Alcohol during pregnancy

[makingdoo]

I'm not pregnant, yet. In fact I've just tested and got a BFN

I am just curious as to what the guidelines are in relation to alcohol whilst pregnant. I have always thought it was a complete no no but I've noticed that views vary depending on who you speak to. Some women I know don't drink at all while others see nothing wrong with the odd glass of wine. I am always shocked if I see an obviously pregnant lady drinking alcohol but just wondered if my view is out of date?

This is a big taboo and will raise mixed opinions - be prepared to have started WWIII.

I personally don't think the odd glass of wine hurts during pregnancy - th amount of people who drink in the first and second trimesters as they don't know they're pregnant is very high, and most of them have healthy, happy pregnancies and babies.

It is entirely up to you. It's your body, your baby and your choice.

You might like to do a search and look at some of the very long, very heated threads on this topic in the archives. Lots of views from both sides of the argument.

I had my first half glass of red wine at 37 weeks with food in this my first pregnancy. Prior to that I chose not to drink. My baby has finished all major development just putting on weight and I really didnt fancy it early on. I think it's personal choice. Some of my friends did and others didnt but they only had the odd one when we were out. I missed coffee much more than alcohol during my pregnancy.

I had one glass of wine a week from 16 weeks with both dds.

They don't know exactly how much alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome so advise none (I think) but I think (personally), the odd tiny amount won't hurt.

However my mum drank while pregnant (heavily as an alcoholic) and my sister and brother both have special needs. So when pregnant with my first I was religious about not drinking. With my second I relaxed slightly but never had more than a few sips. Never a glass!

Nhs guidelines I think advise abstaining but also say that if you don't, try and limit to one or two units once or twice a week.

The official nhs guidelines now are none at all.
But that hasn't always been the guidance in the uk and isn't the same as some other countries so most people try to make up their own mind what they feel comfortable with.

There is no evidence that a small occassional drink will harm your baby.. BUT there is no evidence that it WON'T harm them either.

Thanks for the responses.

Honestly didn't I tend it as an emotive thread. It's just something I wondered about.
I do think each to their own but wondered about the general consensus.

research here

I'll have a glass of wine with dinner occasionally, probably once every couple of weeks.

There's no evidence either way that the amount I consume is harmful or not harmful, but you could say that about absolutely anything - carrots, flour, pork, haribo, milk - so it's really down to personal choice and where you feel comfortable.

Binge drinking regularly on the other hand, has proven to be very harmful and there is a consensus on people's opinions on that.

Official advice is - none.

It's hard to note a particular amount that causes foetal alcohol problems, especially as women who have drunk heavily through out pregnancy are likely to downplay/not be honest about how much they drink.

Realistically, 1 or 2 units (half to one glass of wine, half pint of beer/cider) once or twice a week is not going to do any harm. I believe some research has found no negative effects in babies of women who drank up to 8 units a week.

Obviously binge drinking, or daily drinking, is a bad idea.

Personally I abstained during the first trimester (didn't want to anyway!). After that I had a small glass of wine or half a pint once or twice a week. Most people I know did similar.

I was adamant that I wouldn't drink in pregnancy, especially after ttc and fertility treatment, and didn't touch a drop - until I went on holiday at 18 weeks! There was something about being away and relaxing that made it seem ok to have a few ridiculously weak shandies, never more than one a night (we're talking a tiny bit of beer and lots of lemonade!) Over the last weekend I also had a couple of very weak wine spritzers, again one a night. I enjoyed my ridiculously weak spritzers but am going to keep them to now and again, and I think I'll do without for a while now.

It's interesting what creatureretorts says above though. I really might try and do without - I know drinking lots is very different to the odd spritzer but it did make me wonder that if something doesn't go to plan, I don't to be able to blame myself at all, however irrational.