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?

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.