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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

alcohol & pregnancy

60 replies

swampmonster · 20/11/2010 15:03

I am 20 weeks pregnant & desperate for just a little alcohol would a can of cider be too much with a meal?

OP posts:
bigchris · 20/11/2010 15:08

that would be fine just as a one off
I had a half every now and again

lucy101 · 20/11/2010 15:08

This is an emotive topic on mumsnet! You kind of have to make your own decision about this.

I can recommend some low/no alcohol ciders though - this is my fave:

www.westons-cider.co.uk/Shop/Organic-Ciders/Premium-Organic-2.5-Light-Cider/

Ocado sell it.

Original poster
swampmonster · 20/11/2010 15:11

Thanks I know it's probably not worth the worry & I have managed not to drink in my other 3 pregnancies just fancied a change and to remind myself that I am not really missing much!!

OP posts:
GoodbyePinotGrigio · 20/11/2010 15:36

No kidding, but the other day I got rather drunk after eating Bailey's fudge, and 4 licquer chocolates. And I used to be a big drinker ! About 1 hour after this sinful indulgence, I developed a hangover ! No more licquer chocolates for me, I'm really enjoying my pregnancy sobriety !

Bradyboo · 20/11/2010 15:46

I've been having a glass of red every night and am sure it's part of the reason my blood pressure has fallen. MW said it was fine.

ReshapeWhileDamp · 20/11/2010 22:32

I'm 35 weeks and for the past 2 or 3 weeks, I've had probably 3 or maybe 4 units a week. I didn't drink more than 1 or 2 units a week in late pregnancy last time, but I've been pretty stressed these last few weeks (house move) and needed help to relax badly. I'm now going back to 1 or 2 units a week. My MW is of the 'have a small glass of wine if you feel the need' camp in the third trimester. Smile

Liv77 · 20/11/2010 23:50

I nicked some wine out of hubby's glass the other day as just fancied some and it affected me a lot quicker than it usually would. Personally I feel if I want to have an occassional sip once i'm past the first trimester it's not that big a deal. I think in terms of Government advice it's probably easier to advise not to drink at all as most people have no idea or over-estimate what constitutes a unit.

If having cider I would go for the traditional French bottled type as they are much lower in alcohol. On average the sweet ones are about 2% and the dry 4%.

ReshapeWhileDamp · 21/11/2010 10:45

Units are trickier estimate these days, aren't they? A 'glass of wine' for one unit is more or less the size of an eggcup! I like real ales and have to remember that half a pint is not necessarily the single unit that I would have had per half in my student days. An average bottled beer might give you one unit per third of a pint, or even less. But you can work it out - not beyond the realms of possibility. Grin

Spritzers are a good idea too, if you like white wine and want to make a very very small glass last.

I don't agree though, that it's better not to drink at all only because it can be under-estimated - it's not rocket science to work out a unit and treat yourself once or twice a week if that's what you fancy. I am fed up with being treated like a numpty by governmental guidelines. /grump.

Janus · 21/11/2010 11:23

Past about 14 weeks I generally have had one or two glasses of wine a week, nearly always one glass with a roast on a Sunday. It is actually probably bigger than one unit as it's not a tiny glass but not my usual size either! Occasionally I've had another glass here and there, eg if out for a meal with husband but mostly had the one on a Sunday. I don't think this is overdoing it but this is pregnancy number 4 so maybe I'm a bit more relaxed. Depends on how you feel about it but I do hate that you are made to feel guilty for the odd glass here and there but that's my little moan!

PipPipPip · 22/11/2010 21:25

I agree with Lucy101 - some people have very strong opinions about this, so be careful who you ask. Best to do some reading and make your own mind up.

I am personally liberal with alcohol. I have a few drinks per week. During pregnancy I've been to two big occasions (a wedding and a big 30th) where I had several and even got a bit tipsy. However, I did eat a proper meal, space my drinks with water and generally looked after myself.

It is really up to you. Everyone has a different body, different metabolism, different beliefs and reads different evidence/information.

midori1999 · 23/11/2010 00:48

"I've been having a glass of red every night and am sure it's part of the reason my blood pressure has fallen. MW said it was fine."

I'm suprised any midwife would feel it is fine to have a glas of wine every night during pregnancy, it is well above guideline limits.

OP, I doubt one can of cider on one occasion will do any harm. There are some really good alcohol free versions though.

I personally choose not to drink at all during pregnancy. Having suffered miscarriages and a late loss, I just don't see the point in taking any risks I don't need to, no matter how small.

moirasings · 23/11/2010 03:59

A British study published in October in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health suggests light consumption of alcohol is not harmful to the baby's physical, emotional, and cognitive development. Researchers found that light drinking among pregnant women did not lead to signs of developmental delays or behavioral problems such as hyperactivity. In fact, these kids scored slightly better on cognitive tests.

In the study, light drinking means one to two drinks a week.

theevildead2 · 23/11/2010 09:08

Researchers found that light drinking among pregnant women did not lead to signs of developmental delays or behavioral problems such as hyperactivity. In fact, these kids scored slightly better on cognitive tests

As for the kids scoring better, don't they actually say once you eliminate "social" factors that there isn't a difference? The children doing better is more to do with their families than to do with their mums having a drink? Just think that could be a bit misleading if that is the study that was discussed a while back on MN

TooImmature2BMum · 23/11/2010 09:55

It is very emotive, though. I had the weakest possible G&T on Friday night and my mum was panicking that I would damage the baby. I wanted the tonic because it's supposed to be good for heartburn, and I only put the tiniest bit of gin in! It didn't help the heartburn one little bit, though. Sad

I had a glass of port one day last week and it made my heartburn worse, so I think I'm going to be off alcohol for that reason. I wasn't able to drink much anyway - wine has started tasting like vinegar, weirdly, and I rarely finish a glass. I just want a couple of sips and then it either tastes funny or the heartburn flares up! I say, go for the cider if you can still stomach it! I mean, you said one half. I don't think that's going to hurt anything.

LotteryWinnersOnAcid · 23/11/2010 10:05

I have been having the occasional glass of red since 2nd tri but to be honest now 3rd tri is well underway the heartburn I get from it is more hassle than it's worth.

Deliaskis · 23/11/2010 10:27

TooImmature, I am just drinking tonic with lots of ice and lemon and lime, and to be honest, am not even missing the gin at all, I barely notice it's not there!

Agree wine has tasted a bit on and off, is better now (27 weeks), but early on, it tasted sugary and vinegary and horrid!

D

JoEW · 23/11/2010 10:34

I've had a glass or two of wine a week throughout pregnancy. I work in the wine industry so it's been very difficult to avoid it all together and I've taken the view that there's no evidence to suggest that the occassional drink does any harm. You have to drink significant amounts to get into FAS territory though I appreciate there's little scientific evidence of what harm, if any, light drinking does. I think it's a personal choice and it's very unlikely that the odd drink will be detrimental. Saying that, I can completely understand why some people choose not to drink at all. I've always had a fairly chilled attitude and I've eaten lots of things during pregnancy that are 'banned' I was tucking in to some blue cheese only yesterday. Entirely up to you but I doubt a can of cider is going to do you or baby any harm. Becks Blue is the best fake booze I've come acoss, sadly I never fancy beer at the moment!

LilRedWG · 23/11/2010 10:38

I have the occassional glass of wine. My MW is very anti-alcohol, but my last midwife wasn't. I'm just using my judgement and having the odd one.

goodlifemummy · 23/11/2010 10:46

"not even missing the gin at all" Shock!!

Am impressed! I generally have a small glass of wine a week, sometimes two. My theory is a relaxed mummy=relaxed baby!!

Am really missing my 5 o'clock making dinner glass of wine! Only 3 1/2 weeks to go Wink

confuddledDOTcom · 23/11/2010 17:04

The problem with the total ban guidance is that it misses the people it's aimed at (alcoholics/ binge drinkers) but confuses and scares those it's not aimed at (sensible drinkers who have the odd glass).

saltnvinigarcrips · 23/11/2010 21:04

I am enjoying a nice cold glass of white wine with 'I'm a celebrity get me out of here'. I feel much happier now I know how to work out a unit. Percentage of alcohol (wine usually 12.5 or 13.5 multiplied by the volume 175ml divided by 1000.

japhrimel · 23/11/2010 21:14

Check the units - it varies so much from one drink to the next that you can never really say that "a can/glass is x units".

www.drinkaware.co.uk/tips-and-tools/drink-diary/

Personally I follow the evidence and have had 1-2 units max, 1-2 times a week max.

Sal1980 · 01/01/2012 17:57

Just found this topic, am 11wks into my first. Found out at 9wks and those previous weeks had been an emotionally heavy & boozey few weeks sadly. MW was understanding and reassuring though.

My OH and I still havent told anyone so avoiding alcohol in social situations is very tricky...Ive been designated driver as much as possible when out, but we had people round for NYE and it was so hard to avoid any without suspicions.

You're comments on here have been reassuring and calming...OH and I agreed a "gameplan" before anyone arrived. I didnt over do it, ate plenty and had alcohol free drinks inbetween as much as I could. Luckily for me, dry january is the game most people are playing this year so that suits me!

DeliciousPhyllis · 01/01/2012 22:54

I have been having a small glass almost every day this past week. This is not usually the case, I hasten to add, but due to some horrid news (family member died) and then Christmas / New Year.

I realise some may find this tantamount to infactacide but, to be honest, I think the 'risk' is very low. I drink plenty of water, eat very well and the drinks have almost always been with, or just after, food too.

My sister had a glass of wine, and prob a bigger than the small measure one's too, about five or six times a week during her pregnancy. Her dd is fine. I also have a friend who's sister found out she was in labour after going into hospital with what she suspected was appendicitis. During her pregnancy she must have got drunk quite a few times, and certainly had more than the 1-2 units you are meant to have once a week every week.Her daughter was fine. While I am not advocating drinking like a fish, I am trying to illustrate that common sense seems to be the way forward. If you fancy one, have one! Just don't go mad!

TopazMortmain · 01/01/2012 23:19

Emotive subject but all studies I have researched have stated that one or two units once or twice a week is fine. I didn't drink at all until 20 weeks though.

Working out the units is a little tricky but I use a measuring jug Blush to make sure I do not overestimate.

No more for me though as at 35 weeks the heartburn is hoooooorrrrrrrible and alcohol is like acid.