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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Am I the only one who has a drink?

169 replies

oneconfusedchick · 16/12/2015 10:27

Hi,

Sorry if this is a bit random but I was wondering whether anyone else has continued to drink through pregnancy. Please don't get me wrong I do not mean drink a lot but I have 1-2 units once a week on a Friday. I feel like I am the only one that does this! I did this with first pregnancy who is now a healthy and happy 2 year old!

I do worry though that I can't seem to find many people who still enjoy a small weekly drink!

x

OP posts:
superking · 16/12/2015 20:04

I am pregnant with my second. Plan on doing the same as I did with my first - next to nothing in the first trimester (half a glass of champagne very slowly sipped over a couple of hours at a wedding), then a small drink once or twice a week in the second and third, if I fancy it. Nothing I have read has persuaded me that there is any risk to the baby with this level of drinking.

NattyNatural · 16/12/2015 20:28

Junosmum they said that she was unlucky and these things happen. I don't think that was even mentioned tbh

90sforever · 16/12/2015 20:32

So why did you specifically say that you know someone who had a drink or two and had a newborn? You were clearly trying to indicate they were related?

NattyNatural · 16/12/2015 20:42

I'm not getting into it again

NattyNatural · 16/12/2015 20:49

All I'm going to say is, she is adamant that it played a part. Whether or not it did we'll never know for sure.
I'm happy to discuss but don't goad.

twirlypoo · 16/12/2015 20:58

Yes but natty, if your friend has a devastating loss like that and blames themselves, you say "sweetheart don't be so silly, it was nothing you have done, no one knows why your baby was stillborn but it was absolutely not your fault" you don't agree and say, well maybe yes you having a drink did cause your baby to be born dead - especially when there is no medical proof!

Unfairestofthemall · 16/12/2015 21:00

I'll probably have a glass of Buck's Fizz on Christmas Day and maybe a white wine spritzer when we do another family lunch on Boxing Day. Did the same with DS im quite far into my third trimester though like I was last time so don't know if that's influenced my choices. I didn't touch anything in the first 20 weeks because I was just so sick.
As long as your not getting smashed all the time/ necking shots of strong spirits I highly doubt a tiny bit here and there does any damage

FellOutOfBedTwice · 16/12/2015 21:04

Good luck to you- I tried and failed miserably! I had a glass of champagne at around 21 weeks and a half of Guinness at around 30 weeks. Both times I had hangovers so bad you would have thought I had been on a tequilla bender with George Best, puking, headache, acid indigestion... The whole nine yards. So there was no joy in it for me at all.

Fugghetaboutit · 16/12/2015 21:12

I know it's perfectly safe

According to whom?

Doublebubblebubble · 16/12/2015 21:17

Right I'll probably get flamed - i dont care when it comes to this - but you are told not to drink so its probably prudent that you don't. I haven't ever drunk alcohol during a pregnancy and I wouldn't... I have a horrible obstetric history and i wouldnt ever forgive myself if i damaged a potential child through (and this is what this is) sheer selfishness. There are so many risks anyway and I understand people trying to rationalise it but seriously is it that hard for people not to drink for 9 months/40 weeks?? Seriously?!

NattyNatural · 16/12/2015 21:21

Twirlypoo were you there? How do you know I said to her yes it was your fault??

This is getting silly now.

CottonSock · 16/12/2015 21:29

I will have the odd glass once I stop feeling sick and reach end of first trimester. A useful thing I found was that you can order a unit measure cup from drink aware. It's free and helps you know your exact units.

twirlypoo · 16/12/2015 21:34

No you said your friend "openly admits it played a part" which insinuates that you agree with her. If that is incorrect then I apologise, but that is how you are coming across and is why so many people are struggling with what you are saying. No one has issue with you drinking or otherwise, it's the suggestion your friend lost her child because of it that is leaving such a nasty taste in the mouth.

Tfoot75 · 16/12/2015 21:43

I haven't had any as firstly it goes straight to my head and feeling tipsy would feel a bit wrong to me during pregnancy and secondly it doesn't bother me at all to go without. Don't judge anyone who has the odd drink though.

It really annoys me when people say they wouldnt take any sort of risk. Everything in life is about risk. You leave the house or don't leave the house, there's risk to your unborn baby. You drive or walk, there's risk. Birth choices, feeding choices, sleeping choices, there's loads of risk everywhere. There's no possibility of you not taking risks, so the fact that someone else is taking a risk that you aren't is completely irrelevant. It's all about perception.

sparechange · 16/12/2015 21:50

Right I'll probably get flamed - i dont care when it comes to this - but you are told not to drink so its probably prudent that you don't.

But I haven't been told not to drink Confused
I've been told to enjoy a glass of champagne, and other posters have been told to limit their intake to 1 or 2 units
So you don't need to worry about these naughty disobisent women not doing what they are told Hmm

Doublebubblebubble · 16/12/2015 21:55

It is irresponsible then. I'm not saying that there isn't risk in everything - of course there is. The phone that I'm writing this on could explode in my face...I dont know..
I
think What we do for and to ourselves is entirely different then what we should do for and to our children. I'm sorry not sorry i just do not get it

ThursdayLastWeek · 16/12/2015 21:56

I was thinking just the same thing sparechange!
I even checked the NHS guidelines and they are nowhere near as strict as I would be led to believe from reading some of these posts.

I quite agree with Tfoot re: risks. That's a very good point.

5madthings · 16/12/2015 22:07

Yep Thursday I got my notes out to check, there is a big pamphlet on healthy eating in pregnancy thst covers foods to eat, to avoid and alcohol etc it says 1-2units up to twice a week. I dont drink that much even when not pregnant but I have had two small cider this pregnancy (24wks) so far and will likely have one at Xmas then another for my bday in Jan.

I see no need to feel guilty about that.

People take far higher risks during pregnancy and with their child once born as others have said... Feeding, sleeping arrangements, traveling by car, the whole extended rear facing carseat debate, then as they get older letting children play sports such as rugby, American football, horse riding etc... So many calculated risks, it's a part of life unless you live in a bubble.

Doublebubblebubble · 16/12/2015 22:10

sparechange call your midwife tomorrow and see what she says again about this... She is not going to say "go on have a regular little drinky poo" she just isn't. Sorry.

I was told the first time I was pregnant NOT to drink - I have been pregnant 5 times ( i have two live children, 2 mc and a stillbirth of twins) each time I had multiple midwives and consultants and I was told not to drink each time (not that I wanted to anyway)...

(I'm actually really surprised how in the minority I am for this reading the thread back)

ThursdayLastWeek · 16/12/2015 22:14

And I don't want to make anyone feel inadequate in their choices - I choose to drink because Im confident in my ability to weigh up risk. I couldn't give two hoots what another woman does.

What I thoroughly disagree with is emotive language used to make other women feel guilty. This woman on woman judging, during something that only women can truly understand is just another component in the success of the fecking patriarchy.

We should be supporting one another.

5madthings · 16/12/2015 22:17

Yes Thursday exactly that!

Ughnotagain · 16/12/2015 22:17

Double my GP told me it was safe to have the odd drink, no more than 1-2 units occasionally, after the first trimester. This was last year, and without any prompting.

Boosiehs · 16/12/2015 22:28

I've been told by my consultant in both pregnancies that a small amount of alcohol has not been shown to be damaging, and to go ahead.

Judging women and treating them as if yet can't read or understand is fecking irritating.

sparechange · 16/12/2015 22:34

Doublebubble
I don't have a midwife to call, as I am consultant-lead. As I said upthread, a very well-known consultant who specialises in high risk pregnancies
And he has told me to enjoy some champagne
But I'm sure you know more than he does, after his 20+ years of fetal medicine and obstetrics Hmm

Oysterbabe · 16/12/2015 22:58

I wouldn't give alcohol to a newborn so certainly wouldn't give it to an unborn.
The toxins in your blood cross the placenta and I just don't understand why anyone would take the risk.