Alcohol and TTC

[goodforbrian]

Hello, I am currently TTC and I was wondering how Mums-to-be handle alcohol consumption?
I have been online and seen such conflicting advice.
It goes without saying that drinking alcohol whilst pregnant is a massive no no, but what about during the TWW?
I'm in cycle 4 and wondering if my weekly wine habit is affecting my fertility?
I stick within the recommended weekly alcohol units and am otherwise healthy. I am in my early 30's.
Any advice welcome.
Thank you in advance x

Oooo this is a good one. We've just had this convo this week too.
I normally go the pub after work a few nights a week, knocked that on the head but still have literally a couple of beers throughout the week.
I have no answer for you but until I get THAT gut feeling I'm gonna enjoy a Friday night bud light x

Hey,
You might find this article interesting to read:
www.theguardian.com/society/2017/sep/11/little-evidence-that-light-drinking-alcohol-in-pregnancy-is-harmful-say-experts
I guess it's a risk that only the woman can know whether she's OK with taking: I have some friends who did have the odd drink while pregnant and others who wouldn't even touch a liquor chocolate. To each their own.
As for your fertility, overconsumption of alcohol can definitely affect it... but so can stress, too much exercise, too little exercise, too much coffee, the weather, the fertility gods being displeased, your ovaries being in a grump with you... ;) It seems like the key is moderation. If your "weekly wine habit" is actually a couple of bottles a week rather than a couple of glasses, then maybe cut down?
I'm doing dry January right now, but you can bet anything that I'll be having a pint on 1 Feb (unless by some sort of magic I get a BFP this week, in which case I'll be stuck with half a shandy).

Thank you so much PPs! That helps a lot.
@Anon87 I am in the same boat as you, I really enjoy a couple of drinks on a weekend and feel that until I get 'that feeling' I am reluctant to stop too. BUT am I doing my body a disservice and sabotaging my chances of getting pregnant?

@EithneBlue Very interesting link, thank you! And your comment about the 'fertility gods' made me lol - it's so true! So many factors come into play, I never knew TTC would be so confusing. Every person I speak to about TTC have their own ways and as far as I can see there is no right or wrong (within sensible reason of course) Good luck for your BFP and well done for dry Jan!

It's so hard isn't it? Do I need to decide between alcohol and pregnancy at this early stage? Is that even a thing? Sorry I am just asking questions out loud now... if I get another BFN this month will I blame my wine habit? Will this cause me to beat myself up even more? If I get a BFP will I also beat myself up knowing that I have had knowingly drank alcohol whilst TTC? Am I over thinking this? I hope I am!
I enjoy 1 bottle of wine a week, I mix into spritzers with soda water. I've enjoyed this for as long as I can remember. Of corse I could just stop drinking but as I say I do really enjoy those glasses and I view it as a treat after a long hard week!

It won't affect baby that early on but I have read that alcohol consumption (and an unhealthy diet) can lead to increased inflammation in the body which can lead to a less favourable environment for implantation in the womb. So it's worth having a really clean month or two and seeing if it helps.

@fligglepige Ooo that is very interesting, thank you. It's advice like that that makes me want to stop. I have this gut-feeling (maybe guilt?) that my drinking is hindering my chances of getting pregnant. I agree a couple of clean months is definitely worth a shot.

I've been thinking about this today as if I don't get a BFP this cycle (1st one so not likely!) then the next TWW falls when I have a weekend away where I will want a drink. I don't drink regularly nowadays but for now I'm just sticking to what I usually do and will start thinking more about making changes after a few months (if no BFP in that time!)

@JaffaCakeGal I completely understand your dilemma! It could take us months to conceive (hopefully not of corse!) and I can't imagine myself saying no to parties/evenings out etc. I may cut down this month and go clean next month and see if that helps. Fingers crossed and baby dust for us all x

I read up a bit on this recently, as my TWW last month fell right over Christmas and New Year, and I drank a fair amount and didn't conceive. From what I've been reading, drinking can impact negatively on implantation. Obviously lots of people get pregnant and drink up until they take a positive test, but it does seem to lower your chances slightly. I read articles from a few fertility doctors, and many said that the main piece of advice to people TTC would be to give up alcohol and caffeine. I'm doing dry Jan this month and have cut caffeine since a few days before I ovulated. If I don't conceive this month I'll be drinking alcohol and tea up until my fertile week, but will be abstaining completely during my TWW.

Thank you @bluemoon2468 ! That's a couple of times alcohol and a negative impact in implantation has been suggested. It makes sense as alcohol is effectively a poison to our bodies.
It's funny you mention caffeine, i too have read that caffeine can affect fertility and I have gone and bought decaf options this month. I found this switch relatively easy... I wish I was as strict with alcohol!
No drinking the TWW sounds like a doable option this month. I'm going to give it a try! Good luck and thanks again x

@goodforbrian I'm also finding it quite an easy switch, I'm still drinking tea, coffee and diet coke daily, just the caffeine free versions!

Hello Ladies,
I have been asking myself the same!
I started TTC in September and I decided to reduce a lot my alcohol intake. After 3 months I realized I had become boring and sad! Is like my TTC was making me stop with my life and I was still getting BFN beside my efforts! I was so disappointed that I told myself that it wasn't worth the effort.
So during November and December I let myself go! I didn't conceive either LOL
So.. I think I'm just trying to continue with my life, I still drink but a lot less than usual. So I told myself no alcohol from Monday to Wednesday... I drink wine or beer from Thursdays to Sundays... but not a lot to get drunk.
Honestly, I don't know if this is OK, but it is difficult for me!
Good luck to us all!

What about the men?
Obviously I'm not going to deny him his bit of whiskey at the weekend etc but have any of your OH knocked anything on the head to give them a better quality too?

@Anon87 I think men's drinking has an impact over a longer period of time, whereas women's can impact ovulation and implantation more immediately. My DH has cut down on alcohol a bit, but his Christmas drinking is likely to continue impacting on his sperm quality for a few months 🙈

Oh wow @bluemoon2468 I never knew that! Thank you, I am learning so much on this thread! It is really helpful.

Just wanted to give my input as I've been doing dry January and have stuck to decaf tea since my miscarriage in November and I just got BFP this morning after first cycle! So for me I wonder if no booze or caffeine played a part but guess I'll never know! Thought it would be worth sharing x

Congratulations @newmum2020 ! How exciting for you. Thank you for sharing, it has inspired me to go dry for the remainder of this cycle. Good luck and fingers crossed for BFPs for everyone on this thread 🤞🏽

I was so hungover on new years day and decided to do dry January. It lasted 4 days... Got my bfp last week. However, I hardly drank any alcohol during the first part of my cycle compared to other months. As to caffeine I dont consume any at all but that's for different reasons.

Congratulations @Lilice ! You have given me hope haha.

@goodforbrian haha! Thank you and good luck

An update from me: got my BFP today at 8DPO (although I think Natural Cycles must have miscalculated because really?!) after a full cycle of no alcohol and no caffeine. Obviously no way to say what did it, but I can't help but think it helped a bit!

Ahh congratulations @bluemoon2468 !! How exciting! I am so pleased for you. I shall be taking your advice and hoping I will get my BFP soon! Good luck and please keep us updated x

I’m curious to know how this worked out! In this boat currently!