Can I drink during TWW

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My husband and I are planning to start TTC next month. I'm due to ovulate around 17th and we have an all inclusive holiday booked 21st to 28th. Tbh if it's going to be my last hurrah for 9 months I'd like a couple of cocktails a day on holiday. TWW will end on 31st. Will there be any effect to the possible baby if I drink in this window? There's no umbilical cord at that point right? I've googled and everything online just says don't drink anything at all when TTC as your baby will get FAS, but I have a feeling that's a little over-cautious?

Why don’t you just enjoy your holiday and start when you’re home?

I say it's fine, loads of people drink at that stage not knowing they're pregnant anyway and like you say no umbilical cord

You can do whatever you want but consuming too much alcohol when pregnant will have consequences. Just put off trying for a month?

Of course you can.

What if TTC takes a year? Are you going to pretend that you are pregnant for half the month just in case? Say no to wine? Don’t go on that spa day?

I wouldn’t. The thing is, noone can tell you for sure if it’s ok or not. And for the sake of waiting another month you can remove that uncertainty. I always think there’s loads you can’t do anything about when having a child, but if you make the best decisions you can then you’ll always know you did your best if things do go wrong. Just wait.

You'll be absolutely fine, baby wouldn't be using your placenta at that point (won't have formed yet!). Have a fantastic time, and good luck with falling pregnant x

I didn't know I was pregnant with both my dc so was drinking until about 5 weeks with both which is when I found out, they are both perfectly fine

My doctor said you don't share a blood supply with baby until you're about 6 weeks pregnant. It could take months and months to get pregnant. I tried to not drink each and every month for 2 years. When I eventually did get pregnant I was well past planning for my life and situation that didn't exist and I was having the odd night out or a couple glasses of wine. After a positive test, before my period was even due, I of course stopped drinking. Live your life. Drink until you're pregnant if you want to

I drank in my TWW (it was the lead up to Christmas so was hard to avoid) and currently 32 weeks pregnant and all seems fine. You would need to drink a lot of alcohol throughout your pregnancy for FAS to be an issue. I say enjoy your holiday and try not to stress. Once you know you're pregnant then obviously be a bit more measured about alcohol intake but honestly until the egg has even implanted it's not attached to you in any way. Also as others have said it quickly becomes very life limiting if your having to act like your pregnant every time you're in the TWW.
Good luck with your TTC journey!

To be honest, even if implanted the baby has a yolk until the placenta is established so won’t be getting alcohol directly although I’m not sure of any other adverse affects.

I would 100% go for it though. Lots of people drink before realising they’re pregnant.

Having spent a small fortune on IVF and fertility doctors, their advice to me was no. Do not drink during the two week wait.

I think it’s best you speak to your doctor - or someone on the advice line from Tommy’s or a similar charity who has medical training and get facts, rather than thoughts and feelings on here.

A baby isn't going to get FAS in the two week wait, for goodness' sake! It isn't even implanted until halfway through, and then it's a bundle of replicating cells.

It would be different at home just having the odd glass but on an all inclusive holiday you’ll end up drinking more than usual I imagine so just enjoy yourself without all the what ifs and start after!

@ChagSameachDoreen the issue is if OP is actively trying to conceive alcohol can cause chemical pregnancies or affect implantation. OP needs to speak to someone who actually works infertility- even GPs have a woeful lack of knowledge in this area.

But OP doesn’t have infertility, or any difficulties that have been diagnosed.

Living like a monk during the TWW, and basically playing pretend pregnant, is going to have a detrimental effect on her mental health

i can understand why people exercise caution if they are struggling to conceive, but there is absolutely no reason why OP should abstain right now.

Doesn’t matter what we say OP, doesn’t change the facts and the fact is that alcohol is a toxin and deliberately drinking toxins when pregnant or ttc is stupid. It isn’t just about the umbilical cord it’s about your whole system.

Some people will say it’s fine, others will say it’s horrific. The truth is that even doctors still don’t understand much about early pregnancy and some advice they used to give has been proven dangerous.

Google FAS and how alcohol links to ADHD and then wean yourself off alcohol while TTC. It really isn’t that hard.

Thanks for all of your opinions and thoughts. Happened to have a phonecall with the GP about something else so mentioned this. She said it's absolutely fine to drink until you actually know you're pregnant, but suggested I could take a few cheap tests with me and test every few days and stop if I got a faint line, if that would put me more at ease, so I think I might do that. Thanks again.

Sounds sensible OP.

people have very strong opinions about this, but pretending you are pregnant for half the month will make you very sad if TTC goes on for a very long time. It’s horrible knowing you have done ‘everything right’ by not drinking or not going in the hot tub or saying no to social events, to get a BFN.

Think of all of the unplanned, surprise babies that come very easily to a lot of people.

If you have issues further down the line, then you might want to be a bit stricter- but for now, take it easy.

best of luck!