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

Original poster

alcohol when pregnant

34 replies

joanna1985 · 29/04/2012 13:35

i was at a friends birthday last night, had a big meal and one strawberry dakeri and havve been sick as a dog. i threw up my whole meal when i got home and feel awful today, is this normal for one wee drink? i feel really guilty now :(

OP posts:
Original poster
joanna1985 · 29/04/2012 13:37

ps im 21 weeks pregnant..

OP posts:
HerrenatheHHHarridan · 29/04/2012 13:43

Sounds more to do with the food than the drink IMO.

Just to give some context: when I was pregnant with DS1 (from Oct 2010) I was told '1-2 units, once or twice a week' was fine. I took this to mean I could have a max of 2 units per day and not to have more than 4 units in a week. DS1 seems perfectly fine and shows no outward appearance of foetal alcohol syndrome.

When I got pregnant with DS2 (4 months after having DS1!!) I was told 'no alcohol, ever. Woman can't be relied upon to measure it properly'.

I'm going with the first advice I got Grin

I am absolutely sure you and baby will be fine. Please don't feel guilty, I don't think there is any need to be!

chipsandmushypeas · 29/04/2012 13:45

Agree with herren sounds like it was a mix of the food and a daiquiri on top Envy hope you feel better soon

PickleSarnie · 29/04/2012 14:31

Nothing to do with the drink! Hope you enjoyed it at the time!

sunshinesue · 29/04/2012 15:26

"women can't be relied upon to measure it properly" ffs, they'll be stopping us driving next Grin

OP you've done no harm, it's more likely to be the food. Hope you feel better soon.

Alligatorpie · 29/04/2012 16:13

I am sure you are fine, I would think it was the food, not the drink.

I thought you could have 1-2 units per week, not four.

oikopolis · 29/04/2012 16:17

i doubt it's the daiquiri OP!
if it IS the daiquiri, it's more likely they used slightly off/fermented strawberry juice than anything else! berry juices can really upset your stomach when they're off, they go really acidic.

thefurryone · 29/04/2012 16:45

My maternity notes advise 1-2 units one or twice a week after the first three months. I had a glass of wine with lunch am now nearly asleep!

highland80 · 29/04/2012 17:34

Not sure its women and units. It was my birthday and I went out for lunch. Ordered a 125ml glass of wine and boy did it taste great. 1st drink since January when I found out I was pregnant. Bartender measurement was nearly 175ml.
Sure alcohol wasn't problem.

GingerDoodle · 29/04/2012 17:49

I?m 17 + 3 and can reliably be sick if I?ve got over tired so it could have just been that!

Herrena · 29/04/2012 21:47

I think I may have an overly cautious midwife this time round... mind you one of them also told me that 'whatever you drink goes straight to baby'. Hmm
No, I think it goes to my liver which breaks it down and any excess harmful chemicals might THEN affect the baby if they're present at high enough concentrations, actually.... what I wish I'd said

I'm sure you're both fine :)

Badgerina · 29/04/2012 22:03

I don't think you were sick due to alcohol. 1 drink, with food seems fine to me. Not enough to make you sick.

One thing though, since there seems to be confusion:

When the alcohol is in your blood stream, then it IS in the baby's blood stream. It goes through the placenta. Yes, your body processes it, AFTER it's been absorbed into your blood stream. Both alcohol and its major breakdown product, acetaldehyde, cross the placenta and can damage the developing fetus. Baby's liver is immature and can not process alcohol as efficiently as yours.

This page explains the metabolisation of alcohol far better than I ever could:

alcoholism.about.com/cs/alerts/l/blnaa35.htm

Sticking to guidelines is sensible. Not drinking at all is my choice for this pregnancy (although I had the occasional tipple with food, during my first pregnancy).

I work with alcohol-damaged children at my school, which no doubt has influenced by decision this time around.

Coconutty · 29/04/2012 22:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Spiritedwolf · 29/04/2012 23:03

Even though my morning sickness eventually settled down around 20 weeks, I am still capable of making myself sick if I try to eat too much greasy food like baby is telling me off for trying to grow a baby on chips . It is probably the large meal that did it. Or maybe your body has gone off alcohol a bit.

I barely drink when I'm not pregnant gosh that sounds like I'm pregnant more often than not maybe the odd glass of baileys around Christmas. I am not drinking at all during pregnancy, its not something I miss though.

I don't think there is a proven 'safe' amount of alcohol in pregnancy, hence the complete abstinence. However, in practice, it does seem that small occasional amounts of alcohol don't seem to have the terrible consequences of FAS. If you are worried about it though, just don't have any more.

Msfickle · 29/04/2012 23:27

What is interesting is that the alcohol guidelines are different in each country. In Holland it's one glass a day, in France it's even more!

Sussy83baby · 30/04/2012 00:11

I would think it was the food, what they say bout alcohol changes all the time, personally for me as soon as I find out I'm pregnant I stop drinking and smoking and anything that may cause harm to my baby

RightUpMyRue · 30/04/2012 00:15

There was a consultant neurologist at last years BFI conference and he said maternal alcohol consumption was the biggest cause of behavioral difficulties in children.

Is he right? I don't know but I wouldn't risk it. It's 9 months of your life, don't have any.

Badgerina · 30/04/2012 00:47

It was after I attended a talk by Prof. Barry Carpenter - expert in SEN and the education of children with complex needs - outlining his research into foetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol spectrum disorder, that I decided I would never again drink in pregnancy.

Herrena · 30/04/2012 07:29

that's interesting badgerina, thanks for the link.

I will prob continue as I am but still good to know.

Original poster
joanna1985 · 30/04/2012 08:23

Thanks Guys that really helps, thats twice thats happened to me though with the 1 or 2 drinks. i think it must have been a combination of eating too much and maybe the alcohol. i dont think ill drink the rest of the time its not worth it to throw up all my dinner lol. and then when ur throwing up so much (it was like something from teh exorcist..sorry) you feel like the baby must be stressed.

OP posts:
confuzed90 · 30/04/2012 09:31

What was it you ate? I don't think it was the alcohol, possibly the strawberry thingy (don't know the drink your talking about) that was in it and was little off/dodgy. But most certainly if anything made you ill I'd bet the food

Hope you feel better soon! Xx

Bue · 30/04/2012 10:17

Sounds like you're just sensitive to alcohol during pregnancy. Doesn't mean it's bad or you've done any damage though!

FWIW the NICE guidelines do still say that 1 or 2 units, once or twice a week, is fine.

Original poster
joanna1985 · 30/04/2012 10:48

it was chinese food confuzed90, a beef chow mein, my friend had some and was fine! the week before i had wine eith my dinner and the exact same thing happened and i havent been sick since i was about 14 weeks so im thinking i must be sensitive to alcohol Bue. no more for me.. :) i know its not but you imagine the baby is affected somehow when you are throwing up so much, this is my first pregnancy too so im a freak about everything lol

OP posts:
ViolaCrayola · 30/04/2012 11:03

Yes I find that alcohol affects me much more when pregnant - after a few sips I feel like I've had loads - headache, woozy, bit sick.

Was at my MILs 60th and had half a glass of champers and felt awful!

So I don't really drink at all anymore beyond the odd sip for a taste.

I think 1-2 units is probably fine - there was a huge study recently that said so wasn't there? - but I usually just stick to alcohol free beer anyway.

ViolaCrayola · 30/04/2012 11:05

Here's the study

Even says a small glass per week may even improve behaviour and vocab... (the children's!!)