Alcohol consumption

[nataliekristin]

hi all

I had a work event and had a few alcoholic drinks spaced out throughout the day - to be exact, 2 white wine spritzers and half a glass of white wine. This is the 1st alcohol I have had since finding out I am pregnant and I'm now 19 weeks.

is this too much alcohol? I don't plan on having any more during my pregnancy but am worried this was a little too much today

How much wine is in a spritzer? Probably half a glass? So you've had a glass and a half over the whole course of a day. I think a small glass of wine contains 1 and a half units... So let's say you had 2 and a quarter units. (Obviously this is a massive guess on my part as different pubs use different glasses and measures!!)

The NHS, NICE and RCOG recommend having no more than 1-2 units once or twice a week. So that's a max of 4 units a week, which you are well within provided you don't have anymore.

I have been so paranoid about units of alcohol in my pregnancy that it totally outweighed any enjoyment I got from drinking it. So I stopped altogether, just wasn't worth it for me. However I know plenty of women aren't that bothered and are happy to drink a couple of glasses a week.

I wouldn't worry about today, forget about it and move on. It's very unlikely to have done any harm at all. (Cases of FAS are usually due to excessive alcohol consumption over the course of a oregnabcy). But if you are the type to worry, it's probably not worth the paranoia to have any more alcohol in this pregnancy (which I think you're already decided on anyway).

if you buy a wine spritzer in a bar, it will be a drink+mixer.

The smallest measure of wine is almost certainly 125ml (a "small glass" which all bars are obliged to offer) although some bars may want to sell it in larger measures. So you will have had a glass of wine plus some fizzy wet stuff.

www.drinkaware.co.uk/check-the-facts/what-is-alcohol/what-is-an-alcohol-unit

You will be fine. Also, as I understand if, the problem with alcohol is that understandably the baby can't process it. So very low alcohol drinks (spritzers) over a lengthy period would seem significantly better than one quick shot of something because the alcohol will be entering your bloodstream much more slowly meaning much less for you and then the baby to process.

It'll be fine.

Thanks for the reassurance I don't think it's worth the hassle haha