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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

how much alcohol do you drink?

64 replies

purplemurple1 · 13/09/2014 16:58

Just wondering, it's my second pregnancy and I'm having two 125 ml glasses of wine a week (since around 4 months) is that about normal / ok - there seems to be little research on it.

OP posts:
Pico2 · 13/09/2014 19:10

I've tasted DH's wine/beer about 3 times, so less than 1 unit in total by 20 weeks. But I don't normally drink, so it's no hardship.

Chunderella · 13/09/2014 19:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pippinleaf · 13/09/2014 19:34

I'm having none at all. I don't drink much anyway but I just chose to not drink for my pregnancy. I have taught children with foetal alcohol syndrome and I don't want to risk it. I'm sure there's no real risk to a few glasses, just not for me.

LittlePeasMummy1 · 13/09/2014 19:36

penguins she discounts the data that indicate a possible risk with low levels of drinking partly on the basis that the drinking group were also more likely to have used cocaine than the non-drinking group. She states that this is 'known to cause harm'. This is absolutely not true, the data on cocaine are also very mixed, the only strong evidence is that it might cause placental problems that might increase the risk of stillbirth, prematurity or low birthweight. So the results of the low level alcohol studies that show harm may have been due to cocaine use, but equally, they may have been due to the alcohol. The evidence for cocaine is summarised here
www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Cocaine/
Most people have preconceived ideas that an illegal drug is bound to cause more harm than a legal substance. In fact, we do not know that cocaine is more harmful to a pregnant woman than alcohol, and there is much stronger evidence that alcohol, at least at high levels, causes birth defects and developmental problems. The data on low level drinking is very mixed and the studies are messy, confounded and therefore difficult to interpret. But it Is a fundamental mistake to discount the data on this basis.

weebairn · 13/09/2014 20:10

Earlier in the pregnancy, about 1 small glass of wine a week.

Now I'm 38 weeks, er… a small glass of wine about 4 times a week… oh well! Second pregnancy slackness as well.

To people who say 9 months isn't that long - well it feels bloody endless to me! This is my second pregnancy in 3 years, also...

I do try and eat healthy/clean though and reckon that has more impact on mine and my baby's health than light drinking.

Outside of pregnancy I probably drink wine most nights, with food, me and DP probably get through 3-4 bottles a week between us, I think he drinks a bit more of it than I do though. I like my wine. I don't binge drink, though.

squizita · 13/09/2014 20:13

None. I know 1 or 2 glasses after 4 months are harmless - I just went right off. I'd rather wait and really enjoy it - to be blunt as I'd never drink enough to get tipsy pregnant, and don't like the taste at the moment, it just feels a waste of money.

I like the 0% Fosters Radler at the moment if I fancy something more grown up than 7 up!

PenguinsIsSleepDeprived · 13/09/2014 20:22

Thanks LittlePeas. Interesting. My family is complete, so just interested rather than being relevant to decisions IYSWIM. I read her book and liked some of it, but did feel that the drinking advice seemed a bit blasé. I only skimmed that chapter though and didn't really pay enough attention to say why.

Dazedconfused · 13/09/2014 20:29

Have had a glass of prosecco at two weddings in the last month and was massively uncomfortable last Sunday so had a bath and wee glass of red otherwise not had any except the odd sip of husbands if he says something is nice etc (I am 39 weeks today so nearly there). I have been enjoying erdinger alcohol free as I do like a beer when not pregnant

BanglesSpangles · 13/09/2014 20:48

Ive been keeping a little tally, so know ive had 11 units since i found out (am 18 weeks today), so less than a unit a week, never more than one in a week and actually, looking at the list, always with food. I do love a list!

MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 13/09/2014 20:54

I had maybe a glass of wine a week. Went out a couple of times before I got too big (student bars aren't accommodating of pregnancy Grin) and would have a glass of wine and a SoCo & lemonade.

ohthegoats · 13/09/2014 21:06

Since getting pregnant (now 38 weeks), I've had about 6 glasses of wine and two gin and tonics - had those alongside 2 pints of water each. All those were in the second tri when I didn't feel sick, or didn't have heartburn. Now just the smell of wine kicks off heartburn (well, that's what it feels like), and in the first tri it made me feel sick.

I tend to think, read the stuff then make your own mind up a bit. I'm an adult woman who can make all sorts of choices based on risks I've read about, this is just one of them. While drinking one of the G&Ts I was at a festival, and had an older woman say to me 'I thought she can't be drinking gin, she's clearly pregnant...' - this was a total stranger in a festival bar. I just did the straight faced 'This 40 year old adult with a mind of her own, is pregnant and is drinking a gin... it's so tasty' and walked off quickly before I said anything rude. Too many judgements around pregnancy.

Naomip88 · 13/09/2014 21:21

I love a drink but the only thing I've drank in 5 months has been 1 very very weak shandy ( a dash of beer in a lemonade. It's been easier because my partner has given up in solidarity. I sometimes have a shandy bass but very rarely. Personally I know that if there was any problems down the line I would blame myself for that one drink even if it hadn't been the cause (catholic guilt)

plinkyplonks · 13/09/2014 21:51

None, particularly given the advice here: www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/alcohol-medicines-drugs-pregnant.aspx

5madthings · 13/09/2014 22:16

That link says after the first trimester one unit once or twice a week is ok.

I couldn't drink in first trimester but as I said earlier had the odd drink for bdays or Xmas. I don't drink wine and am not a regular drinker anyway, will drink when out for an eve but rarely at home.

Redling · 13/09/2014 22:17

Once I got over the horrific morning sickness, by 20 weeks I felt I fancied a drink again. My DH would get me a mini bottle of champagne every Saturday night as if I were only having a couple of units they may as well be fancy units :)

birdofthenorth · 13/09/2014 23:01

None. But I can't get judgeypants as it's keeping the caffeine low I really struggle with.

Annarose2014 · 13/09/2014 23:04

None at all - even the thought makes me feel a bit pukey, & that hasn't altered all along.

Unexpected, as I drank quite a lot beforehand.

Noyoucantwatchpeppapig · 13/09/2014 23:33

I've had a few aldi cans of shandy. They have a warning not to drink when your pregnant printed on them Hmm they contain 0.3 units per can so I think at one a week DC2 will be fine.

Gennz · 13/09/2014 23:41

The most I've had is 2 glasses of wine on one occasion and that was over a 3 hour long lunch. Apart from that I might have one glass of wine occasionally, but can easily go weeks without it unlike my pre-pregnancy self

I don't feel remotely guilty about it, but I haven't been too stressed out about what I've been consuming - have been eating sushi, brie etc. The only things I've been very strict about avoiding is pate & shellfish. And have reduced my caffeine to one double shot flat white every day ... I would have really struggled if I'd had to cut that out.

RetroHippy · 14/09/2014 16:19

Nothing more than the odd sip of DH's lager or a can of shandy in the first tri.

Last week (20 weeks) I had half a Tetleys at a party, last night I went a bit crazy and had a small glass of prosecco, and a can of 0.9% shandy about 6 hours later!

I've not gone off any of the 'bad' things though, still want coffee and red wine Sad. I have been restricting myself to decaf though.

Think as the nights draw in I'll really miss my glass of red of an evening, so might treat myself occasionally.

DH was very protective and very anti-drinking at first but after a lovely 20 week scan of a perfectly healthy baby I think he's relaxed a little.

RetroHippy · 14/09/2014 16:20

Noyoucantwatchpeppa, I'm a huge fan of the Aldi shandy [grin[

angelos02 · 14/09/2014 17:27

Sorry...didn't realise I was in pregnancy section!

SeaSaltMill · 14/09/2014 17:45

Nothing so far but got our anniversary in a few weeks and might have a glass of champagne.

Marshpillow · 14/09/2014 17:58

I'm 12 weeks and I haven't had a drink since I got my BFP. Getting through three of my hen nights without drinking or letting on I was pregnant was extremely interesting but I did it! cheers
I'm not missing alcohol (yet) but I was always the designated driver even before getting preg so I rarely drank. I'm really enjoying alcohol free Kopparberg at the moment but it's definitely not the same as the real thing.

HotMommy · 14/09/2014 18:41

This is my second and I have one or two very small glasses of wine a week. Only one per day. I agree with some others here that you should think about what you are consuming in the round - obviously limit alcohol to a small amount and try to eat healthily as much as possible. I imagine having fast food once or twice a week is much worse than one or two units o alcohol.

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