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Original poster

Ok so how bad is one glass of wine?

36 replies

Cosmogirl86 · 10/05/2019 09:09

It's my birthday at the end of the month, I'll be 27 weeks gone at that point.

So far I haven't touched a drop of alcohol in this pregnancy but I really want a glass of wine with my birthday meal?

Is it stupidity to even consider it?

OP posts:
TanteRose · 10/05/2019 09:10

its fine!
enjoy your birthday drink Wine

Dec19baby · 10/05/2019 09:13

I mean, I probably wouldn't. It's a birthday, which comes every year so there will be plenty more.. the reason the NHS recommends total abstinence is coz there's no known level that's safe or not.. at the end of the day some alcohol will travel across the placenta to the baby. I can imagine how hard it is as I love a good drink and I've to stay sober for a hen weekend and a wedding during my pregnancy which I'm not looking forward to =(

TanteRose · 10/05/2019 09:15

oooh our very own @JustineMumsnet is quoted in that article Smile

"Justine Roberts, founder and CEO of Mumsnet, welcomed the study: “Unlike the no-smoking message, which seems to be universally believed if not always adhered to, pregnant women have remained a little sceptical about the zero-alcohol advice, and judging from the Mumsnet forums tend to be pretty realistic about the probable impacts of the odd drink and see no point in dwelling on the amounts they drank before even knowing they were pregnant.”

PinkDaffodil2 · 10/05/2019 09:19

The NHS recommends total abstinence because people are rubbish at recognising what 1-2 units is, not because (despite loads of research) there is any evidence of harm for the occasional small drink after the first trimester.
The old 1-2 units once or twice a week after 12 weeks guidelines were perfectly sensible if stuck to but there was a concern that they were confusing for women and people might be having for example 2 decent size glasses of wine rather than 2 units, which there may be some ill effects from.
Obviously it’s entirely up to you, but I’ve certainly enjoyed the odd half pint or small (125ml) glass of wine and feel happy after looking at the evidence base which is massive and reading expecting better which is very accessible.

Original poster
Cosmogirl86 · 10/05/2019 09:25

@Dec19baby I am guessing from your user name that you are in first trimester. That's a very different scenario. Your baby/babies are still developing organs and becoming more specialised. It's a very delicate time. I however will be in my third trimester, my twins are fully formed and just getting bigger. I want to know balanced risks as I'm not convinced that one glass (one!) is dangerous

OP posts:
Greggers2017 · 10/05/2019 09:28

@Cosmogirl86 go for it it's only one glass.

Dec19baby · 10/05/2019 09:30

I just gave my opinion, as that's what you asked? I'm not in the first trimester for the wedding or the hen and I'll still be sober. It's a personal choice that every woman needs to make. I definitely agree with a poster above, in that you'd be surprised how many people don't know how many units are in their drinks, especially if they're pouring a glass of wine themselves.

mynameiscalypso · 10/05/2019 09:32

It's absolutely fine - I've had the odd glass every couple of weeks since the second trimester. As pp said, the NHS advice is only abstinence because they seem to think women are too stupid to moderate their drinking. I'm perfectly capable of making decisions for myself and I haven't found any reason to avoid it completely.

jcq17 · 10/05/2019 09:36

Go for it! Iv had the odd sip once or twice and I don't feel
Guilty! I'm 29 weeks and il be treating myself to a small glass of Prosecco tonight as I'm going out on this very rare occasion!

BumbleNova · 10/05/2019 09:39

You are going to get lots of holier than thou screeching that you can a terrible person for even contemplating it OP.

Personally, having done my own research, I would be fine having a small glass with a meal. The key also seems to be speed of drinking, go slowly so your liver can process it. And enjoy it!

Original poster
Cosmogirl86 · 10/05/2019 09:41

I have a 125ml bar measure for wine so I definitely won't over drink! My husband will have no problem having a few glasses himself so the bottle won't go to waste!

I think I am just feeling a little bit deprived. I am carrying twins and my bump is huge and uncomfortable, and my back hurts. Having a meal to look forward to is helping cheer me up!

OP posts:
RJnomore1 · 10/05/2019 09:41

First trimester no, once you are aware anyway. One glass of wine at 27 weeks?
If you can handle the heartburn it won’t do any harm at all.

HoustonBess · 10/05/2019 09:50

There never will be evidence of whether it causes harm because a study that requires pregnant women to drink to see how the babies turn out would never get past the ethics committee that approves experiments.

But the science of blood volumes etc suggests the amount you have from one drink will cause no harm. It changes quite suddenly so three or more could be harmful. They don't trust women to stick to one, so tell us to have none, thus depriving us of lots of relaxation!

I've steered clear in 1st trimester and had the odd one from then on. For context our mothers were advised to have a pint of stout a day while pregnant for the iron!

Whoops75 · 10/05/2019 09:55

I think it’s fine & have done it.

Happy birthday in advance x

Original poster
Cosmogirl86 · 10/05/2019 09:55

@RJnomore1 luckily heartburn doesn't seem to be an issue for me, at least not yet. Maybe they are just not very hairy!

Thanks everyone. I am going to treat myself and enjoy it. Pregnancy can be miserable even without unnecessary guilt

OP posts:
TrixieFranklin · 10/05/2019 10:03

I think it's fine. I'm not really a drinker but when I was pregnant with my twins a few years back I had a glass of champagne at Christmas when I was 25weeks ish and yesterday I had a few sips of a Pina Colada when we were out for my husbands birthday - I'm 33 weeks with a single baby now.

I wouldn't go smashing the white lightning but one glass of wine, in my opinion, is fine.

Rememberallball · 10/05/2019 10:08

@cosmogirl86, congratulations on the twins; if you can get hold of a copy have a read of the book Expecting Better by Emily Oster. It gives really balanced discussion of lots of pregnancy topics based on reviews of lots of articles, research and experiences including alcohol in pregnancy. I am currently 19 weeks with twins and have had a few glasses of wine during my pregnancy (not a few at a time but a few in total) especially at family/friend’s celebrations - like a wedding coming up and a first holy communion recently. It helps our extended family includes people from countries where it is deemed more acceptable to have some alcohol during pregnancy than is the case in the UK!!

peamad · 10/05/2019 10:08

I would happily have a glass in the 2nd and third trimester. I was pregnant on my 30th birthday and had one then, and another on our wedding anniversary. The official advice to abstain completely is not justified or based on evidence. In my opinion it infantilises women on the assumption that they cannot be 'trusted' to limit alcohol to small, infrequent amounts.

DirtyDennis · 10/05/2019 10:09

I've worked in this area for many years.

@PinkDaffodil2 Is exactly right. People just don't know what a unit is and also advising people based on "glasses" is hard because "a glass" is quite subjective.

There are also personal bodily factors to consider - some people produce more of the enzymes which break down alcohol, other people's enzymes work quicker etc.

Basically it's a bloody minefield and the true answer to whether drinking is safe would be "Well it depends on your medical history, your genetics, medications you're taking, how much you're drinking, and how regularly". So, total abstinence is the easiest advice.

Generally, though, pregnant women would have to drink quite a lot, quite regularly to see any ill-effects. So, basically, you're probably fine.

GivenchyDahhling · 10/05/2019 10:11

I had a small glass of champagne on Easter Sunday with absolutely zero guilt. The only problem was I enjoyed it too much and it reminded me of what I’m missing! My husband’s birthday is next month and I will probably have a small glass again then; otherwise, that’ll be it for me until after the baby is here.

Cannyhandleit · 10/05/2019 10:27

Have a glass of wine! I really craved a glass of wine a couple of time during my 2 pregnancies but when I actually got it and took a sip it gave me chronic heartburn so I couldn't drink it anyway!

slug · 10/05/2019 11:16

One glass of wine a pregnancy = No problem
One glass of wine a week= No Problem
One glass of wine a day = Probably not
One glass of wine an hour = You're in trouble

You need to drink an awful lot of alcohol to induce fetal alcohol syndrome.

kelly14 · 10/05/2019 11:40

I had a 2 flutes of Prosecco at my hen party last week and I will have be having a few shandies and few champagnes when I go Cyprus next month, as I get married out there and will be 23 weeks then.
My midwife said a glass of wine or 2 a week Is not going to hurt it’s more as some people don’t know what unit is and drinking a lot more than this.
It’s a very personal thing, for me based on what I’ve read ( both sides) and what I’ve had a few different midwives and doctors tell me, I believe the risk is so minimal I am happy to have a glass here and there and not feel guilty about it.

Eliza9919 · 10/05/2019 11:44

@Dec19baby Fri 10-May-19 09:13:26
I mean, I probably wouldn't. It's a birthday, which comes every year so there will be plenty more.. the reason the NHS recommends total abstinence is coz there's no known level that's safe or not.. at the end of the day some alcohol will travel across the placenta to the baby. I can imagine how hard it is as I love a good drink and I've to stay sober for a hen weekend and a wedding during my pregnancy which I'm not looking forward to =(

I have to stay sober for my own bloody wedding! Its my own fault for bringing it forward to before the baby is born but An excuse to have a second big wedding next year Grin Grin