Controversial did anyone drink in pregnancy??

[Lmj25]

Not saying I would was just wondering did anyone?

I attended a wedding and got drunk before I found out I was pregnant. I never ever get that drunk so I was pretty scared when I found out... however he’s now 7 and absolutely fine.

No, I didn’t drink after I found out

1. Absolutely no one said it was recommended and you know that. You’re trying to be contrary

Indeed. Not recommended and never will be so why the hell do it?

Hi OP. First pregnancy here and 18w+5. I never really drank much before the pregnancy, and felt so anxious about the units id consumed over Christmas when I found out I was expecting in January that I chose to accept the current recommendation not to touch alcohol until after baby arrives. However as some of the other posters have mentioned, many women have had perfectly healthy pregnancies and baby’s with a limited amount of alcohol, and as the parents it really is down to you and your partner to decide what is right. I very much doubt a shandy would do you any lasting harm, it’s just that personally I’m adopting a “if it’s only one why bother” approach. Congrats on your pregnancy

I had a small glass of wine every so often after the first three months. Did do quite a lot of research beforehand.

A few things not recommended in pregnancy

Sugar
Working
Reading
Orange squash
Candle use
Wearing pyjamas
Driving a car
Opening a bank account

Goodness! All that seems to be recommended is 5 a day. What’s a strange 9 months you must’ve had.

Anyway you’re clearly being deliberately obtuse and like a PP, i have no interest in banging my head against a brick wall.

‘Not recommended’ 🙄 pretty sure most things are not actually ‘recommended’ by the NHS, as in, while pregnant we recommend you drive, commute, go on holiday, eat sweets or bacon, do anything that carries any element of potential risk to the human body... stupid non argument.

I’m not even planning to have any drinks and I’m a bit of a boozer normally, just these responses are really annoying me 😂 the NHS says it’s ok & it’s a matter of choice.

The guidelines in the 90s were a small glass or 2 a week. I followed this and DD is fine and always has been.

Crossover sprinkles, got distracted while writing post but yours is better 😂

I've not touched a drop since I got a BFP on 11 Jan. However, my 40th falls 4 days after my due date and if baby isn't here yet I am allowing myself half a glass of champagne!!

But other than that, not touching a drop. Personal choice. I wouldn't judge anyone who had the odd drink here and there but think more than that is wrong, because of risk of FAS, but have friends who had the odd glass or half glass every now and again and their babies are fine

30 weeks pg with DC2 at the moment and haven't had any alcohol in either pg (or during the first 4 that ended in mc).

I don't have a problem with alcohol but can happily admit I'm really missing it and will have a glass to celebrate DC2 coming home! DC1 pregnancy involved 4 weddings of close friends and my birthday and this one has included Christmas, a wedding and DM, Step Dad and DF 60ths

Snorey, at any point in your pregnancy did you eat:

Salad
Deli meats
Pre-packed sandwiches
Coffee
Tea
Chocolate
Cheese
Any of the many MANY other foods on the banned list?

I certainly hope you never let an M&S sandwich or piece of rocket past your lips at any point, because if you did you clearly didn’t give a shit about putting your unborn child at risk of death from listeria did you? And the evidence for that is much stronger than the evidence for harm from one glass of wine at a special event.

Eye roll at the suggestion women should abstain from everything.

Caffeine is associated with a risk of miscarriage - are they also suggesting giving up tea, coffee, coke and chocolate?

I had probably a couple of glasses of wine a month during my first pregnancy. It was within guidelines at the time. MIL was given Guinness while breastfeeding in her maternity unit. Both DH and DS are fine.

I'm perfectly aware of FAS having worked in a classroom with a child with the effects. However there's a big difference between an occasional glass if you fancy it and getting smashed every night.

An excess of chocolate causes obesity and rotten teeth. Sugar can be addictive. It's certainly not necessary for anyone. I'm assuming all those who were smug about not harming their babies with a drop of alcohol in utero are also steering clear of Easter eggs today. No? Because it's appropriate moderation that's important.

My parents fostered while I was growing up. Most of the infants/toddlers we had (around 12 over 6 years, including my DB who we adopted), came from alcoholic/drug addicted mothers.

We're talking litre of vodka or more a day + cigarettes + drugs.

Not a single child showed the physical symptoms of FAS, although 4 were ADHD/Asbergers/Autism (this was the 90's so the spectrum wasn't as defined). One (my DB who we adopted at 2) has gone on to abuse substances as well.

Certainly there were issues with all the kids, but that can be attributed to the fact that they were all victims of abuse as well as the general mental health issues stemming from their family backgrounds.

So, remembering the struggles of all these kids that I saw growing up, when I became pregnant I chose to have the occasional drink. I figured with my family background, the fact that I was eating properly, not smoking, not taking other drugs, a glass or two of wine every couple of weeks or a pint of beer, wasn't going to harm my child. They are 6 & 4 and fine. Bit of an issue with a lisp with DD, but that does run in our family, so not a surprise.

I think its really up to every woman to make their own decisions in this, with sufficient knowledge of the actual risks, rather than blanket statements that "no amount is safe", which is more about covering the NHS & insurance companies arses than it is about fetal or maternal wellbeing.

If you want to avoid all risk, you really should be teetotal and a 100% healthy diet until you've finished having kids, I mean you want to have the best quality eggs and uterus, don't you?

And so should your partner. No alcohol, no smoking, no bacon, etc. Not to mention poor quality sperm, he is risking harming dc and even dgc in future through epigenetics.

And once pregnant, don't drive or go to work, or walk on the street. You could be injured. But don't stay at home either, being sedentary is a risk too.

If you don't want to drink at all, great. It's a healthy choice whether pregnant or not. But I find some people pick out alcohol as one thing they can control, and use that to reassure themselves that everything will be fine. Like if they just don't drink, nothing bad can happen. Unfortunately life isn't that simple.

• I'm being sarcastic but I've found the study of epigenetics (hereditary gene expression) really interesting. Google "how your grandfathers diet can shorten your life" to read more.

I’m 32 weeks and have probably had 4/5 drinks throughout.

I was out with work the other day and was planning on having a small white wine topped up with half a pint of soda water to last me the night. A colleague got up and offered to buy me the wine at which point another colleague started squealing and flapping. I declined the wine and stuck with soda water, I’m really annoyed with myself and wished I’d told my colleague that I’d made the decision to have one small drink and that it was none of her business!

It is a shame so many people have to be judgemental like many of you said it is our own choice in what we wish to do with ourselves in pregnancy be it what we eat/drink, get in a car etc.

It is your own choice and women shouldn’t be vilified for having one drink. Women also should t be mocked for abstaining totally.

Women should have access to accurate information based on the most current research with a laypersons explanation of what that means and what the risks are.

From there it’s individual choice. I chose not to drink. I wouldn’t judge a woman drinking a glass of fizz at a wedding because that’s her choice too.

Caffeine is associated with a risk of miscarriage - are they also suggesting giving up tea, coffee, coke and chocolate?

I did. Somehow I survived for 9 whole months.

Guidelines on caffeine changed recently-doesn’t seem as bad as previously thought.

he NHS says it’s ok & it’s a matter of choice

The NHS actually recommends no alcohol at all for the first three months and very small amounts thereafter. It certainly does not suggest it's ok and entirely a matter of choice, any more than it advocates choice when it comes to smoking in pregnancy. Some people will do these things anyway. Some people will put the health of their child first, above and beyond their desire for wine.

Melamine and snorey. I disagree with you both. The most recent guidance from the nhs says chief medical officers advise no alcohol at all, and no where on this page about alcohol in pregnancy published recently by the nhs, does it say it is safe any point in pregnancy or recommend that less than a certain amount of units is ‘safe’.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/alcohol-medicines-drugs-pregnant/

So whilst I really think that the no alcohol rule they advise is based upon avoiding confusion for people about safe amounts and calculating units, and that there is little evidence a small amount I.e 1 or 2 units on occasions (weekly or less) through pregnancy is unsafe, I believe you have misinterpreted the advice that the nhs say any alcohol in pregnancy is safe, because they don’t.

Er ship I think that means you agree with me then??

But snorey, I note you avoid discussion of everything else pregnant women are advised to avoid like shop-bought sandwiches, salad, non stick pans and cars... So clearly, you didn’t follow EVERY guideline? Because you’re so shockingly selfish as to care more about your own convenience and wishes than your unborn child? Or maybe because as an adult with a functioning brain you are able to read the evidence and come to a sensible conclusion which you’re happy with?

I’ve no objection to women abstain in from alcohol or caffeine entirely if they prefer to but I absolutely cannot stand those who judge others for having moderate amounts of either without having the slightest understanding of what they are actually saying and why.

Snorey you said it recommends no alcohol in first three months and small amounts thereafter.
It says the risks are especially higher in the first 12 weeks, but nowhere does it recommend any amount at any point.