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Original poster

Alcohol while pregnant - completely abstain or small amount v occasionally?

79 replies

SnakesBarmitzvah · 23/04/2019 10:05

I've scoured NHS and Web MD for this and advice seems to vary, opinions with my friends are also divisive.

Would you treat yourself to a small amount of booze (ie 1 glass of champagne or a small glass of wine) very occasionally, ie once or twice throughout your whole pregnancy?

Or completely abstain 100%?

Just to clarify - I haven't drank a single drop in my pregnancy so far, but I would like to have a small glass of something on my birthday which is roughly half way.

OP posts:
MustardYellowJumper · 23/04/2019 11:24

I have had a few sips from my husband's glass of wine on about three occasions. I had about a third of a glass after dinner with friends. And I've had a couple of dishes that used wine in the sauce. No more than that - so not completely abstaining, but enjoying the taste from time to time.

I didn't fancy alcohol whatsoever for the first 15 weeks or so, which was handy. On holiday in a region famous for its wine, I did want to taste it just as a sample, but that was enough for me - I didn't really fancy a whole glass.

Teddybear45 · 23/04/2019 11:29

I am abstaining from both coffee and alcohol as I find it easier but I know people who treated themselves to half a glass of good champagne or a double espresso every trimester. Do what you feel is best but I wouldn’t recommend alcohol and coffee; just one.

Justus22 · 23/04/2019 11:30

I was at the theatre recently and bought my friend a g&t and myself a fizzy orange... I thought afterwards the amount of sugar in my drink vs the single measure of gin topped up with loads of tonic water was probably worse. I probably have 4 small & weak alcoholic drinks at most throughout my entire pregnancy and not close together. The guidelines change all the time and doctors all have their own differing opinions, my doctor with my first baby 11 yr ago told me it's advisable to stay under the drink drive limit which still allows for a lot of drinks really (she was older generation and has since retired) , then since I've been told a couple of units per week is fine, I'm not comfortable with a couple per week but a glass on a special occasion is fine, if you want wine you can always top up with spritzer? There are some good alcohol free wines too if its really worrying you.x

stucknoue · 23/04/2019 11:37

When I had my first dd the advice was not to exceed 14 units a week nor more than 2 a day, by dd2 it was 1-2 units once or twice a week. The us was no alcohol at all. I had occasional wine but nothing more

mynameiscalypso · 23/04/2019 11:43

I've had a drink generally because I like the taste; I'm not drinking to get drunk but there are generally few non-alcoholic alternatives that I like enough to want to drink, especially with food. I also get annoyed by the fact that medical advice to women is inherently misogynistic and treats us like we're idiots.

Mamabear12 · 23/04/2019 11:44

SnakesBarmitzvah once on your birthday is absolutely fine. But I would leave it at that. And even better its not during first trimester because that is when all the important organs etc are being developed. I had one glass (maybe two) of champagne when I was 7 months pregnant on my wedding day with my first.

Original poster
SnakesBarmitzvah · 23/04/2019 12:24

those who have the odd small glass, why? Is it that you like the taste so much and no other drink compares for you? Most people drink not just for the taste but to get a bit of a buzz or feel the sedative effects for relaxation and during pregnancy surely you’d either be drinking so little you don’t feel a thing from it

I think its the association with the taste and that feeling... I crave a small glass of white wine because I was used to having this regularly before pregnant, and I guess I'm craving the taste because I miss the habitual feeling of enjoying a glass of wine.

But I'm not sure, that might just be me.

I felt I missed drinking over the bank holiday weekend, because before pregnancy, sunshine and a 4 day weekend would have ALWAYS meant drinking in a sunny beer garden.

OP posts:
Ivy44 · 23/04/2019 12:39

I found that anything topped up with sparkling/soda water was a good substitute - apple juice, cordial (especially elderflower). You can still put it in a nice glass and add ice and lime. I didn’t find any non alcoholic wines I liked.

I would never get tipsy while knowingly pregnant but my midwife and a retired GP friend didn’t seem to think an occasional glass of wine is a problem. I suppose the word occasional is subjective though. My occasional was 3 small glasses of wine in 8 months.

Ivy44 · 23/04/2019 13:01

Trying for no 2 at the moment, can anyone recommend any nice fake white wines. Similar to a Sauvignon Blanc. I don’t like sweet wine.

Cookit · 23/04/2019 13:09

I’m curious to those who have the odd small glass, why? Is it that you like the taste so much and no other drink compares for you?

I’m not drinking (although hopefully only a few weeks away!) but yes absolutely it’s the taste. When I was younger I drank mainly for the tipsy feeling but now I love a really, really good glass of red wine. I miss picking together a good bottle out and sharing it on the sofa. I could go the rest of my life without drinking “out” out again.

ememem84 · 23/04/2019 13:14

I’ve had the odd glass here and there. I used to drink fairly regularly pre ds arriving but once he arrived quickly learned that while a shared bottle of wine with dh on a Friday night, or a couple of nice g&t’s is lovely at the time on the Saturday morning when ds is bouncing about it’s not too fun!!!

Currently pregnant with dc2. Have had the odd wine or champagne. But nothing much.

DennisSkinnersMolotov · 23/04/2019 13:14

@snakes, I agree alcohol-free wine for the most part is vile. The only one I've found that's quite nice is Tesco alcohol-free fizz. There are some good alcohol free lagers too.

DennisSkinnersMolotov · 23/04/2019 13:16

"I felt I missed drinking over the bank holiday weekend, because before pregnancy, sunshine and a 4 day weekend would have ALWAYS meant drinking in a sunny beer garden."

I concur. I was at a one-day music festival over the weekend and that would have usually involved a fair bit of booze, but I stuck to Becks Blue and didn't really feel like I was missing out too much.

Megan2018 · 23/04/2019 13:20

I’m abstaining and just had a birthday.

I was a big drinker before pg, not a problem drinker but more than was healthy (good 3 bottles wine a week which in mumsnet terms makes me a raging alcoholic). I’m actually enjoying the non drinking and determined to see it through. I can’t see the point in a small glass-if I have 1 it’ll make me want more.
But the odd drink is medically fine I’m sure.

Ivy44 · 23/04/2019 13:33

I think it’s the ritual and occasion that I missed. Looking forward to sharing a bottle on a Friday night, getting the bottle opener and posh glasses out. Nice nibbles from M&S, obviously my subconscious marker that work is over for the week and the weekend is here.

Expressedways · 23/04/2019 14:46

My very no nonsense female GP told me she had the occasional drink with all 3 of hers in the second and third trimesters so I took that as an ok to do the same. It wasn’t frequent, only a glass of champagne on New Year’s Eve or a small glass of wine if we had friends over and opened a nice bottle. I’d do the same again if we have no.2.

Mississippilessly · 23/04/2019 15:14

I abstained completely in my first trimester but then had a small glass of wine most Fridays.

I also drank coffee but max of one a day.

randomsabreuse · 23/04/2019 15:24

First pregnancy I had a few sips to taste a few times, like a quarter of a glass of light red wine or a toast sip of champagne. Also the odd sip if beer...

2nd time around I had a sip or two as cover at a golden wedding, hated the taste and handed to DH. I have developed a taste for alcohol free cider, beer (Becks Blue is easiest to acquire locally and quite acceptable, Peroni Alcohol free is my favourite) and Nosecco and Aldi's Zero Point Zero. We still drink them when DH is on call!

Been struggling for nice drinks as sweeteners taste soapy to me!

Eliza9919 · 23/04/2019 15:40

I haven't had a drop, nor will I, even at my own wedding that I'm bringing forward.

I don't mean this to sound as pious as it's going to, but if anything happens I want to know I didn't put the baby at risk at all by anything I've done and I've done my best for him/her.

It's taken a long time to get to this point so I don't want to risk it in any way, and I'm very conscious of how quickly it can all go wrong.

ELM8 · 23/04/2019 17:22

I'm in my first trimester so have abstained completely but before I was pregnant I loved a glass of wine and would have a couple most nights (which I know is too much so pregnancy has been great for resetting those habits).

Completely concur with the bank holiday being difficult - we had a lot of family over for a bbq and it's the first time that I've even fancied a drink - apart from that the nausea has meant I don't really want a drink.

I have to say this zero alcohol white wine I found is particularly good - tastes the most like the real thing to me (I was a dry wine like Sauvignon or Pinot drinker before) and despite this being a Reisling it is very dry and perfect for a weekend or occasion where you feel like you want to "join in" the drinking or enjoy a glass of wine with a meal... it's not cheap (£6.99) but I'm not getting through gallons of the stuff like I did with the real thing Blush.

Following this post with interest as coming up to the second trimester very soon and would like the option to have one or two over the course of that..

Alcohol while pregnant - completely abstain or small amount v occasionally?
ELM8 · 23/04/2019 17:26

I would also add we hadn't told the people we had round that I was pregnant and they were none the wiser with me drinking this Wink

WhatNow40 · 23/04/2019 17:36

I had IVF so did try all sorts of crazy things to eat/drink or not eat/drink in order to get pregnant over the years. Once I was pregnant I did not want to touch a drop, I was quite anxious about how the pregnancy would progress. I didn't want to be responsible for anything that might have gone. When I read up on the risks and FAS I simply couldn't put my 'want' above my longed for baby's needs.

Ivy44 · 23/04/2019 17:36

ELM8
Where do you buy that wine please?

ELM8 · 23/04/2019 18:01

Ivy44 sorry totally forgot to say - Waitrose SmileWine

Ivy44 · 23/04/2019 18:14

Thanks, I’ll give it a try.

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