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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

No more booze, AT ALL!

27 replies

PregnantGrrrl · 25/05/2007 13:56

So the new government advice is NO booze at all in pregnancy.

Who's going to stick to the new advice? (Or already is?)

OP posts:
PrettyCandles · 25/05/2007 13:58

No booze in pregnancy is a bit like no liver in pregnancy (if you like liver, that is). Yeah, really, an occasional drop of alcohol is going to do harm, just like a bit of liver-n-onions is going to do harm.

Princesspowersparkle · 25/05/2007 14:01

They change their minds about things every few years. My mum had liver every night for about 3 weeks when pg with my sister and she was fine. My MW said hers had recommended she drank a can of guiness a day to help with her iron! My MW also said to me about the other foods, 'its says avoids not do not have or else. If you really fancy something then have it (just don't kick the butt out of it).'
I think if you want a glass of wine one night then you should have it. The more you can't have something the more you want it- surely that can be just as bad!! (Well- I know with my cravings they are!!!!!!).
Just my two pennthsworth!
XX

Original poster
PregnantGrrrl · 25/05/2007 14:04

i'm still going to have my max 2 units a week myself.

i think the reason they've changed their advice is that 9% of pregnant women have admitted to drinking more than is advised, but i'd say 91% of mothers doing as they're told is pretty good!

OP posts:
Princesspowersparkle · 25/05/2007 14:04

PS: This comes from someone who didn't really drink before hand. I have to say, I have never craved alcohol so much as I have since I've been pg. Its mad!
x

MrsSpoon · 25/05/2007 14:05

TBH I think they have made it a blanket ban on booze because of the number of people incapable of calculating their units, ie thinking that two units is two humungus glasses of wine. If I was pg again I think I'd be inclined to stick to the one to two units once or twice a week advice that I followed in my previous two pregnancies.

paulaplumpbottom · 25/05/2007 14:05

actually liver can do lots of damage

PrettyCandles · 25/05/2007 14:09

What damage can liver do? Yes, excess vit A can cause damage, but an occasional portion of liver? I love liver but wouldn't eat it more than once a fortnight or so when not pregnant - it's hardly daily stuff. To tell people not to eat it at all is excessive. The same with alcohol, IMO.

aikigypsy · 25/05/2007 14:10

That's what we've been told here in the US for years. I think it's based on the assumption that once a person has a drink, of any size, he/she will go on a binge and lie about it afterwards. Sure, there are people who do this. Maybe they don't even know who they are, but I'm fairly sure I'm not one of them as I get violently ill after more than two drinks (when not pregnant). 2 units a week sounds sensible, but I think I've been doing about 1 a month (none in first trimester, though).

PizPizPiz · 25/05/2007 14:23

I think having any amount of alcohol when pg is irresponsible. Juts like smoking.

RGPargy · 25/05/2007 15:00

I didn't have any alcohol in the run up before i got pg and didn't have any until the first trimester was over.

That was a huge sacrifice for me as I'm used to drink a couple of glasses of wine EVERY night.

However, i had two glasses of wine over the weekend and i have to say i REALLY enjoyed them. My DP offered me a glass of wine last night but i declined because i said that i wanted to save my two units per week for the weekend.

I dont think that 2 units per week or twice per week (whatever it is now) is going to do any harm.

Drinking a glass of wine now and then is hardly the same as smoking cigarettes, which contain thousands and thousands of toxins.

Also, when i was pg with DS1, i had pate & cucumber sandwiches every day for lunch and he has turned out ok too.

birdseed · 25/05/2007 15:05

It seemed to be that the signs of what they think to be alcohol related damage are so difficult to distinguish from other things especially at low quantities.

So they can't really study it too much more as far as I understand. But they seem to have a hunch that even small amounts can potentially (not certain!) cause harm, therefoe the advice. That and the previous arguement put forwards.

bananabump · 25/05/2007 15:07

Arse, I had half a glass of wine yesterday.

Ah, they're forever moving the fecking goalposts. I wasn't even drinking coffee because I thought it was terrible, then found out decaf was sposed to be even worse... but every other pregnant woman I see is drinking normal coffee, so I'm having one cup per day when I feel like it now.

Original poster
PregnantGrrrl · 25/05/2007 15:07

I didn't / haven't drunk anything in the first 4mths of both my pregnancies BTW, and then only max 2 units each week after that.

I think the issue is that people don't know what a unit actually is...as in 1 unit = 1 glass of wine...excellent, humungous glass of wine it is then!

OP posts:
RGPargy · 25/05/2007 15:15

bananabump - i have one cup of coffee a day too, but that's out of habit. I always grab a coffee at the station so take on the train.

lfm · 25/05/2007 15:42

I heard an 'expert' on the radio today saying there is no change in the evidence which is that there is no evidence that small quantities of alcohol cause any harm. They have just decided from a public health changing behaviour point of view that people respond better to clear cut knowledge i.e. nothing rather than a little.

Monkeytrousers · 25/05/2007 15:47

Me - if I ever get pregnant again! Stupid stupid pollyannas!

Babylovesmuffins · 25/05/2007 16:10

Can I recommend Becks (Alcohol Free) Lager!! Very nice with lime too... I've had a few alcoholic drinks throughout the pregnancy but very little. I'm of the everything in moderation school of thought but have to say I've been very careful about certain foods on the "banned" list.

Interesting about decaf coffee... I've had cravings for lattes and have been drinking a lot of decaf lattes but someone had told me that the chemicals they use in decaffeinating the coffee are actually worse for you than caffeine itself.

I'm sure they'll find something dangerous in Alcohol-free wine or lager very soon...give them time.

paulaplumpbottom · 25/05/2007 16:14

Oh dear I drink huge amounts of decaff

Minicooper · 25/05/2007 16:37

Hmmm. A healthy pinch of salt needed, I think. I understand that the new guidelines are not based on any new evidence (as Ifm said) - just on the 9% who can't count their units. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists intend to stick with their advice that moderate drinking is perfectly safe. I haven't drunk much at all since taking test, but will prob continue to have very occasional glass.

Monkeytrousers · 25/05/2007 17:24

It's difficult not to be too reactionary, which never helps. But I am sick and tired of women being dictated to, as if they are bloody idiots.

RGPargy · 25/05/2007 17:34

I'm off home now to put some lovely rose in the fridge to chill.

Cant wait for my 2 glasses this weekend!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

beckmo · 25/05/2007 18:13

I just had a bottle of Bittburg drive non alchoholic lager topped up with lemonade to make a pint of innocent shandy.

I swear I felt a bit drunk afterwards.

RGPargy · 25/05/2007 23:49

lol @ beckmo. i've just had two bottles of Becks Alcohol free lager top too. Unfortunately i didn't feel drunk

Ceolas · 25/05/2007 23:53

I'm not a big drinker anyway, but have had about 4 glasses of wine since becoming pregnant (27 weeks).

It wouldn't bother me to have none at all.

Tinkjon · 26/05/2007 08:43

Re. Becks alcohol-free lager, can I recommend giving Cobra 0.0% a try instead? IMO, it's much nicer than Becks - you can really tell the difference with Becks, but Cobra is very hard to tell.