirl · 07/10/2010 11:08

I was talking to a friend about alcohol and TTC - she had taken 8 months to conceive her first at age 29. She said she and her husband gave up alcohol completely for three months before conceiving and she firmly believes it helped with sperm quality etc. This sounds tragic, but I cannot make DH give up alcohol completely and neither can I for three months. But we are relatively clean living individuals otherwise and I think the stress of TTC is great enough without longing for a glass of wine or a cold beer. Everything in moderation.

Headbanger · 07/10/2010 11:37

NOPE. I have mostly quit smoking, and stopped drinking nearly 2 pints of strong black coffee a day (that's not an exaggeration either). But if I gave up drinking then I'd be miserable and get even more resentful at my monthly babyfails. And I don't want the whole period of TTCing to be followed around by the smell of burning martyr .

I also intend to drink the EXACT amount indicated during pregnant. Every week, without fail.

WreckOfTheHesperus · 07/10/2010 11:41

yup; for those who are having trouble ttc they are advised that booze can have an impact on conception and risk of miscarriage - and that counts for men just as much as women.

squirrel007 · 07/10/2010 11:44

I've not given up, but cut back a bit. I think people would realise something was up if I cut it out entirely, and I quite like a glass of wine occasionally.

I haven't cut out caffeine entirely either, but again cut back.

Am not convinced that it's necessary to give both up when pg either.

KnackeredCow · 07/10/2010 11:49

Me neither. I've been TTC for a year now. It might not happen. I can't put my life on hold.

Anyway, found this in NICE guidelines p 27 (the bit they didn't publish)

"One cohort study showed that female wine drinkers (up to seven units per week) had slightly shorter waiting times to pregnancy than non-wine drinkers and drinkers of other alcoholic beverages, after adjusting for age, parity, smoking and body mass index"

Think the not drinking is because if you are TTC you might not know when you have conceived - but let's face it that seems pretty unlikely for anyone of us here of the conception board!

HeadingHome · 07/10/2010 11:49

I really enjoyed my wine, but did give it up when deciding to start TTC. My husband doesn't drink really - only occassionally - socially, so no alcohol in the house.

Saying that, though, it did only take 1 month to get pregnant.

And I completely cut out coffee - but that wasn't too hard for me.

It's easier for me to cut things out then worrying about moderation!!!

BrassicaBabe · 07/10/2010 12:33

Feck, don't make me give up caffine too!

GetDownYouWillFall · 07/10/2010 12:48

I agree with Wombat33 - allowing myself a drink at the beginning of a new cycle, but not on the 2ww.

As others have said to deny yourself something completely just makes you want it more, and that just does not work for some people.

Sometimes DH has a glass of wine or a beer, and I just have a sip of his, so that I still get a taste of it, but am not tempted to have a whole glass to myself.

MummyAbroad · 07/10/2010 13:37

@ BrassicBabe

Wombat33 · 07/10/2010 15:49

Mummya get your Christmas visitors to bring you out some PG Tips Decaf - it tastes no different and it's keeping me going!

owlshoes · 07/10/2010 16:11

I managed one month of not drinking at all whilst TTC then realised how long it was probably going to take and caved in. I can't drink bloody lime and soda for years! Hence I will have one glass when I go out, half a glass during 2WW and all the glasses when AF arrives.

I've cut out caffeine though :( :(

RunLyraRun · 07/10/2010 16:23

Yes I think I managed the first month owlie! Interested as to why you've cut out caffeine, I thought it was OK at moderate levels?

Original poster

Ilovemarmite79 · 07/10/2010 18:34

Oh dear. I don;t think I'll give up but maybe cut back and maybe not in the two week wait - no alcohol this weekend then :-(
OH is giving up smoking but still had some on Saturday night and there is no way he would give up alcohol.

I drink I have about 9 cups of tea a day too. Plus I'm overweight.

Maybe I should just give in now as statistically I probably have negative chance of conceiving!

OP posts:

Truffkin · 07/10/2010 18:40

I don't think I could get by for too long without drinking at all (I know how that sounds ) and I think I would have more chance of Brad Pitt fathering my child than convincing DH to give up Guinness for longer than a week at a time

If I could guarantee a BFP if we both gave up alcohol for a month that would be different but the idea of months stretching ahead without being able to enjoy a binge drinking session at the weekend glass of wine with dinner would be a huge challenge. I think TTCing can be stressful enough when it carries on for a while and denying yourself things you enjoy makes it even harder. (Plus I do also subscribe to the idea that I will have to cut right down when pg so that will be long enough thanks)

IfAtFirstUDontSucceed · 07/10/2010 18:53

Nope, I still drink.
I've already given up the caffeine, we don't smoke and both eat reasonably heathily, so we allow ourselves a couple of bottles of wine at the weekend (can't handle hangovers, so we don't drink through the week).

I have read that you shouldnt drink excessivley round the time of ovulation. However, a lot of things are said and women still manage to conceive, many while they are pissed a bit tipsy! :D

Enjoy your alcoholic beverages while you can!

SerialMom · 07/10/2010 18:55

No because I have been TTC for over 2 years, and because I don't think me giving up drinking would help us get pregnant as I appear quite fertile anyway.

DH however HAS given up drinking, as he had a low sperm count. And since he gave up 9 months ago his sperm count has gone from 1 million (v low) to 36 million (normal). So if you're having problems TTC I would suggest your DPs give up alcohol or at least cut down as well.

Ariesgirl · 07/10/2010 19:13

Lyra, I think "they" recommend sticking below 240mg of caffeine per day. If you only drink tea, then your average cup contains about 40mg so you can drink a few of those. Also to be borne in mind though is chocolate containing a fair bit as well as paracetamol plus painkillers which also have a lot.

This coming from the woman who hasn't managed to conceive yet, so nest month I may try a diet of raw shellfish and pate, drink 18 expressos and get wasted a lot. That should do it.

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