That old question again - drinking whilst TTC?

[TheSeptemberIssue]

I try not to publicise my TTC'ness to friends, I don't want the inevitable questions of 'how's it going' month after month (currently on month 11) but today I had THREE pregnancy announcements.

I had a bit of a 'woe is me' moan to a friend and in return she told me she's not surprised I'm not pregnant yet with the amount I drink (2 glasses on a friday night, probably the same on a Saturday with maybe a gin thrown in. Nothing during TWW)

So straw poll - do I drink til it's pink? Or should I be sober til it's over?

From what I've heard, and read, mild-moderate drinking is fine whilst TTC.

I'm actually pretty shocked your friend has said that to you as that's pretty hurtful IMO.

The medical evidence doesn't show a direct link between alcohol and infertility - it's basically coincidental and unexplained.

Moderate drinking should be fine and you hardly drink at all!

I've cut down from drinking wine almost every day to two glasses twice a week (like you). I don't want to cut it out completely until I'm PG and that's my (informed) choice based on reading extensive medical research. And I fell PG whilst drinking previously.

Don't let your friend bother you. Many couples take 12 months to conceive and its highly likely it has nothing to do with your conservative alcohol intake.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board recommend keeping it under 10 units a week, during IVF, and say nothing is proven.

considering the amount of kids that will be concieved when their parents are pished i dont see how it is an issue
only time i would drink during ttc if undergoing fertility treatment

This might not go down well but I did a lot of research before I had IVF and then decided to not drink at all for 3 months before the egg collection, so as to maximise egg quality (I was also donating eggs in the same cycle so felt a responsibility to give it the best shot I could). I also took a truck load of vitamins that I'd never heard of before that have been shown to improve egg quality. I know this may be unrealistic and unsustainable for a longer period of time, but it might be worth thinking about if it is taking a while to conceive.