shock at the drinking in pregnancy thread

[alle01]

i have been reading for the last couple of days, and posted a couple of times in this thread. i found shocking that people encourage pregnant women to drink, based on the evidence that they did and nothing happened to them, and there is no research that probes this is a risky behaviour.
well, there isn't research because it would be unethical to do research that may put at risk unborn children, but there is plenty of research that probes that alcohol is damaging in adults, and children cannot really process it until at least 17/18 yo, plenty of cases of alcohol poisoning in young adolescents as well, it is also known that the placenta does not filter alcohol, among other substances.
i would like to know what kind of benefit it is suppose to bring to the pregnancy and baby, that is so worth it, and what the difference is with people that say they smoke because the anxiety of no smoking is more damaging to the baby than the nicotine itself, or any other drug, cocaine maybe...
what is the choice, do what you can to ensure you have a healthy baby, or indulge yourself for five minutes?

How about you worry about your baby, and let other people worry about theirs?

what a shiteous attitude moonunitalpha

I have to agree. I think on forums there is a 'herd' thing going on. That's not meant to be offensive, so sorry if I do offend someone. But when someone posts asking if something controversial is ok, the more people that say it's ok the more it becomes ok. Then after a while is becomes hard to say actually I don't as so many people are saying it's ok.

Anyway I've worded that badly.

But as someone who teaches someone with fetal alcohol syndrome, I do not touch the stuff. Everyday I think all of his problems (hearing/ sight loss, special educational needs etc.) need not be there. He is going to need always to be looked after, yet he could be just like everyone else in the class.

And I do think that if you can't abstain for a short time... but now I am being controversial

Why blinks? Can't pregnant women make decisions for themselves?

Because believe it or not, pregnant women are also people and not just walking wombs!

I don't see why you should be concerned about other women having the odd glass of wine during their pregnancy.

The odd glass of wine by which I mean 1 -2 units per week is not going to give your unborn child fetal alcohol syndrome.

There is a big difference between the odd glass and downing a bottle every night. An alcoholic is cxlearly not putting their childs needs first but i think that is a different issue.
OP, your post seems to suggest that there is no difference between an alcoholic drinking excessively every day and someone having a small glass of wine twice a week. I think the vast majority of pregnant women are able to judge the safe amount for themselves.

Nobody on that thread is advocating going out and getting hammered, we're just saying that the odd drink now and then is ok, that's all. Each individual makes their own choices.

I find it interesting myself, particularly that understanding of what "the odd glass of wine" means varies hugely. I'll have a maximum of 1-2 units a week. But some people seem to think that up to 4 units a day is just as fine (when more than 4 units is considered binge drinking).

not at all i am suggesting no difference between an alcoholic and the odd glass. i am not considering an alcoholic case, i think everyone would agree that binge drinking is not ok in pregnancy or at any other time,imo.
my question goes more as to consider the odd drink, one unit a week is like a quarter of a beer or 60ml of a light wine, i think, ... but my point is, as we don't know how much is safe, 'cos reasearch cannot be done safely, is it worth the risk?.
by the way, i am a new mum, and although i didn't drink during pregnancy (don't normally drink anyway), i did not considered myself a walking incubator

I personally am sick to the back teeth of all the 'advise' for pregnant women. Don't drink, don't eat brie (why I should get Listeria now when I've been eating the stuff for years I don't know), don't eat peanuts, don't drink caffeine, don't lie on your back, don't lift anything, don't have too much sugar, don't go on holiday, don't go to a spa, don't wear make-up or nail polish don't this don't that and on and on and on.

We are all adults. We are all capable of making educated choices and I think that all the people who are being so black and white about what you can or can't do stress others out. I read someone on here a couple of weeks getting stressed out because she had had 1 can of coke before being told caffeine was off limits. I mean come on!!

Yes, I have had the odd drop of alcohol, probably an average of 1 unit a week, I've had the odd starter with cooked brie, I've had the odd runny egg, and shoot me I've continue to wear make-up and drink a couple of cups of tea each day. Do I feel well? Yes. Does the midwife have any concerns with baby? No. Lets just have a little prespective here

You're right, we don't really know what a safe limit is so women have to make their own assessment of risk. Some women choose to avoid all risks in pregnancy (well not all - they still get in cars etc), some don't. I've read that no foetal alcohol effects have been seen in children whose mothers drank less than 8 units a week, so drinking nothing at all is excessively cautious for me personally.

A small glass of wine (125ml) or half a lager are about 1.5 units.

Can I slightly hijack this? I've seen a lot of women agreeing that a small glass of wine/ beer is fine. But I don't drink either and my usual tipples were G+T or Pimms or vodka and diet coke.

Would it be ok to have a small G+T when I go away this weekend? No-one has mentioned spirits and am slightly unsure if one unit of gin is as ok as one unit of wine?

8 units a week sound a lot to me, pregnant or not.
may i stress that i don't mean to stress any body about this, i just find it shocking, to me it is not worth the risk, but obviously it is for other people, just curious about their explanations and justifications.
i agree there is too much advise, but not only to pregnant women, i have an illness, and you would be surprise at how many things they tell to do or not do, but luckily research can be done and more informed choices are available.

lulabel i haven't got a clue, i guess an unit of alcohol is the same whatever the drink, but how many ml is an unit of gin, might google it...

If you are:
Travelling in a car, bus or train
Having sex
Eating foods containing preservatives
Using deodorant, shampoo or cosmetics
Working in a building with a Wi-Fi connection
Using or carrying a mobile phone

Then some people might consider that you are taking unnecessary risks with your pregnancy.

Exactly - 8 units is a lot. You have to drink a lot to cause foetal alcohol syndrome.

Lulabel - a small shot of gin or vodka (25ml) is about a unit. 50ml of Pimms is just over a unit.

moonunitalpha, how are we sure you need to drink that much to cause damage?
this is meant as a question, not an insult

lulabel drinkaware.co.uk has a unit calculator you can use to see how many units there are in drinks

None of your business. Relax and stop judging people for having a bit of fun.

OP how can you seriously be shocked at the notion of a pregnant woman having the occasional alcoholic drink? Have you lived a spectacularly sheltered life? Your post makes you sound ignorant, judgemental and sanctimonious.

that's the point though Alle, it's not worth the risk to you, but it is to others. I've had one glass of wine or one beer once a week since I got to 20 weeks. IMO, I am far more at risk by getting in to my car and commuting to work every day than I am of having a child with FAS.

Thank you guys for your response.
Just for the record until now I've not had a drop as I'm only 11 weeks. But after the 12 week scan I'm hoping to have a little drink if all is well (next week). Thanks to MoonUnitAlpha it'll be a single g+t

I was never a big drinker before but abstaining totally for 9 months seems a bit excessive and don't think a small drink can do much harm....

I wonder if she is also "shocked" that pregnant women breathe in car exhaust when walking down the street.