Are people drinking alcohol less in pregnancy these days?

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

Just wondering (with zero judgement!) whether anyone is drinking any alcohol during their pregnancy?

My impression is that when some of my friends were pregnant about 10 years ago it was fairly common to have an occasional glass of wine. During my first pregnancy three years ago the norm seemed to have dropped down to very infrequently / special occasions, and now it seems to be more the 'done thing' not to drink at all.

Might be that I've got a skewed impression? What is everyone else doing?

[pontificationcentral]

I had two Central European pregnancies where no one batted an eyelid if you had a glass of wine a couple of times a week. Then a North American pregnancy where if any sip of alcohol passed your lips you were automatically labelled high risk in giant red letters on every health record. Having babies in different countries is a fascinating social experiment.
Anyhoo, in the pregnancy where I drank not a drop of alcohol, the baby was brain damaged at birth. No causation can be applied...

I have a healthy respect for the dangers of FAS, but I also have a healthy disrespect for the over-medicalisation of pregnancy and the societal policing of pregnant women that is deemed to be socially acceptable 'for the sake of the baby'. The whole precious vessel thing is taken way too far.

Yes. Alcohol has been totally outlawed during pg these days in some countries. I would be interested to see if it has affected the rates of FAS at all, in comparison to when the doc would tell you to pop home and have a glass of stout of a Friday to help keep the baby healthy.

[Cuppaqueen]

I'm 14 weeks with much wanted first baby. I drank nothing for the first trimester after I found out, which was the thing I missed most as I really enjoy a good glass of wine or G&T - normally would drink 12-14 units a week at least 😜. But I read that the first 12 weeks are the most crucial time for baby's development so I made a special effort, even though I'm sure a small glass would have been so rapidly absorbed into my bloodstream, it would have been fine. Now I'm into second trimester, allowing myself one small glass on occasion but no more than one per week. Man, it tastes good!! For the record, I've also had medium steak and soft cheese at a high-end restaurant where I totally trust the food quality. I think you just have to do what feels comfortable and right for you, as long as it is minimal amounts.

[Cloeycat]

I've been having a glass of wine whenever I'm out to dinner, which is about once a month. I haven't felt judged yet but haven't really been showing till now so will see.

[Suzie2287]

Personally, I wouldn't touch any alcohol. I'm not a big drinker though and I'm not missing it. Also, I'm very anxious about this pregnancy and I know if I had any alcohol I would just worry that it would harm my baby.

[sidonie1]

I've been craving beer throughout my pregnancy and have had the odd small glass here and there. Also one particularly stressful day with my toddlers when I cracked open a bottle of prossecco at 4:30pm - was an act of rebellion more than anything I think but I still have the rest of that bottle in there as a tribute to that diffficult day!

Read up on the risks and feel they're not big.

[Figgygal]

I've had three weddings this pregnancy I will confess to have having had a glass of bubbly at each of them and maybe have had two or three small glasses of wine with dinner parties on top of that.

I miss wine I miss gin but this plenty time for both once baby is out

[LittleLionMansMummy]

Didn't drink at all until the 2nd trimester, when I had maybe one white wine spritzer a week. I've barely had anything in the third trimester because I just don't feel like it due to heartburn.

[BeccaSays]

For me, I just don't think there is enough knowledge about potential harm so don't want to take the risk. There may be no physical harm on the face of it but later down the road who knows if it has any effect on behavioural issues like ADHD. But that's just little me! Having said that I would probably have a small glass of fizz at a special occasion like for a wedding toast. Everyone has to make their own decision at end of the day, each to their own!

[DavidPuddy]

I was pregnant last year and had a small/medium glass of wine maybe once a week or once a fortnight after the first semester was done. I would do the same in future pregnancies.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

No not drinking and never would. Didn't even have a drink on my birthday as in 2ww after ivf and I didn't want to jinx things

Plus if god forbid something happens to bubs and I had been drinking I would also wonder was it as I had a few drinks

Just back from holiday and one man really pissed me off. Kept trying to make me have a drink and saying things like - really can't believe you aren't having a drink? Not even one? You really haven't had a drink? Ever while preg? One will be fine? Everyone drinks when preg if on holiday

Erm. No they don't !!

Up to others what they do tho Had a friend drink a glass of wine every time we went out and it bugged me as 2nd ivf had just failed

[SaltedCaramelEverything]

I always thought I'd feel like having the odd glass of wine, but I haven't and don't think I will. Mainly because I've found I worry a lot more than I imagined - so for me having a drink would be one more thing to (irrationally) worry about! May change later on in my pregnancy.

There is probably a link between how much people drink before pregnancy, I didn't drink much so guess I don't miss it.

[Oysterbabe]

I drank a lot, as I was on honeymoon, during my two week wait, before I knew I was pregnant, and had nothing at all as soon as I got those 2 lines. My baby has a hole in her heart. Did my drinking causing it? I'll never know for sure but will always blame myself. I'd never do it again if there was the tiniest chance of being pregnant. I wouldn't give alcohol to a newborn and don't think it's ok to give it to an unborn.

[Thenorr]

Hi all,

I'm 39 weeks with number 2. Have had the odd glass of wine this time round but nothing last time.

Just wanted to add how advice changes by hospital too - last time (Bristol, but only two years ago) I was told NO alcohol by docs, this time (London) I was told that 4 units a week (about 2 glasses of wine) was acceptable. Go figure!

[LBNM19]

I haven't drunk and alcohol during my pregnancy and im 27 weeks. This is my 3rd baby and ive never drank during pregnancy at all. Saying that im not a big drinker anyway and only drink now and again. So don't miss it. I don't see a problem with woman having the odd glass. X

[Bumplovin]

fruit cider it will be in the milk yes as it is in my blood but the leaflet specifically says it can't be absorbed if swallowed and the baby swallows it. Sorry this wasn't what the thread was about but I just thought I'd respond to you didn't want to ignore you

[number277]

I didn't with either of my 3 (but I'm a more drink until you pass out kinda person or don't drink at all )

[SockQueen]

I had a glass of bubbly for toasts at two weddings during my pregnancy, and the odd very tiny taste of DH's wine if he was having something new/fancy. I just didn't miss alcohol that much - the smelly cheese, pate and rare steak was a much bigger sacrifice!

[FuzzyOwl]

I had three half glasses of champagne in total last pregnancy as a toast at celebratory times but haven't drunk anything since I ovulated this pregnancy and am currently 37 weeks. I don't see any harm in an occasional drink and I think the majority of women are perfectly sensible and capable of finding out the risks of certain things and modifying their diets or alcohol intake accordingly.

[manhowdy]

The odd half a lager-shandy here.....and God it takes good

And two coffees a day which is MASSIVELY cutting down.

[Matchingbluesocks]

I had a couple of glasses of wine a week and so did pretty much everyone I know (apart from one friend who only drinks spirits!)

[Evergreen17]

OP I read lots of research on this and I am not drinking because I got used to it but I have had the occasional glass of wine/ sip of beer and I know I am fine with that.
I think (in my humble opinion) because I am older than my mum was when she was pregnant (10 years older) I am just a but more wary of things going wrong.
But I am confident it is not an issue to have the occasional glass, the same way you can have a bit of coffee. I just stopped a few weeks ago.

[FruitCider]

Bumplovin that makes no sense to me as I give people sublingual tablets every day (buprenorphine) and it certainly does show up in blood, meaning it passes into breast milk! Although these days I only give it to men so breastfeeding isn't a consideration

[Bumplovin]

Thanks riddles ive contacted the breastfeeding network and she thinks the baby won't be able to absorb it from milk as it doesn't absorb well from stomach (it's a sublingual tablet). But she can't prove it as no studies. Sorry ive gone off the topic. I just noted your experience in this area, your post was very balanced and informative.

[riddles26]

Bump all medicines are not associated with a risk to baby, I was just using the example that there are some that have a bigger risk to baby than the occasional alcoholic drink but are widely accepted as the risk of not taking them would be greater. Without knowing your medical history and the medication, I don't know if it would be ok for you to drink as we look at a number of factors such as whether the medicine and the alcohol are broken down by the same organ (which can potentially put more pressure on that organ) or if they have the same effects etc

It is possible you can breastfeed safely whilst on medication too - it will all depend on if it does actually go into the milk (if it doesn't, there is no risk at all), if it does then is it a large/small amount (we don't always worry about small amounts), how is it broken down (some of babies organs work differently to ours so if they do get some in the milk, they need to be able to get rid of it too), how often you need to take it (always the chance that you can express the milk that may be affected by the medicine, discard it and feed for the rest of the day). Best thing to do is speak to the doctors and they can advise you

[SquedgieBeckenheim]

I'm 17 weeks and haven't had any alcohol since taking a pregnancy test. I was on holiday when I conceived and drinking a fair amount then, but I feel no guilt about that! I wont drink for the rest of my pregnancy, but that is my choice. I have friends who have drunk occasionally throughout pregnancy and I don't judge them.
I think there's a lot more guilt tripping pregnant women about alcohol now, my friend was beating herself up about having 4 ciders in the week before she found out she was pregnant! I had to talk her down and reassure her she had done no damage.