When trying to conceive how much alcohol is too much?

[MrsStephenDorff]

Hopefully someone will be able to advise me as I was wondering whether drinking is not advisable whilst trying to conceive? I am trying to conceive my second & on my 5th cycle. Before I had my DS I did like to drink wine a few times a week & now my DS is no longer being breast fed I am back to drinking but obviously if it is hampering my chances I will stop. What is the advice?

I am TTC with my first and have given up alcohol completely. I'm sure it's not absolutely necessary but it was just something I wanted to do. When you are in the 2ww, you don't know whether you are pg or not so I would rather not take the risk.

I didn't stop drinking - you could be trying for up to a year without it being anything abnormal so in all honest I didn't want to give up drinking for (potentially) 12 months TTC, 9 months pregnancy, plus 6 months min breastfeeding!

I did cut down during the 2ww however only because I would have been a bit paranoid if I didn't. DS1 was a surprise baby, I'd been drinking a fair bit before finding out I was pregnant and he's perfect :)

I got a BFP few days ago and i am near 6 weeks. ive drank at least once every week as im.always socialising and when i say drink i mean a whole bottle.of wine. and i got my bfp firat attempt. I wont touch another drop but don't put the things you enjoy on hold so i say have a few if you want them

Okay, people may not agree with me but here goes.... I have three very healthy, strong boys. I drank almost every night (few glasses of wine and more on weekends) whilst trying to concieve). As SOON as I got my BFP I stopped. Nothing else was ever consumed. My boys are fine and healthy, as I said. I'm not saying it's okay to drink loads and loads but I am just telling you my experience. I hope this helps. Good luck to you!! X

A lot of healthy babies are conceived whilst their mothers are steaming drunk.

Consistent, heavy drinking causes FAS. The odd glass of wine does not. Not wanting to 'take the risk' is overreacting in my opinion. When you are pregnant you take other (avoidable) risks every single day without thinking about it: are you going to stop getting in a car for example (it's not necessary - you could walk or just stay home)?? Or wearing deodorant (you could sweat/smell)? Or cleaning the kitchen (you could live in dirt)?? You're more than just an incubator, and you need to live your life.

Harming a baby requires constant, considerable levels of alcohol. If a single glass of wine now and then harmed unborn babies, the numbers of those born with FAS would be huge.

You may however find that you go off alcohol once pregnant: the night before I tested positive for #1 I couldn't finish a small glass of wine. It just tasted foul. Less so with #2 interestingly enough: I happily had a glass every week or so with him (which are the levels I'm talking about - not a large glass with every meal).

Whether or not drinking whilst TTC hinders conception itself though (rather than the baby once it's been conceived) is a different matter. The father-to-be should definitely cut back, since sperm are constantly produced (and you don't want them produced in an alcohol-fuelled environment!). And you obviously want to be as healthy as possible, so cutting back ties in with that, but a small amount every so often is unlikely to ruin an otherwise healthy lifestyle. I strongly doubt that a glass a few times a week is going to make any difference (and could even help things by relaxing you/making you more likely to want to swi...). Stop if you want to feel that you're doing everything possible, but I doubt it's necessary.

I drank 'normally' while ttc both. If it makes conception less likely is because after a couple of glasses of wine you are more likely to drop off in front of the telly and not have sex imo....

And as it says above it is possibly more important the man is careful actually.

Slightly different slant.... but how much is too much where your DH is concerned?

My DH likes his beer, and probably has 1-3 bottles a night on at least 4-5 nights a week, more if we are going out socialising.

How much should I suggest he cuts down to? Because I know for sure this is going to be an issue!

Neither me not dh changed our drinking habits whilst ttc. If it takes you 12 months + it could be a very long boring year! Infact after 3 months dc2 was conceived whilst very hungover from a big night round our friends. Enjoy it while you can!