Zoe Williams on alcohol in pregnancy

[morningpaper]

Zoe Wiliams, "The Gestation of Stupidity"

Following on from our previous discussion about the Observer article, I found Zoe Williams' article hugely encouraging and sensible.

"Advice to pregnant women to avoid alcohol and cheese is hysterical, gutless and off the mark."

she is very sensible

I have been simmering quietly about the listeria advice for years.

I love Zoe Williams.

I love the fact her email address is mszoewilliams too.

an utterly fabulous article

What a refreshingly sensible approach.

Love it!

oops - have just tried to find the RCOG survey she quoted on their website and can't...

i salute her, im fed up of people whinging at me because i had the odd glass of wine with ds, jesus when i was pg with dd at 17 i was hammered for the first 6 weks, only stopped drinking once i found out i was pg!! hasnt done her any harm!!

Some of the responses were ! If women can't give up booze for 9 months perhaps men would be better at having babies..... nice

men have babies, id like to see it!

Fantastic. We should start posting that in response to any threads about wine or cheese in pregnancy.

HOOORRAYYY!

I only say I can't have goat's cheese/ blue cheese/ sushi whilst pregnant becuase it saves the funny looks I get from the "fabulous people" I work with, who think I'm a bit of a bumpkin for preferring meat sandwiches to raw fish or grilled stinky cheese.

I sit at home and eat pate to my heart's content.

YEAY!!! very sensible lady

erm what about prawns?
i have been eating these too

Enjoy 'em is what I say. Gonna start a rev-ol-uuutiooonnn ooohh-ooo.

even the Govt says prawns are fine if cooked - enjoy!

yipeee, thanks

So shes slagging off the fact that cheese and alchohol in pregnancy is not allowed - who is she who is she who is she

Well I avoided alcohol in pregnancy because the fact is that they simply don't know if it can cause damage or harm to the baby. I just didn't want to take the risk. I've read in the New Scientist that some scientists believe that even small amounts can have an adverse on a growing baby but that studies undertaken would be uethical so they can't really find out for sure.

Of course, if cigarettes are damaging then obviously alchohol is as well. FGS it only nine months that you have to do without.

When I was pregnant with DS1, on my first ob visit, I had the following conversation with my obstetrician

Me: "So, I suppose I can't drink any alcohol at all now?"
Him: "Hmm. Do you think you could manage a glass or two of Guinness in the week?"
Me: "Well, I could give it a try ..."

So I had the odd glass of G, and now and then a small glass of wine, and very pleasant it was. Needless to say all my kids are certifiable geniuses ...

the problem with what to eat/not eat during pregnancy is that the people who really over do it are never really going to take any notice of guidelines, while everyone else(ie all of us!) worries about it to a certain degree. whether you go for the zero tolerance approach or the every thing in moderation appproach is personal choice. ooh, my bum is getting sore sitting on this fence!

Yes, it was pointed out in the other thread that many people inc lots of doctors, say that the guidelines are aimed at the "lowest common demominator". Tell everyone that can't have x, and hopefully even the numpties will take some notice.

indeed, 12year. unfortunately, us non numpties end up feeling guilty!

Guilt is the curse of parenthood. I've decided to try not to feel it any more!

I love Zoe Williams - she is cool and every young teenage girl should be taught her at school. Brilliant role model.