Honest Answers needed regarding pregnancy and drinking

[iamwhaticallpregnant]

I have read all the information available, heard views from both sides and understand how touchy / sensitive this subject is. I am not really looking for further proof it is bad or harmless or opinions on the subject - I would just like to conduct an unofficial type survey - and the Question is this.

Did you drink during pregnancy? And when your baby arrived, were there any problems?

I am asking this because I have drunk a little during my pregnancy and as I am nearing the end I am starting to really really panic that I have affected my baby in a negative way. I have only drunk a small amount of wine - always with food. I understand that no tests have really been taken out regarding it so this is a way of just taking a straw poll. I read an article this morning saying alcohol could affect the baby's senses so they may have learning difficulties and the development of their face.

This obviously takes honesty - so thanks if you reply as I know this is not an easy issue.

[TheCountessOlenska]

Gosh, "damage done by FF" and "nursery care for under 1s" - you're brave TIARA

[Emsyboo]

With DS I got hammered with friends before I found out - at about 5 weeks I then didn't touch anything except half a glass of cava at a wedding to toast with at 24 weeks then at 38 weeks had a glass of red to relax DS is fine but always felt bad about getting so drunk.
This pregnancy I took an early test the day of a hen party just in case which was positive so made my excuses not to drink have since only had half a glass of champagne at Christmas was 28 weeks.
I think a sip is ok foetal alcohol syndrome is very sad (my mum teaches a few) but the odd glass should be ok they tend to recommend nothing as some people can't determine what is moderate.
I personally feel that I don't want to risk anything by drinking but even I am open to a few sips with food

[SolidGoldFrankensteinandmurgh]

It'satiara: No, that's bullshit. The 'differences' in development that they think are fairly likely to have been caused by moderate alcohol consumption are tiny and within the normal range.

It's also very very important to remember that a pregnant woman can do her absolute best to martyr herself to every piece of advice and obey every taboo, however fuckwitted, throughout her pregnancy and still have a baby which is born with SN or other health problems. THere are no guarantees that shit won't happen, whatever you do.

Finally one of the most common causes of problems in babies and children is inadequate maternity care due to lack of funding. But it's easier to scare and blame and bully women than to put more money into obstetrics.

[GrumpySod]

We live in a risk free Safety First era. When no level of risk is deemed acceptable. Especially where children are concerned.

Drives me completely batty, too.

[lurcherlover]

My SIL is an obstetrician and has only ever seen one case of FAS, born to an alcoholic who was necking bottles of vodka every week. She tells me a couple of drinks a week are fine.

[Mylittlepuds]

Very interesting lurcher.

[ellee]

I take all guidelines with a pinch of salt and a dollop of common sense.

I drank 1-2 glasses of wine when I went out to dinner throughout both pg. But I wouldn't have been out every week even. But then there was also the odd week where I might have been out more than once.

Both babies fine. :)

[blondietinsellyminx]

Excellent post, solidgold

Common sense and moderation here too. I went off wine while pg but enjoyed a couple of pimms and lemonades!

[PetiteRaleuse]

I drank one to three small glasses of wine a week throughout both my pregnancies, spaced out over a week and never more than one in a day. My doctor actually told meto havea glass of champagne to celebrate my 12w scan with DD1 as had had trouble with mcs before. He said the no alcohol guideline you havein the UK is because many people can't be trusted to understand what 'in moderation' means, or that people would have far too much on one night of the week i.e. Binge.

I could have gone without but chose not to.

[breatheslowly]

If you are concerned about it then the advice is probably not aimed at you. The blanket advice is there for those who drink more than they should, can't/don't want to check their units etc, but it is very hard to give the message to those women without making it a blanket message. I didn't drink while pregnant, but have never drunk much anyway.

[Emsyboo]

Excellent comments and completely agree most of the guidelines are to scare people that don't understand moderation or have common sense. I probably should have added my Mum is a teacher specifically for kids with learning, behaviour and social problems so sees more FASD kids - mostly because the homes they come from are of alcoholics and drug addicts and have other issues than just FASD i.e financial and abuse.

[iamwhaticallpregnant]

Well everyone's comments have made me feel better about how I have behaved throughout my pregnancy. I have generally been too ill to eat much or even consider drinking alcohol - but on the odd day/moment when i managed to eat and didn t feel like death I did indulge in a glass of wine (on the odd occasion 2) . I am a little bit in love with solidgold! And really appreciate all the comments. Especially those about FAS which I was terrified about.
Thanks everyone.

[KobayashiMaru]

I was on a month long bender just before I found out I was pregnant with my first (after a sig bereavement), and drank sometimes during, though not much. I had a margarita on my due date. Said child is tall, strong & rudely healthy, perfect eyesight, gorgeous, top of his year and an athlete too.

[iamwhaticallpregnant]

Oh my God - a margarita?? I dream of those at night! I might do the same on mydue date :-)

[KobayashiMaru]

It was the best one I ever had, though you should have seen the looks I got at the bar! I still waited another 11 days after till he was born, whereupon I drank champagne while feeding him.

[redwellybluewelly]

I didn't drink, eat any banned foods, swoke or have coffee etc with DC1 who has a severe brain injury due to a mismanaged labour but eerily we were told she would probably not have survived and certainly not recovered as well as she has if I hadn't been as healthy

With dc2 due in June I didn't know till 9weeks so didn't take any prenatal vitamins and I have had a couple of small glasses of mulled wine but no spirits. And I'm drinking caffeine. Hell yes.