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Pregnancy

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

Booze survey: anyone else have a little tipple at Christmas?

73 replies

veggie77 · 21/12/2012 11:19

Hi. I'm 24 weeks now and wondering if it's 'safe' to have a little drink at Christmas. Haven't touched a drop since I found out I was pregnant. I only really miss it when everyone else has a glass of something, like in a pub or at a dinner party etc. But with Christmas being in a few days I sort of want to feel like I'm not missing out, and would love a little glass of red wine on xmas day with my dinner, and then maybe something a week later on New Years' Eve - when I'm at a party. I'm thinking that will be within my 1-2 unit allowance each week. Is anyone else planning to do the same thing? I'm probably being paranoid as people keep telling me they drank a glass of wine every week throughout pregnancy, and the baby was fine, and here I am planning a couple of one-off drinks and stressing about it.

Anyone else having this dilemma?

OP posts:
FoofFighter · 21/12/2012 11:23

I will be having a glass of fizz with my meal on Christmas Day yes, more for appearances sake than anything else though Wink might see in the bells with another, we'll see.

purrpurr · 21/12/2012 11:28

I'll be having a drink, aye. I normally have a glass of wine with some tonic water - half and half - so I can have a couple of drinks. Recently discovered a small amount of champagne and a load of cranberry juice is gorgeous as well, so I'll be having that on Christmas morning :) think it's more for me about having a glass of something cold in my hand that tastes nice and is not 100% alcohol free all the time when celebrating.

Splinters · 21/12/2012 11:42

DH and I have been getting 200ml bottles of prosecco and splitting one between us on Friday evenings for a little while -- I'm 31 weeks now. It's a real treat and a 'risk' I'm totally fine with. I personally choose never to drink from a larger glass, or accept any top ups, or have anything (like spirits and mixers) that I don't think I can measure out accurately enough.

RightUpMyRue · 21/12/2012 11:46

I will probably be having one or two very weak bucks fizz.

photochick · 21/12/2012 12:00

haven't touched a drop since mid August and although I don't normally drink much anyway I will be having a white wine spritzer or two over the Christmas period. I also saw a bottle of alcohol free rose the other day so will be trying that. Mojitos are sadly out of the question though Xmas Wink

zanywany · 21/12/2012 12:06

I'll be having a drink at Xmas, I am 31 weeks now and was very careful in the beginning but in my opinion a few glasses of wine each week isn't going over the top. Wouldn't touch spirits or a drink on an empty stomach though.

TheCountessOlenska · 21/12/2012 12:08

I've been having a small (and it is really small) glass of red once a week when DH comes home (he works away 5 nights) - it's my treat and I don't feel guilty about it.

So yes I will be having a glass with Christmas dinner Smile

Nuttyfilly · 21/12/2012 12:10

I will be, only a couple of glasses, im 22 weeks, like you said i miss it when im out etc but at home its fine.

PricklyPickleInAPearTree · 21/12/2012 12:27

I'll be 39 weeks by Christmas day and haven't touched a drop of booze since I found out I was PG. I'm planning to have a glass of wine on Christmas day with dinner and another at new year. I figure my Bubs is pretty big now and everything has formed and I deserve a treat. Smile

surprise11871 · 21/12/2012 12:43

i will be 40+2 by Christmas day and plan on having a glass of sparkling rose with my dinner if baby hasn't arrived by then! like u i didn't touch a drop of alcohol until i was about 25 weeks and since then have probably had 1 or 2 small glasses of wine topped up with lemonade a month and some months none and in my opinion i believe this is fine

so i say go for it like u said it will be within the recommended units a week and my doc said after 13 weeks this is fine

weeblueberry · 21/12/2012 12:46

I've not had any alcohol since I found out and will be 21 weeks on Christmas day. Will probably just leave it honestly because I'm not that bothered about alcohol. I had cranberry juice for my work's Christmas lunch yesterday and it was just as nice and refreshing. Smile

plannedshock · 21/12/2012 13:16

I'm 24wks I'm going to trick myself by drinking juice out of a wine glass!!! Each to their own

sundaesundae · 21/12/2012 13:19

I am 27 weeks and planning on a few glasses of cava and a baileys over the period (not all on one day!). I had half a glass of cava 16 weeks ago.. I miss it a tiny bit!

stowsettler · 21/12/2012 13:40

I'm not going to bother. I never see the point of just one, and if I'm honest I prefer the taste of soft drinks. So, if I'm not going to get the 'benefits' of a few sneaky drinkies, I'll stick to pop.

BiddyPop · 21/12/2012 13:57

When I was pg, I did.

I was teetotal to 12 weeks, when I had 1 glass of wine on flight home from Cuba. (Kept the rum cocktails in their little bottles to drink later, must do that sometime).

I allowed myself a small glass of red wine per week max, for the rest of the pg. Some weeks I had it, other weeks I didn't. One week I had a small glass of Guinness instead. I figured being relatively relaxed was better than stressed, and using red wine/guinnes were better for iron levels.

On Christmas Day, I was 40W exactly. I allowed myself a second (SMALL) glass of wine at my Grandparents, where we were having Christmas dinner. I suddenly had space in my tummy to enjoy dinner - so had 2 helpigns of turkey and 2 of pudding. Laughed a lot and relaxed after being standing or walking (managed to walk half the pier that morning- it's 2.5km) most of the day.

Later that night, most of that food reappeared to give DD more space to wriggle as she kicked her way out. So by 6am the following morning, I was starving as well as holding a squirmy bundle!!

And I do think that allowing myself relax and unwind did help a lot to things going smoothly.

I know my aunt (her 2nd was 5 mths old then, and she's had another since) also allowed herself a glass or so once a week and all went well for her.

Both of us steered clear of spirits though (and while we're not complete lushes, we would happily have a G&T or vodka and sth on occasion).

SeeYouSoon · 21/12/2012 16:07

I have a glass of wine a week, so yes!Grin

mamabrownbear · 21/12/2012 16:50

I've got some dealcoholised wine online for the festive season. It's actually surprisingly ok. You feel like you are having a glass of wine but no damage done and I don't feel overly tired like i did when I tried a glass of wine a week ago! The supermarkets have some but they aren't great, think M&S have some but not tried theirs. Would love a normal wine but would be asleep after 3 sips!

Izzyschangelingisarriving · 21/12/2012 20:13

The asda extra special grape juices (Schloer type) are nicer than non alcoholic wine.

DeathMetalMum · 21/12/2012 20:25

Well due to being pg and breastfeeding I havnt really drank for over two years now so not too fussed. I have a bottle of alcohol free champagne in tbr house so we will have that on NYE I will also probably have some bailyes on christmas day and/or christmas eve while wrapping presents but not much at all.

OComeAllYeFaithBaby · 21/12/2012 21:30

I haven't had a drink since August. I am going to have a tipple on Christmas Eve (working Christmas Day night). Just one though!

Mylittlepuds · 21/12/2012 21:54

Another glass of wine a week gal here when I fancy it. I'll be having a good glass of Champers on Christmas Day too. I mean come on...

Rache1S · 22/12/2012 14:22

I would absolutely love a nice cold one over Christmas but I just can't ignore reports like this.
I know there are reports to the contrary but for the sake of my own guilt/paranoia I am going to lay off it until after the birth/BF, after which I will embark on the mother of all sessions! Xmas Grin

leniwhite · 22/12/2012 15:35

None of these studies can rule out other factors and as such are not reliable - in this study they even admit that fir some women there was no effect at all. There's a recent UCL study showing mothers who normally drink but then completely abstain whilst pregnant have higher chances of having a child with behavioural issues, which just underlines that we can't isolate alcohol as a factor. Plus IQ is in itself a rather unreliable indicator of actual 'intelligence'. Until we can grow babies in the lab in completely sterile conditions we can't really get a definitive answer unfortunately...

bigkidsdidit · 22/12/2012 15:39

I have a glass of wine (a small one) every week. I'm a scientist and read all the papers published and keep on top of current research and am comfortable with the risk.

LookingForwardToMarch · 22/12/2012 15:47

I do miss it every so often when everyone else is having one! (27 weeks pregnant) But on the whole have been very proud of myself for managing to be the 'perfect' pregnant lady lol!

But at a funeral the other day I nicked some of my partners guiness (only a few sips) but felt the guilt smack me round the face afterwards!

Have decided it's not worth it. Just on the off chance anything ever goes wrong then I can't blame myself for it!

(This might be because the pregnancy is high risk and I've had a few previous m/c's so very cautious)