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

Original poster

Having a sip of gin whilst pregnant?

54 replies

CobaltRose96 · 25/12/2018 12:09

Hi all.

I'm currently 29+3 with my first baby and have so far completely avoided alcohol. However, today I had a tiny sip of my partner's gin and tonic and didn't think much of it. However, my partner's mum seemed horrified that I was 'drinking a spirit' when pregnant. Now I'm a little worried Sad

It was the tiniest sip. I understand that alcohol is best avoided in pregnancy and so far that tiny sip of gin is the only alcohol I've had or plan to have. Have any other pregnant ladies indulged a little?

OP posts:
squeekums · 26/12/2018 02:48

Like baby shark, i found out at 27 weeks i was pregnant, no sign before i was. Like nothing.
I was drinking, taking drugs, smoking, not eating for days at times, going on massive show rides that pull 4 to 5 g of force
Dd is a healthy, happy 8 yr old who was born with no issues at all.

A sip is fine, dont stress

vinegarqueen · 26/12/2018 02:54

MIL was being unkind. A sip of g&t will do no harm at all. My GP and midwife and consultant all said a small glass of wine was fine, and that's all I wanted. DS is fine (and loudly playing with his Christmas cars).

TurquoiseDress · 26/12/2018 17:20

Don't panic OP

A sip of G&T would be find- I'd be more concerned if you were drinking the entire bottle!!

FrowningFlamingo · 26/12/2018 18:32

Have a look at some of the summaries of the actual evidence if it helps. It will be absolutely fine.
There's good evidence that alcohol in the first trimester is related to higher rates of miscarriage. But there's very little convincing evidence about light drinking in the second and third trimesters. I had nothing for the first 20 weeks then the odd half glass of something since. It's personal preference. I'd steered away from neat spirits which I usually love in the evening. But a g&t isn't drinking a spirit as such anyway as the gin is diluted. I think you'll be fine and your MIL was just being dramatic. My MIL has said to me that she didn't drink at all but if she's judged me for having a sip here and there she's kept her mouth shut about it at least!

Whalehello2 · 26/12/2018 18:38

I had an alcoholic drink or two whenever I felt like it in pregnancy, but was after 12 weeks because before that just looking at booze made me feel sick. It was summer, I had an apple craving so had a glass or two of cider, occasional wine etc.

When I felt like it and never felt like more than two. I really liked the non alcoholic cider from Waitrose too that is £1 a bottle.

I drank pretty frequently while breastfeeding too, similar amounts as above.

I have a very happy, healthy, 14 month old son on the 95th percentile.

Your body and brain will tell you exactly what's ok and what is not ok. For centuries pregnant women drank ale and wine. The guidelines all over the world differ.

Don't worry at all xx

twiglet · 26/12/2018 18:43

I think it's a generation thing of thinking spirits are very strong, if you had a sip of wine I doubt she would have the same reaction.

My MIL has called me an alcoholic in the past for having a gnt with lunch (a single) even though she was having a pint of cider which was 8% and more units.......

It won't have done the baby any harm.

Sexnotgender · 26/12/2018 18:46

It’s absolutely fine. I’m 36 weeks and have had the odd drink from around 16 weeks.

MissMoodyMoo · 26/12/2018 18:53

30 weeks here and craving port 😭😭😭😭 I've been sniffing it out the bottle 😂

twiglet · 26/12/2018 18:56

Should probably clarify I wasn't pregnant when having a gnt with lunch!

I currently am pregnant but can't stomach the smell of alcohol!

Babyno2mamabear · 26/12/2018 19:36

Glass of bucks fizz at breakfast and prosecco at lunch yesterday! We were celebrating with a family friend who is a midwife of 20 years and she said absolutely go for it!!! There's no evidence to prove there is any kind of risk in drinking that little at all. It's binging on alcohol and continual consumption that CAN cause problems. . .as good as it tasted at the time....headache from hell after so I'll be avoiding for that reason for the remaining 20 weeks haha xx

DeRigueurMortis · 26/12/2018 19:37

I had the very occasional small half glass of wine when pregnant. Probably 3 units total in my whole pregnancy.

Tbh I think it's personal choice and certainly a sip of a G&T won't be an issue.

My midwife was fine about it, basically saying a very small amount of alcohol, consumed rarely wasn't anything to worry about - indeed the people who did worry were likely to be so aware of the issue as not to be a problematic and she was far more concerned with women who didn't think a glass of wine/2 beers a day was an issue....

tryinganewname · 26/12/2018 19:44

I had one can of gin and tonic whilst pregnant with DD, I was about 30 weeks then. She's a lovely, lively 5 month old now.

It's absolutely fine.

PinkDaffodil2 · 26/12/2018 19:52

Your MIL is being very silly and unkind. Why the particular concern about a ‘spirit based drink’ most G&Ts are about as strong as a glass of wine so very diffferent to downing a double shot.

MamaDane · 26/12/2018 19:58

I couldn't even drink after I had the surgery to remove the dead baby inside of me because I still felt like I'd be betraying (and endangering) our baby. I can't imagine drinking at all during pregnancy honestly.

Imagine how tiny their livers are. Imagine how hard their tiny bodies have to work off the alcohol that pass through you to them.

I couldn't.

Even if one glass may not harm him or her overall, I think to myself.. Would I feed my baby alcohol once it's born? If the answer is no, then certainly don't do it in the womb either Smile

FrowningFlamingo · 26/12/2018 20:51

MamaDane I'm really sorry for your loss and can appreciate why it's an emotive issue for you but there's absolutely no scientific basis for that.

Original poster
CobaltRose96 · 26/12/2018 21:00

@MamaDane, I had a missed miscarriage and subsequent D&C at 12 weeks in April. I didn't drink at all during that pregnancy.

That one sip of G&T was the only alcohol I have had and will have throughout this pregnancy. I understand your emotions, and for the first few weeks of this pregnancy I didn't even take paracetamol for fear of history potentially repeating itself. But comparing drinking a minuscule amount of alcohol whilst pregnant to giving a newborn baby alcohol is not only scientifically inaccurate but also rather hurtful. Sad

OP posts:
Babyno2mamabear · 26/12/2018 21:07

Mamadane, I really am heartbroken to hear what you've been through, I can't imagine the pain you were feeling. However, in terms of alcohol, it IS entirely different to giving your child alcohol directly once they are born. As mentioned there is absolutely no scientific evidence to say it's harmful in small amounts. I trust whole heartedly my midwifery friends and doctors in my family in giving me their honest opinions. Again I'm so sorry for your loss. Xx

SophieSellerman · 26/12/2018 21:09

I had a serious craving for Champagne when pg with DC2. Unfortunate but true. I tried not to give in to it, but did on a few occasions. DC2 was nearly 11lb and remarkably healthy.

Ozziewozzie · 26/12/2018 21:16

I drank red wine in France whilst pregnant. Advice changes all the time.
With my first dd (now 21) midwife specifically said, ‘books say not to drink but don’t worry, just as long as you don’t go silly’
Now advice is ‘if you walk past an off liscence you should hang your head in shame.

I also got married whilst 6 months pregnant and had a glass of Champaign. My babies were perfectly fine.
I’m certainy not advocating drinking whilst pregnant but a glass occasionally is ok.

MamaDane · 26/12/2018 21:19

Thanks you guys for your kind comments even if you disagree. Flowers

It's recommended that you don't drink any alcohol at all because they don't know the extent of the harm (if any of course) done by it.
People used to think smoking was OK and safe during pregnancy when later it was proven not to be.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/alcohol-medicines-drugs-pregnant/

Just to be safe I'd follow the guidelines.

welshweasel · 26/12/2018 21:22

It’s recommended that you don’t drink at all because the nhs assume that people are too stupid to figure out what 1-2 units is. There’s no evidence that alcohol in small volumes in harmful, particularly once past the first trimester. In fact there have been a couple of studies that show children born to mothers who drink small amounts in pregnancy are more intelligent!

ememem84 · 26/12/2018 21:25

I’m pregnant with dc2 at present. Midwife said the official line is no alcohol whatsoever. Not even a sniff. But she also said that the odd glass of wine is ok. Avoid spirits (although a sip wouldn’t do any harm). She said it’s because some women (not all) can’t moderate.

With ds I had the odd glass of wine and with dc 2 I’ve done the same. I had a glass and a half of champagne yesterday and a sip of dh’s red.

If I was a high risk pregnancy I wouldn’t. But I’m ultra low risk and fit and healthy and sensible enough not to go crazy and neck a whole bottle.

I also came on here to suggest seedlip and Tonic. But someone’s already beaten me to it! We also bought Heineken zero which isn’t really nice.

SparkyBlue · 26/12/2018 21:30

@ememem84 the new zero alcohol Heineken is really nice isn't it. I'd highly recommend it if anyone is craving a nice cold beer.

Babyno2mamabear · 26/12/2018 21:31

Currently sipping on ZeroPointZero alcohol free prosecco from Aldi, sweet but pretty nice if anyone did fancy a nice tipple without any worry. I've saved a bottle for NYE :)

FrowningFlamingo · 26/12/2018 22:10

I also like the alcohol free Heineken and I don't usually like lager much. Also had the Aldi Prosecco over Christmas, I thought it was nice but quite remeniscent of appletise. Had the Sainsburys alcohol free sparkling wine today which smelled really odd but tasted ok and was vaguely convincing. Also had a half glass off tattinger which was bloody lovely if I'm honest.