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?

[Trifleorbust]

32 weeks nearly, and I've been having one small glass of wine most weeks. I am virtually certain there is no risk in that and am perfectly happy with that choice.

[Bumplovin]

Ive probably had about 1 1/2 cm of my husbands glass of wine on a Saturday night, small sips only can't seem to bring myself to drink more than that but to be honest a few sips has been enough for me to just have a taste. I have friends who would have a small glass of wine on special occasions while pregnant and I don't think they were wrong to

[Sparklesilverglitter]

I recently had my first baby and I didn't drink any alcohol from when I found out about the pregnancy.
I just didn't feel right about drinking and TBH with all the sickness I didn't fancy it anyway

[Bumplovin]

riddles im on medication during pregnancy and my choice to only have a few sips is because I'm worried it would interact with my medication and worrying about having to take the medication has been hard enough. Currently trying to decide whether the benefits of breastfeeding on my medication outweigh its risks. If I wasn't on meds Id prob have the odd glass of wine

[Cheesecakeiloveyou45]

I've never drunk any alcohol in either of my 4 pregnancies. It just didn't sit right with me, and I had morning sickness until about 30 weeks all 4 times so alcohol was the last thing on my mind

[MyGiddyUncle]

I haven't drunk at all but i'm really not a big drinker anyway.

However, I fully intend having a few coffees with a shot of baileys in this Christmas...it's my favourite Christmas treat and I don't bother with Baileys for the rest of the year!

[duxb]

I'm not judging - im not a huge drinker and given there are guidelines there, it makes sense to follow them. For the sake of a glass of wine here and there, it makes no sense to me to have a drink and I don't miss it.

I've had struggles with losses previously and have done everything I can to be as healthy as possible for this pregnancy. I lost weight, increased my exercise, gave up caffeine, rescued sugar intake etc. It felt like the right thing for me.

I have friends who have had the occasional drink and that's absolutely their choice.

People are allowed different opinions and i completely understand that given my history I'm more anal about things than I might otherwise be.

[FruitCider]

I had 1 glass of wine a week during my pregnancy.

[GinIsIn]

I'm coming up to 23 weeks now. Have had half a glass of champagne at a hen do, another half glass at the wedding. Don't think I managed to finish either of them!

[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.

[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

[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.

[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

[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.

[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!)

[manhowdy]

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

And two coffees a day which is MASSIVELY cutting down.

[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.

[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!

[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 )

[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

[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

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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