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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

when to ban DH from the booze?

15 replies

ArtyJennie · 23/07/2012 12:52

My DH has to do a lot of work client entertainment which invariably means quite a lot of drinks in posh bars/restaurants (approx 2/3 nights a week). I'm 36 weeks now and am wondering if i should ask him to become T total until the baby arrives. I will need him to drive me to hospital and to drop off dd1 beforehand at grandparents (when I go into labour)- and of course I don't really want a drunken birthing partner! lol.

Is it reasonable to ask him to stop now? DD1 was 5 days late so i reckon i'll prob go overdue with this one too. Though you never know? WWYD?

OP posts:

Londonmrss · 23/07/2012 13:02

Tough one... can he stick to staying under the limit? Like have just a half pint?
I do think it's reasonable to ask him to stop to be honest- after all, you had to!

Sidge · 23/07/2012 13:03

Well nobody has to drink alcohol, whatever their job so I think asking him to knock it on the head isn't unreasonable.

Belchica · 23/07/2012 13:14

I've told my DP no going over the limit from wk 37 and I don't feel in the least bit guilty for insisting on this. He's the first to admit that his life hasn't changed one iota in the last 7 months, whereas mine.....

MyMelody · 23/07/2012 13:20

I'm now 37 weeks and dh said yesterday he's not drinking now just in case, he doesn't drink much anyway tbh but its best to be safe.

MyMelody · 23/07/2012 13:22

Yes I've not touched a drop since before Christmas!

YoulllaughAboutItOneDay · 23/07/2012 13:24

I don't think he needs to be tee total, but sticking to one glass of wine (or whatever) for a few weeks is hardly a hardship...

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 23/07/2012 13:25

Yanbu!!! It's a 4 weeks won't kill him! :)

GnocchiNineDoors · 23/07/2012 13:26

Not wanting a drunken birthing partner is all well and good but tbh if he is slightly over the limit you could just get a taxi. My DH doesn't drive, and Im sure there are plenty of men out there who cannot drive, and taxis work just fine.

Banning him from drinking seems a bit . Maybe ask him if he really wants to be drunk at the birth of his child, and if not, could he remember that when out in the evenings.

sammyleh · 23/07/2012 13:44

My DP doesn't drink much, only at social events and such but never at home really. We have a wedding to go to, about 6 weeks before my due date and he said he's drinking at that but then not touching a drop afterwards :) If you're relying on him to drive etc, then I don't think its unreasonable to ask him to stop now at all. Like Sidge said, nobody has to drink, regardless of their job.

FluffyJawsOfDoom · 23/07/2012 14:09

The last thing I want when I go into labour is to have to worry about finding a taxi company that will take a woman in labour without charging me a possible £60 fine for my waters going in the back or whatever.

Fwiw DH has suggested he stop drinking when I'm 36 weeks, which I thought was good (this is DC1 but we have a history of fast and premature labours in the family) - I don't think stopping from 37 is at all unreasonable, it's only a few weeks fgs :)

shouldIbecrossaboutthis · 23/07/2012 16:46

MY DP has just stopped drinking over the limit, I'm 31 weeks.

ChocolateIsAFoodGroup · 23/07/2012 17:21

I'm not banning either of us from drinking

Seriously, though, as long as he's not drunk - or legally drunk, which as we all know is far less alcohol then the odd one is fair enough, no? TBH, his life will change forever once the baby gets here, too - if he wants to have the odd glass of wine, surely not a hanging offence?

Am I more relaxed cos this is our third? Or just weird?

Sazzel · 23/07/2012 17:23

I'm not sure you should ban him.

Our baby is due new years eve/new years day depending on who's doing the calculation and I did say to OH that I thought he shouldn't drink at Christmas.

Then I thought about it and on average your body processes 1 unit of alcohol an hour so really even if he was mid pint and I start to go into labour, he would stop drinking then and it's then likely to be a few hours before we need to go to the hospital.

Plus if figure he's a responsible adult so I recon he will probably have it in mind anyway.

You could always get those disposable testing kits online if you are worried about him being safe to drive.

Original poster

ArtyJennie · 23/07/2012 17:58

Thanks for the opinions people. I don't mind if he has the odd drink- I just know what it's like when he's out with clients- its hard to say no when u are supposed to be 'entertaining' them (kissing arses basically) especially after the drinking has begun and it's all paid for by work.

I think I will ask him to not get over the limit from next week onwards- and maybe try to refrain when out.

OP posts:

TruthSweet · 23/07/2012 20:31

DH has just stopped drinking (the occasional single bottle of cider of an evening) and I am 31 weeks. He decided for himself he wanted to remain sober at all times, it's not even about the driving either as we're planning a homebirth!

Surely if he explains to his clients that his heavily pg wife is at home and could go into labour any minute they'll understand why he's not drinking.

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