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Pregnancy

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

Controversial did anyone drink in pregnancy??

427 replies

Lmj25 · 31/03/2018 14:58

Not saying I would was just wondering did anyone?

OP posts:
Shipshapeit · 31/03/2018 23:23

Rosie if you are referring to my post, about being lucky, I was meaning more people who drank heavily throughout their pregnancies that are lucky there child is ok. One measured small glass of wine per week by the old guidelines wouldn’t break the recommendations and there is no good evidence to suggest it could cause problems. There is just no evidence to prove it can’t either but at that level it does seem unlikely.
Also I was not disputing that pregnant women are unable to count to two.
But measuring one or two units of alcohol is different to counting to two. If you are in a restaurant, how do you know the strength of the wine, 9% wine will obviously be lower than 13% wine and so on.
Just in my experience, Many adults pregnant or not, aren’t clear on the units In alcohol unless they are explicity labelled, say on a can of beer. But drinking while out would be different and not so easy to keep track of.
Plus I really believe that there are some people, probably in deprived areas, who genuinely may not be able to monitor units properly at all and don’t understand the concept of units of alcohol. They could think a small amount is a large glass of wine which probably is more like 4 units. So i think it probably is for the best to make the rule simple for everyone, especially those who are at risk of misunderstanding (although I accept these people would be the minority).
I wouldn’t feel you are in any ‘tag’ of people. I don’t feel this way after Having a few units of alcohol throughout my pregnancy with ds.

whenthecatsawaythemousewill · 01/04/2018 00:19

This is my third pregnancy and since number two I have drunk maybe four glasses of wine a week with dinner. First trimesters I felt too ill to do so but second trimesters were fine. I have also drunk the same amount while breastfeeding. All DCs shipshape.

I have never felt remotely tipsy during pregnancy.

I think it depends a lot on factors like eating at the same time, being hydrated, keeping a good weight and being generally healthy in other ways.

Snoreyhell · 01/04/2018 01:07

I think there's a hell of a lot of downplaying here and assuming that it's ok to drink during pregnancy. The risk of FAS is real and as yet, the quantity of alcohol needed to cause issues is unknown. For me, I wanted to do only the best for my babies. I did everything I could to protect them- the last thing I would have dreamed of doing was eating/drinking anything that might harm them.

PPs referring to "occasional" alcohol and then describing weekly, even daily, drinking are delusional. I don't drink that much now and my youngest is 4! If you honestly can't stop drinking for 9 months then I think you need some help.

Thistlebelle · 01/04/2018 01:23

Snorey I think one of the problems is that “occasional” means very different things to different people.

My friend means one glass of wine an evening when she says occasional. I mean one glass every week or so. That’s quite different amounts of alcohol.

MN in general does have a rather odd attitude to drinking IME though.

halfwitpicker · 01/04/2018 01:34

I had a couple of small (and I mean literally probably a quarter of a cup) glasses of wine in very early pregnancy. Didn't have anything else throughout.

halfwitpicker · 01/04/2018 01:37

Four glasses of wine with dinner per week, as in one glass, four nights, or four glasses per night?

Obviously it does depend on your tolerance - I've a terrible tolerance to alcohol and have basically had enough after two glasses.

It was far harder for me to give up coffee during pregnancy than alcohol.

Namechangefailagain · 01/04/2018 01:57

Never drank with any of my 2 previous pregnancy and haven't drank with this one either bit then I don't drink when I'm not pregnant either

Strokethefurrywall · 01/04/2018 02:18

For me, I wanted to do only the best for my babies. I did everything I could to protect them- the last thing I would have dreamed of doing was eating/drinking anything that might harm them.

Yes, and all the rest of us who ate or drank something on the "not recommended" list doesn't give a shit about their kids?

Seriously the stupidity of some people is just mind blowing.

Have you adopted that same level of anally retentive and judgmental behavior now that your child is here?

Let me guess, you grow your own fruit and vegetables and make sure your kid has a perfectly balanced macrobiotic diet yes? Because anything else, by your standards is below par right?

OP, I drank alcohol with both pregnancies and both DSs are awesome. I deemed the risk to my baby insignificant because I'd researched what I'd needed to before drinking alcohol. I only listened to the opinions of those I trusted and respected, none of whom are on this thread.

Trust yourself and your own mind. You're an educated adult who can make a decision as to whether a half glass of shandy is going to affect your baby.

But if it makes you feel better, that half glass of shandy or whatever, goes through your bandy first. And that alcohol is processed by your liver first. Which is why, if you're drinking such minute amounts of alcohol, there is likely to be no rush to your baby - your body will process the alcohol before it even gets to the baby.

The only time your baby may be affected is if you're slamming shots, and drinking alcohol before your liver can process it.

Enjoy the glass at your parents 50th. Or don't. It is totally your decision, and as long as it's an informed decision and not one based on arrogance or ignorance, you will be fine Smile

Laurel543 · 01/04/2018 03:56

Nothing in first trimester. Since then, most weeks I have had the NHS max limit of 4 units every 7 days.

I usually have 2 units on Fri eve (one can of weak lager) and 2 units on Sunday (measured glass of wine). I really savour each drink and take my time.

I did a lot of reading about the risks and feel I have made an informed decision that I am happy with. No drama, craving or hand wringing required.

Snoreyhell · 01/04/2018 08:05

Yes, and all the rest of us who ate or drank something on the "not recommended" list doesn't give a shit about their kids?

You clearly don't give as much of a shit as someone who sacrifices alcohol etc no. Sorry but it is what it is.

Snoreyhell · 01/04/2018 08:07

Since then, most weeks I have had the NHS max limit of 4 units every 7 days

And you understand what "max limit" means? It doesn't mean "recommended amount".

Sprinklesinmyelbow · 01/04/2018 08:16

Snoreyhell you sound really uninformed. Maybe women who bothered to research their pregnancy care more than you?

Snoreyhell · 01/04/2018 08:18

If you can find me a scrap of research that says that alcohol is recommended in pregnancy then I'll be gobsmacked sprinkles and please don't try to argue that those who didn't drink during pregnancy are the ones getting it wrong because not only is that nonsense, it's dangerous nonsense.

CaptainBrickbeard · 01/04/2018 08:20

I kind of wonder if it’s more harmful to a child to have a rigid, narrow-minded parent of such limited intelligence that they can’t grasp anything beyond the utterly simple than it is to have a parent who drinks a glass of wine every now and again whilst pregnant? Is not worth repeating the same points over and over again - I have a brick wall to bang my head against - but I imagine the sanctimony and stupidity of being near anyone who says something along the lines of women who can’t give up for nine months FOR THEIR BABY are selfish alcoholics would drive me to drink, pregnant or otherwise.

INeedNewShoes · 01/04/2018 08:26

Yep, the inability to process information beyond the absolutely black and white is not a trait I'm familiar with dealing with in my social circle and the same goes for the name calling.

PinkAvocado · 01/04/2018 08:27

Why are those who chose not to drink being called rigid?! We don’t all need alcohol and it is not sanctimonious to just not bother drinking it.

Lmj25 · 01/04/2018 08:29

If you honestly can't stop drinking for nine months then you need some help.

I can't help but laugh at comments like this.

OP posts:
CaptainBrickbeard · 01/04/2018 08:31

Pink, someone who doesn’t drink is not rigid or sanctimonious.

SOmeone who imllies that pregnant women who make an informed decision to drink a small amount are selfish or have a problem with alcohol dependence is both rigid and sanctimonious and also really not very clever.

butterybean · 01/04/2018 08:37

In the first 12 weeks I felt too sick to even look at alcohol. After that I had one drink a couple of times a week. Cider, wine or beer. I enjoyed it and usually had it with food (it was summer and I loved a trip to a beer garden). I also really liked the zero alcohol ciders so if i wanted a second drink I would make it one of them.

I'm bouncing a very happy and healthy 5 month old on my lap who was born 9lbs.

Don't sweat it OP, listen to your body and go with what feels sensible.

thenorthernluce · 01/04/2018 08:45

Yes, one unit once a week, usually 125mls of wine on a Friday after work. My baby is absolutely fine Smile

thenorthernluce · 01/04/2018 08:46

I also had a small glass of wine most nights when I was breastfeeding. No biggie!

Grandmaswagsbag · 01/04/2018 08:50

Of course it’s fine to have a glass once or twice a week. I have been. Peoples perception of risk is ridiculous. I get in car everyday with my unborn child and think nothing of it, yet statistically that’s probably the biggest risk I take daily of all. All the listeria hysteria drove me nearly mad in my 1st pregnancy, then I read that the majority of outbreaks over the past 20 years had been in salad, butter and melons, I didn’t notice you’re told to avoid those.

ANother27 · 01/04/2018 08:54

I think tbh the guidelines say no alcohol cause there will always be those people that try and push it a little. So if they said no more than 3-4 units a week (for example) there would always be those women that would say oh well an extra one isn't going to hurt... everyone knows large amounts of alcohol often could harm the baby so they say it for safety I guess.

Personally I didn't drink when pregnant but I wasn't really a drinker beforehand although did enjoy an alcohol free koppaberg or 2 around Xmas when I was 36 weeks 😂

OP I would say that a small glass or 2 at a special event is fine. Have a good time!!

Grandmaswagsbag · 01/04/2018 08:54

And yes I’ve breastfed drunk. The alcohol in your breastmilk is the same as your blood levels, you’d have to be drunk to the point of having alcohol poisoning for it to be as alcoholic as alcohol free beer, some orange juices, ginger beer.

Sprinklesinmyelbow · 01/04/2018 08:56

“Today 08:18 Snoreyhell

If you can find me a scrap of research that says that alcohol is recommended in pregnancy then I'll be gobsmacked sprinkles and please don't try to argue that those who didn't drink during pregnancy are the ones getting it wrong because not only is that nonsense, it's dangerous nonsense.”

  1. Absolutely no one said it was recommended and you know that. You’re trying to be contrary
  1. Absolutely no one said those who don’t drink in pregnancy have it wrong. It’s PERSONAL CHOICE.
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