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Original poster

Odd glass of champagne in first trimester

29 replies

helenlouisey · 14/10/2011 18:34

hi everyone, I know the official guidelines is no alcohol in pregnancy, but just wondered what general consensus was from ladies on here? I am really torn, I am pregnant for the fourth time, one DS and have lost two babies. I am only 5 weeks pregnant and have a few events coming up over the next couple of weeks, including a wedding, a champagne afternoon tea, and a special birthday celebration for a family member at a posh restaurant.

Due to our previous losses we haven't told anyone that I'm pregnant again and I'm keen to keep quiet until after the 12 weeks scan. I don't feel i should drink while pregnant, but equally I know not drinking will be a dead give away. I'm really worrying what to do, even saying I'm driving won't work as usually have just one, even when driving. When I was pregnant with my DS 4 years ago, I had the odd glass of champagne and wine, I think the guidelines were 1 or 2 units a week then, if I remember correctly, however I know they have changed and advise is no drinking while pregnant.

What has everyone else done?

Thanks x

OP posts:

OneTwoOrThree · 14/10/2011 18:45

I'd say go for it. The research on alcohol doesn't indicate any issues with light drinking, but the uk government don't think pregnant woman can understand what "light" means, so tell us to drink nothing. I'm pretty sure that other developed countries (eg France, Italy etc) have much more lenient guidelines.

I had a few social occasions in my first trimester and had a drink (sometimes two) to 'disguise' my pregnancy.

I'm sure there will be people who disagree with me.....

As you know, it's your decision. Google and get the "real" facts, then make your mind up.

solidgoldbrass · 14/10/2011 18:47

It won't hurt you. Honestly, it won't. While three bottles of vodka a day would be a bad idea for people who are not pregnant, let alone people who are, light to moderate drinking carries no risks, and the hysteria about it comes from a wish to control women, not concern for the wellbeing of foetuses.

RitaMorgan · 14/10/2011 18:47

1 or 2 units, once or twice a week is fine. A glass of champagne is probably 1.5-2 units.

I didn't drink at all in the first trimester because I felt so sick, but from about 4 months I had a couple of drinks a week.

Oeisha · 14/10/2011 18:50

Congrats!

Best excuse ever: antibiotics. I remember being on the ones that basically warn you about being in excessive sunlight for too long for a fairly bad kidney infection. If you want a decent back story and some antibiotic names have a look here

Did have a drink at 4wksish (didn't know was pg then), which was so unlike me as I rarely drink anything. The odd drink isn't likely to do any harm, but, well, I'd use the antibiotics excuse and not drink if it were me.

RitaMorgan · 14/10/2011 18:50

There was a study (by the Royal College of Midwives maybe? I don't remember now) that found no evidence of damage in babies whose mothers' drank up to 8 units of alcohol a week. On that basis I felt that a maximum of 4ish units, and not in one go, was fine for me.

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 14/10/2011 18:58

go with what you're comfortable with. I had the occasional drink in the first trimester (but generally felt too sick to consider it) and since then have also had a few week - had much less in my first pregnancy so a little less "precious" this time but if it's going you worry and stress then don't....but if it will stress you out more to hide it then drink

kiki22 · 14/10/2011 18:59

If you usually drink i don't see a problem just make sure you check the units i have 2-3 a week.

I know a pint of cider is 2.6 units and a bottle of smirnoff ice is 1.1 units. I've found the smirnoff ice good if i'm out because you can have 3 throughout the night so you don't feel like the odd one out :)

RockChick1984 · 14/10/2011 19:07

I didn't drink at all in first trimester because there's higher risk of miscarriage then, however that was only once I had found out I was pregnant at around 6 weeks. Not judging anyone who chooses to drink (and I did have the occasional 1 later in pregnancy) but I'm the sort of person who, if anything bad had happened, I know I'd be blaming myself for anything I did that wasn't completely perfect, textbook pregnancy behaviour!

thenightsky · 14/10/2011 19:08

I craved cider when pg with DS. I indulged with a pint on Friday night and another on Saturday. Yum.

Crosshair · 14/10/2011 20:13

I think it comes down to would you look for reasons to blame yourself if it wasnt ment to be? If not I cant see the odd glass hurting its your choice. :)

titan · 14/10/2011 20:17

The advice now is to completely avoid alcohol in first trimester then after that one or two units once or twice a week. I.e. A small glass if wine. Don't think sipping at a tiny glass of champers to avoid suspicion will do any harm realistically though.

edwinbear · 14/10/2011 20:22

I've had the odd glass or two of wine with both pregnancies. With DC2 I found out the day before we went ski-ing and had a glass of wine with dinner every night for a week.

Bue · 14/10/2011 21:22

I agree with the others - the new guidelines are not based on any new evidence, and the govt has admitted to this. You're fine to have a drink now and then. And it is so much easier to just sip at a glass than hunt around for a plausible excuse :)

TheRealMBJ · 14/10/2011 21:27

Absolutely fine. As everyone else has said, there is no evidence of harm with light drinking and I agree with sgb the 'recommendations' come from a desire to control women and not from a concern for the foetus. Furthermore, it is massively pateonising to assume that adults are incapable of behaving in a safe, sensible manner if given the true facts.

goodnightmoon · 14/10/2011 21:45

It's absolutely fine as others say. But i'm sure it won't draw any attention either if you take the glass, have a couple sips and leave it or nurse it. You can always have your partner slyly finish yours too.

Tinsie · 14/10/2011 21:54

I drank moderately throughout my pregnancy (the occasional small grass of wine with lunch or dinner, small larger shandy in the pub etc.) and came to no harm. I think the "no drinking in pregnancy" guidelines are absurd.

solidgoldbrass · 14/10/2011 22:12

Given that a lot of women like me don't know they are PG until about halfway through the first trimester and continue drinking as normal (if drinking is normal to them) with no harm done, I really wouldn't worry about it.

cravingcake · 15/10/2011 07:39

Obviously your own personal choice. What i did to reduce suspicion on a few planned girls nites out during the first trimester was to tell just one of my closest friends who was sworn to secrecy & i could trust. We sat next to each other during meals & both drank wine, i just pretended & had a few sips while every now & then we would swap glasses. No-one was any wiser. If we were at a bar i was drinking 'vodka & orange' just minus the vodka but asked the barman to put it in a glass that looked like it was a proper drink. If anyone else offered to get drinks i just asked for a diet coke as had early start next day so didnt want to drink too much. Another tip is if possible take a glass of bubbly & every now & then spill a bit on the ground, altho bubbly is quite low unitwise so one sipped over an hour or so wouldnt be a problem imo. Also once everyone else has had three or four drinks they wont really notice what you are drinking.

fraktious · 15/10/2011 08:08

I did. In France they look at you suspiciously if you average 0 units a week (I only drink occasionally). They think you're covering up hardcore alcoholism or something.

ReadySteadyDrink · 15/10/2011 08:20

I had gestational diabetes in my first pregnancy. So I need to cut down on carbs and sugar now. I also choose to cut out alcohol during pregnancy (although have only just found out). As such, I plan on telling everyone I am on a low carb diet to lose the 1/2 stone i put on over the summer (and therefore am not drinking and I'm keeping an eye on other 'naughty food'). this would also explain my little belly. Would this work for you?

If anyone says, "oh one little drink won't hurt", I am going to say, that I really can't as I started the diet ages ago, and then after one night out, I stopped the diet and it all crept back on again and I REALLY want to get into my little black dress for Christmas. Then by Christmas, you should be 12 weeks, so can tell them!

I personally wouldn't drink because I am the type of person to blame myself if something happened. But if you would like a drink anyway, I think it's fine. If it's just to stop questioning from friends, but your rather wouldn't drink. Then I would abstain and come up with an excuse (diet, antibiotics).

Justonecheese · 16/10/2011 11:56

I think the current advice is still 1-2 units 1-2 times a week. However when I was pregnant with DD my doctor advised no alcohol in first trimester as increased risk of miscarriage.

Having been through 3 miscarriages I would definitely abstain from alcohol in the first trimester of any future pregnancies to be on the safe side, but after that, if not too sick, I would have the odd drink if I fancied it.

It is so annoying that you can't just give up booze without people jumping to conclusions. How about saying you are trying and want to maximise chances? Or is that still more info than you would like to share? As someone else mentioned, antibiotics is a good one...

Good luck with everything :)

sleepywombat · 16/10/2011 13:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Oeisha · 16/10/2011 17:15

Also, if concerned about alcohol, then you may also be concerned about caffeine intake in pregnancy. As a migraineur I'm on a caffeine free diet anyway, so, well, I don't have much of that either (seriously, I live a fun life) . Soft drinks are a friggin nightmare on nights out (also can't have OJ as citrus fruits trigger migraines for me), so my sympathies still apply. Appletizer or the schloer type things can replace champagne fairly err...er...inconspicuously?
for you OP.

RandyLa · 18/10/2011 18:07

Prosecco all the way baby! Lesser alcohol content and less bubbles - so all round less stress. My oninion is it's better for you in the long run to relax. Just don't down too many in one go really. And if you feel lightheaded quickly, it could be the sparkle of the occasion going to your head too.To be safe, I always drank lots of water after drinking to dilute it in the old bloodstream. Babies are strong - if they can handle the people on Jeremey Kyle they can handle a couple of glasses prosecco here and there. Cheers! x

scarletfingernail · 18/10/2011 18:31

I think that one drink on the occasions you've described would be fine. If you're driving then you are having the one drink that you would usually have.

If though you feel that you would blame yourself if anything were to go wrong with this pregnancy then I strongly suggest that you don't drink at all. Metranidazole is an anti-biotic where you definitely cannot drink alcohol until 48 hours after completing the course. It's prescribed for various bacterial infections so you could use this as an excuse.

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