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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

wine in a restaurant while pregnant?

29 replies

ThreeWheelsGood · 19/08/2012 19:42

I haven't drank any alcohol during my pregnancy but DH and I are going out for a special super-posh pre-baby meal next weekend and I'd love to enjoy an amazing glass of wine. I'm paranoid the waiting staff or even other customers might judge me for drinking whilst obviously pregnant (31 weeks). Has anyone had experience of this? I might just not bother drinking.

OP posts:

AmandaLF · 19/08/2012 19:44

I'd have the odd glass of wine with a meal when we were out. Nobody batted an eyelid (not that I noticed anyway!)

Jenjii · 19/08/2012 19:46

I had my only glass of wine while pregnant on my birthday at 41 weeks in a restaurant. No-one paid any attention. And it was soooo good after all the abstaining! Enjoy the treat. It will probably be a while till you get the chance again!

Ns13 · 19/08/2012 19:53

I had a glass of wine a couple of times during my pregnancy and a glass of champagne when I went out for afternoon tea. It was fine

Ns13 · 19/08/2012 19:53

The French waiter offered mr a top-up during afternoon tea. I said no (sadly)

Original poster

ThreeWheelsGood · 19/08/2012 19:56

Phew, this all sounds reassuring. It will be a one off special treat!

OP posts:

ReelAroundTheOrbit · 19/08/2012 19:58

It would have been a brave waiter to have challenged me when heavily pregnant on my choices

KateSpade · 19/08/2012 20:01

Are you not allowed a couple of units anyway when pregnant?
I didn't drink but had to go through lots of alcohol checks, as I was a student...

Clarabumps · 19/08/2012 20:07

I have a glass of wine when I'm out for dinner (about 4 times throughout whole pregnancy) Half the time the waiter offers me a top up to which I always refuse..Although I always get a large glass. I think 4 times over 9 months is hardly excessive and most people(wait staff and other diners) have been very sympathetic and said things like "bet you'll enjoy this"or things along they lines.
Screw everyone else..your body, your baby and your bloody wine. After humphing a baby about for 31 weeks you deserve a nice treat.

ItsMyLastOne · 19/08/2012 20:30

I've had a half in the pub or a glass of something in a restaurant. No one's cared at all.

MyNameIsSuz · 19/08/2012 20:34

It's nice to see everyone's replies to this - I'm 34 weeks and the last time I had a glass of wine in public was before I was showing. I haven't especially wanted to drink, but a meal in a nice restaurant just isn't the same without a glass of something, I've just been too worried about the judgement of others to actually do it!

WutheringTights · 19/08/2012 20:37

You're allowed to drink whatever you like. The advice is to limit yourself to 1-2 units once of twice a week. I've never had any problems drinking wine out, but I don't look enormously preg yet. I have also been limiting myself to one small glass (125ml) and drinking it very slowly. One 125ml glass of red wine at 13% is about 1.5 units. I have been known to cite the advice of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and also several well-known studies on the subject to well-meaning friends who have told me that I can't drink now.

NervousAt20 · 19/08/2012 20:37

A bit different but I was in the supermarket Friday and was going to a birthday BBQ over the weekend so picked up a bottle to take along and the funny looks I got for it did make me smile.

BonkeyMollocks · 19/08/2012 20:38

I think a glass of wine will be fine, its when you start falling over your own feet that people will judge

tethersend · 19/08/2012 21:03

Official advice is now not to drink at all; that's because they have no evidence of the effect of small or infrequent amounts of alcohol on the baby. They can't get any evidence, as it would be unethical to deliberately subject foetuses to alcohol without knowing the effects.

Having said all that, I sunk half a bottle of champagne at the meal we had just before DD1 was born. It was amazing.

Peevish · 19/08/2012 21:04

I had a glass of excellent champagne in a restaurant on my wedding day at 38 weeks pregnant. I'll remember forever how wonderful it tasted.

nearlythereyet · 19/08/2012 21:05

who cares if the staff judge anyway? It's not their place to judge, the customer is always right and all that. Enjoy your meal - and wine!

Lora1982 · 19/08/2012 21:19

i say go for it. i wouldnt judge. though the waiter in a restaurant refuse to serve my preggas friend any.

thereistheball · 19/08/2012 22:09

This research is reassuring

farfallarocks · 20/08/2012 08:59

I have a glass of wine about twice a week, no one has ever said anything to me (and I would like them to try!)

LemarchandsBox · 20/08/2012 09:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Midgetm · 20/08/2012 09:10

Had a big glass in an Italian the other day and when he asked what size, I said small in a longing way and he repeated small really pointedly so the while table would hear and then Brought me a big one. It was gorgeous and I slept like a log. He also brought me over a complementary liqueur, which I declined but sniffed. So they were positively encouraging me. I will be going back there...

WantAnOrange · 20/08/2012 09:22

Midgetm I went to an Italian for my wedding aniversary when I was about 5 months gone and they kept offering to top my glass up too. I was very definately showing. No-one in the resturant seemed bothered.

backwardpossom · 20/08/2012 09:26

I was at a wedding when 38 weeks with DS and when we got to the hotel, there was champagne or orange juice as a welcome drink for the guests. The waiter tried to give me orange juice. I pointedly told him no, I want the champagne please. Poor sod looked quite embarrassed... Lovely champagne it was. I had a second just to make sure it was good quality. No-one else batted an eyelid.

stoooooopidpigeon · 20/08/2012 09:26

I think it's nice to have a glass when you're out for a meal. I certainly had a glass of wine with dp when we went out at 20 weeks. It was the day of our scan and we'd had the sonographer write down the sex and seal it up in an envelope for us. Was lovely to open it up and toast our new son :)

backwardpossom · 20/08/2012 09:27

Oh, I should have said, it was a midwife's wedding. Half the guests were midwives!

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