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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

What are you all doing about drinking? (alcohol)

98 replies

wheresmespecs · 08/09/2012 15:55

And what's your reasoning? This is just curiosity really.

I didn't drink at all during the first 3 months and thereafter limited myself to 2 units a week. This was because that seemed to be inside the (confusing and ridiculously 'open to interpretation to mean whatever you want') NHS guidelines, and because it was what a close friend had done during her recent pregnancy. Which isn't exactly scientific, obvs.

I am pregnant again, it's v early days (still in 1st trimester) and wondering if I will do any differently this time round. And if I did, what I would be basing my decisions on.

So what is everyone else doing and why? TIA.

OP posts:

RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief · 09/09/2012 11:36

Probably 2 small glasses of wine or champagne a week with a meal throughout each pregnancy. In my first pregnancy it was a bit of a ball ache as was used to being able to have a fair bit more and went out a lot. In my second pregnancy, my drinking was definitely in the "mum of toddler mode" - i.e. a small glass a night, rather than getting pissed (cant actually remember last time I was drunk- not sure I have been since DS was born 2 yrs ago), so it was fine. My non-alco drink of choice is Becks Blue.

RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief · 09/09/2012 11:37

sorry- that should have said "by by second pregnancy"- didnt have a glass a night when pregnant- but between pregnancies IYSWIM

CityDweller · 09/09/2012 11:40

I'm 11 weeks. I inadvertently drank quite a bit (parties) on two occasions before I found out I was pregnant at 5 or 6 weeks. I also ate runny cheese, liver, runny eggs and meat that was cooked medium-rare during that time as they formed regular parts of my diet.

Since I found out I was pg, I've had a glass of wine, the odd sip of wine or champagne on other occasions and last night I had a shandy made with just under a full (330ml) bottle of beer.

glossyflower · 09/09/2012 11:50

Before I discovered I was pg I had been to a wedding where I drank copious amounts of wine and had a red bull!
Prior to pg I did enjoy a glass of wine or two most days but sometimes did not bother at all for a week or two.
Since I have not had an alcoholic drink with the exception of literally a sip of bubbly at my wedding last week, I don't really miss it especially as I've had pregnancy sickness to contend with.
When I'm feeling better I wouldn't rule it out completely, although in small amounts obviously.

pikz · 09/09/2012 12:12

Im 30 weeks and have had about 3 half glasses of champagne and two ultra weak shandys my whole pregnancy. It didn't really bother me for the first four 4 months as was so sick and from there I just got out of the habit.

CakeBump · 09/09/2012 12:37

I'm 25 weeks and have had on average a medium sized glass of wine a week.

I had slightly more the week I got married - probably 5 glasses over the course of the wedding and honeymoon.

I'm drinking slightly less now (maybe a spritzer every 2 weeks) because most evenings I have heartburn and don't fancy it.

Original poster

wheresmespecs · 09/09/2012 14:05

thank you all (and I hope there's more) -

Inchy, I am finding it interesting rather than useful, I wasn't posting looking for guidance as such. While I don't actually feel that my own reasons for not drinking/drinking during my last pregnancy were very logical, I have no concerns that what I did was unhealthy.

I do find it hard to place drinking alcohol in terms of a 'risk/benefit' frame for pregnancy. For example, we know that driving a car carries a risk (of accident) but there are many benefits (gets us to work, helps us shop, socialise etc). Then there's smoking - no benefits, lots of risks.

For the non-pregnant, drinking at a (very) low level does confer some benefits - I don't know whether these benefits disappear entirely when we are pregnant, or a new set of risks outweight the benefits of very light drinking.

On a personal level, I pretty much agree with some other posters that adopting extreme caution and not drinking at all over 9 months of pregnancy is really no hardship - but I think that would be an emotional rather than an evidence based decision, and so as a basis for official advice for pregnant women, it doesn't make sense to me, if you see the difference.

OP posts:

toffeesam · 09/09/2012 14:56

I have worked with children with FAS. this has occured in both heavy and light drinking mothers (just a glass of wine a couple of times a week). when drinking there is always a 'risk' it is just some people manage to get away with the odd glass.

FAS stays with the individual for life, it is not somthing which can be corrected.

I have recently found out i'm pg and have made the decision to avoid all alcohol. and you are right Where, it is no hardship at all.

Original poster

wheresmespecs · 09/09/2012 16:38

Wow - so in your experience Toffee TWO glasses of wine a week during pregnancy caused Foetal Alcohol Syndrome in babies?????

OP posts:

Rowanhart · 09/09/2012 16:50

Thats important information Toffee. If that's then case they should be made public.

peanutMD · 09/09/2012 16:54

Specs - you say there are no benefits if smoking so presumably you disagree with it in pregnancy?

peanutMD · 09/09/2012 16:56

Rowan as far as I am aware there are no specific levels out there its just presumed to be higher consumption which contributes.

What may be perfectly fine for one may be disastrous for another.

Original poster

wheresmespecs · 09/09/2012 17:02

Sorry peanut - do you mean 'do I disagree with smoking during pregnancy?'

if so, yes - I am anti-smoking full stop.

I used to smoke when I was younger. I stopped.

obvs it differs (outside pregnancy) because one cigarette is bad for you - there is no 'sliding scale' of risk versus benefit. It is just bad for you, full stop. Whereas there is with alcohol (very low levels of alcohol consumption have positive effects).

What I don't know is whether those benefits (for alcohol) are cancelled out during pregnancy.

OP posts:

peanutMD · 09/09/2012 17:04

How can you disagree with one and not the other, both have been proven to have risks for unborn babies.

what are the benefits of drinking alcohol in pregnancy?

peanutMD · 09/09/2012 17:05

That's proven benefits not 'guidelines'

TheCountessOlenska · 09/09/2012 17:09

Maybe iron from red wine? I just feel that small amounts of alcohol are part of a varied diet, like sugar and fat, and caffeine. It's only over consumption of any of these that would cause a problem.

I feel smoking a different issue as it really is sooo bad for you and has no benefits. Surely one or two cigarettes over a pregnancy wouldn't do any real damage though? (am prepared to be corrected on this!)

TheCountessOlenska · 09/09/2012 17:10

Are we only meant to be consuming things which have proven benefits for baby during pregnancy peanut?

NervousAt20 · 09/09/2012 17:10

I'm 32w and haven't had a drink since I found out I was pregnant. I'd just rather not have any personally I think if I had one and tripped over a shoe or something id blame that one drink so just going to wait until LO is here

Original poster

wheresmespecs · 09/09/2012 17:12

sorry peanut - that's what I'm saying, maybe I wasn't clear.

For people who are not pregnant, and who have no other health problems which would contraindicate it - there are health benefits to drinking a very small amount of alcohol.

This is why drinking alcohol is not, in general, a good comparison with smoking. EXCESSIVE drinking is harmful - very moderate drinking is not. Whereas with smoking, there are NO health benefits, at a low level or any level.

You see the difference.

My question was, are the BENEFITS of drinking very moderately cancelled out by RISKS which are only present during pregnancy?

Sorry, that is as clear as I can make it.

Without knowing that, it doesn't really make sense to me to say to pregnant women 'Well - you wouldn't smoke, so why would you drink?'

OP posts:

FergusSingsTheBlues · 09/09/2012 17:12

I always think that while they should both be totally avoided, alcohol is far worse for you in pg than smoking. One causes deformities, the other none.Im having a glass of wine a week, but have ditched the fags.

EdMcDunnough · 09/09/2012 17:15

I think Toffeesam's post might have got a few of us distinctly worried!

I never normally drink - my first night out in what, six years, when I was about 3 weeks pregnant and had no idea, and I get pressured into drinking two shots of Baileys. And now what if it's affected the baby?

Arghhhhhh

ladymia · 09/09/2012 17:16

i do wonder if years from now alcohol will be viewed the same way as smoking.

years ago the dangers of smoking during pregnancy was not known and loads of people did it. loads of those babies were OK just like loads of babies where pregnant ladies drink now are OK.

i put smoking and drinking in the same category during pregnancy. i have never smoked so didn't need to cut that out. i just couldn't bring myself to have a drink while pregnant the guilt would far outweigh the pleasure.

i do miss a glass of white wine though!

Original poster

wheresmespecs · 09/09/2012 17:20

For anyone asking about the benefits of drinking moderate amounts of alcohol (in general, I don't know how this applies to pregnancy, as I've said) from the BBC health info, here -

www.bbc.co.uk/health/treatments/healthy_living/nutrition/healthy_alcohol.shtml

Really it's lowering the risk of heart disease.

OP posts:

TheCountessOlenska · 09/09/2012 17:25

Ed 2 glasses of Baileys on one occasion are not the same as 2 glasses of wine per week for 9 months.

Everyone I know got completely hammered on at least one occasion in early pregnancy before they know. Don't know any kids with FAS though

EdMcDunnough · 09/09/2012 17:26

Thankyou, I know, it's probably very unlikely. But if there is anything wrong, I shall want to kill him

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