'Drink during pregnancy and you will get a naughty child

[idlingabout]

Was only half awake this morning when heard on Today programme that research has shown that women who drink during pregnancy are more likely to have 'naughty' children. I'm surprised the newsreader didn't corpse saying that one. Perhaps I missed something but it just came out as so ridiculous especially straight after the 'breast-feeding gives you clever children' announcement.

pmsl at guilt and ladders

Thing is, there's actually quite a lot of evidence all around us that drinking in pregnancy doesn't make any discernible difference. (actually, it has also been the case that apocalyptically alcoholic mothers do not invariably give birth to babies with FAS).

This endless banging on about what you should/should not consume during pregnancy is really about two things.
One is that blaming all MC, birth defects etc on the behaviour of stupid selfish women means there's no need to bother funding research into what might cause foetal problems.
THe other is the deep anxiety some people have over the idea of women being human beings rather than containers for foetuses: it's about justification for controlling women's behaviour and reducing their human rights.

LOL @ guilt and ladders. Might mumsnet produce it as a game for christmas.

ladders:
before pregnant take folic acid
when pregnant avoid everything except steamed chicken and fish and raw fruit and veg
attend hypno birthing sessions
give birth at home and fix supper 2 hours later
breastfeed, exclusively
home made fruit and veg purees only
out of nappies day and night at 18 months
get child into oversubscribed nursery
get child into oversubscribed primary
music lessons
dancing lessons
start going to church (with an eye to getting child into faith secondary)
cookery lessons
swimming lessons
riding lessons

Snakes
before pregnant act like you are not pregnant
when pregnant eat pate (shame on you)
when pregnant drink half a glass of red wine
don't attend hypno birthing sessions
have c-section or epidural
cry because it was not meant to feel so rubbishy
bottlefeed
Hipp jars
still in disposables at 2.5
CBeebies
send child to nearest nursery - a break is a break
send child to nearest primary - they have spaces
give up pretending to be a Christian - the non faith school is OK
Micro pizza
CBeebies
Quavers

Escellent idea! Then it could be sold to women contemplating motherhood to sort out the really suitably determined from the 'oh well might be quite nice to have a baby now' types

If I'd known how much guilt went with the territory I'm not sure I'd have bothered. Love my kids but even running myself into the ground never seems quite enough. Even though my kids love me to bits and tell me so and show me all the time, there is always so much stuff about to prove how inadequate I am (and was) as a mother.

gizmo - i have Children (be it naughty or otherwise) therefore i drink.....

Eliza - brilliant new board game for Christmas & love the name "Guilt & Ladders" greenglassgoblin. In my house I don´t think I´d make it pass the start square

I think the game's a goer (I shall enter it in my little book of great business ideas that I keep my schemes and plans for riches in...). Lets form a company and go on 'Dragon's den'

The only trouble is there'd be so many of us stuck on the Start square that perhaps we'd have to drink even more to deal with the guilt and depression...

Shall we produce this game then? And give the profits to a charity supporting parents who need support?

I only wish I could produce a game! You go ahead Swedes. God, I feel guilty now. I should be turning off my son's light because he's so tired but I know that he's going to explode (because he's so tired) and I. Just. Can't. Face. It.

I shall feel guilty tomorrow when he goes to school all grumpy and miserable. Sigh. Back two squares.