would you / do you: one glass of champers

[frazzledtofun]

I think I kind of know the answer to this question, but here's the deal - I'm 19 weeks and it's my birthday and DH is treating me to a fabulous dinner at a michelin starred restaurant. I would LOVE to have a glass of champers when we go which I could sip at throughout the meal (so not down in one go or anything), but don't know if I'll enjoy it if I am just imagining poor baby wallowing in alcohol.

So, what do you all reckon? Would you do it? Have you done it? I haven't had any alcohol since I found out I was pregnant (had a glass of wine the night before my BFP as I was convinced that I wasn't pregnant).

[FlumptyDumpty]

My consultant said none in the first trimester, but I could have a glass of champagne on birthdays, anniversaries etc. Enjoy your birthday!

[Caterina99]

Yes I would (and have!). One glass of champagne with a meal will no absolutely no harm!

[PannaDoll]

Grab it with both hands! Enjoy :-) Happy Birthday xxx

[Sparrowlegs248]

Seems I am going against the grain here, but I wouldn't. I usually drink wine when not pregnant but haven't had any since getting my bfp. Seems easier to me to have none at all. I wouldn't have one cigarette as a treat.

[WhereTheFuckIsMyFuckingCoat]

Go for it!! It will taste divine and will do neither you nor your baby one iota of harm (unlike one cigarette, which would deprive baby temporarily of oxygen and put strain on their tiny heart and lungs).

I've got four dcs and in all but the first pg, in the final few weeks (after about 26-8wks) I had the odd glass, which was lovely (when I had finally stopped vomiting my insides out 24/7). All my dcs are fine, btw.

Jealous of your upcoming restaurant experience actually! Have a great birthday!

[newbian]

I wouldn't, because as you say I'd worry about any effect on the baby. Not that I think one glass of champagne would cause any serious harm, but a fetus doesn't need alcohol (well, who does really) and I'm committed to abstaining for the rest of the pregnancy and first few months for breastfeeding - so no reason to give myself a taste that might spur further cravings.

But from a health perspective I suspect it's fine to have one glass.

[AliceAnneB]

No I wouldn't. Alcohol is a teratogen and is known to be harmful to the baby and his/her development. It freely crosses the placenta. It's only a few months of abstaining. I would never knowingly introduce a poisonous substance to a baby - it's just not worth it. The guidelines have changed and for good reason.

[ARV1981]

I drank a glass of champagne when I visited my grandparents, at around 22 weeks. It was lovely. I did feel a little bit bad about it the next day but my dh said not to because I'd had it with a meal and over the whole meal (I savoured it!!!) I don't think it does much harm, my sister had two glasses of prosecco at my wedding, at around 35 weeks, and my nephew is PERFECT.

Enjoy the meal! And have a happy birthday. What a lovely dh you have!!!

[MissTwister]

The guidelines changed for no reason apart from the fact we're going down the route of the U.S, terrifying pregnant women into thinking any little thing they do is a potential danger to their baby. No new evidence or scientific basis whatsoever.

No scientific evidence EVER to show very low level drinking affects a baby in utero.

[MrsDumbledore]

I've been pregnant twice and have probably had 4 or 5small glasses of wine or champagne during each pregnancy -on special occasions such as xmas? Birthday, weddings etc. Go for it!

[Skiptonlass]

norra, I'm not drinking either but I do think one glass of champers really slowly with food is not going to cause any issues at all.

There is a difference in HOW alcohol is ingested as well. If you neck a vodka (not recommended obviously) you're putting all that alcohol into the bloodstream at once and yes, it's going to cross the placenta, and the concentration in the bloodstream will be higher.

If you slowly sip a glass of champers over 90 mins with food the absorption is much slower, and is further slowed by that food - the concentration in the bloodstream will be much lower.

The alcohol debate saddens me. We have careful women scaring themselves daft over tiny amounts which all the data we have shows does no harm, and yet we have one or two percent of babies born with damage caused by heavy prolonged drinking. So most mums are feeling pressurised over low to no harm behaviour but a minority are still not getting the message or help with a drink problem. Tough stuff for public health to deal with!

[PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom]

No I wouldn't. Alcohol is a teratogen and is known to be harmful to the baby and his/her development. It freely crosses the placenta. It's only a few months of abstaining. I would never knowingly introduce a poisonous substance to a baby - it's just not worth it. The guidelines have changed and for good reason.

That is abject rubbish in many way. But most importantly, there is zero evidence that about 2 units of alcohol once in a pregnancy is 'poisonous' or 'harmful to development'. You are talking about far higher doses.

The guidelines didn't change because of evidence on that point. They changed because people don't understand units.

[Ragwort]

^^ As Skipton says, the anti drinking in pregnancy is not aimed at women who drink 1-2 small glasses of wine a week .......... it is geared towards women who routinely drink excessively. I can't believe how many people get seriously worked up over one drink .

I drank regularly (normal for me is 2-3 glasses of wine per evening) for my first 10 weeks of pregnancy as I had no idea I was pregnant - wasn't planned and I was of menopausal age .

[prepperpig]

I had one glass of champagne at my wedding. I wouldn't have had any more than this but I really enjoyed my one glass.

However before I found out I was pregnant I got hammered one night on champagne. My friends all said I should call DS1 champagne charlie. He's perfectly fine and a wonderful child.

[OneFlewOverTheMumsNest]

Absolutely you should. Enjoy your birthday and the fabulous restaurant.

[eurochick]

Go for it. I had a few glasses (not all at once) once I was past the first tri. As others have said, no study has shown low levels of alcohol in pregnancy to be harmful. In fact, I recall a Swedish study which indicated that babies of mothers who drank low levels of alcohol during pregnancy had higher IQs than those whose mothers abstained completely.

[ceebelle83]

I got the shit scared out of me watching that Exposure documentary on ITV at 15 weeks, I only had a glass of champagne at my own wedding the week before but haven't touched it since, I'm now 29 weeks.

HOWEVER I really don't think that a small glass/fizz even a few times a week is going to do a damn thing to harm baby. Agree that the guidelines are intended to encourage heavy/binge drinkers to reduce intake.

[ceebelle83]

In fact, I recall a Swedish study which indicated that babies of mothers who drank low levels of alcohol during pregnancy had higher IQs than those whose mothers abstained completely.

This has more to do with the fact that people who drink low levels of alcohol, particularly wine, are thought to generally speaking be middle class/more affluent as opposed to binge drinkers...the findings are more to do with social and economic advantage rather than the alcohol itself raising the IQ.

[Sleepybeanbump]

As far as I'm aware the guidelines have only changed because abstinence is easier to interpret and monitor than 1-2 units, which people often under estimate.

Go for it OP.

[prettybird]

I agreed with my GP that I would "reduce the quantity and up the quality" - not that I was a heavy drinker in the first place. This equated to 1-2 small glasses a week.

I chose not to drink anything weeks 8-12 as I read somewhere that these were key weeks for foetal development. But that was a personal choice.

I agree with PPs who say that the change in guidance is not based on science but everything to do with not trusting women to understand Units. In fact, if you dig deeper, you'll even find quotes from the Royal College admitting this (on phone so can't search and link easily).

Enjoy your dinner out and your glass of champagne

[sianihedgehog]

I don't think the guidelines HAVE changed for the entire pregnancy , just the first trimester . They still say you can have one or two drinks once or twice a week after that. www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/alcohol-medicines-drugs-pregnant.aspx

[sianihedgehog]

To answer the OP, though , yes, I would. I treated myself to the occasional half pint of stout through my second trimester. I'm not currently comfortable having a drink in public because I'm enormously, obviously pregnant and fear some ignorant judgemental arsehole making comments, but I still would for a special occasion like yours.

[guinnessgirl]

yes, I would, and yes, I have. Am 38wks and have not had a drink for the last couple of months as it didn't sit right with me - but had one glass of bubbly once or twice before that at weddings/celebrations. No ill effects that I know of!

[Luckystar82]

I would drink it. I'm planning to have a Kir Royal at 36 weeks as my special treat. It won't do any harm to your baby and anyone who tells you otherwise is talking nonsense!