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Pregnancy

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

Alcohol when pregnant

196 replies

bluemoon2468 · 08/02/2020 07:11

I'd sort of like to see how the land lies on this one! I'm 5+3 and personally haven't had a drink since before I conceived because I was doing dry January.

I've just finished the book 'Expecting Better' which is written by a health economist who had a baby of her own, and decided to research the 'facts' behind conventional conception/pregnancy/birth wisdom and advice. Among other things, she concluded that there is absolutely no evidence that light-moderate drinking has any negative effect on mum or baby whatsoever. The only existing evidence of any issue is with heavy drinking, particularly regular heavy drinking. This is in contrast to say, smoking, where there is a lot of evidence that even occasional smoking negatively affects your baby. She talks about the fact that in many European countries, women are not routinely told to cut out drinking all together, but just to moderate it (these countries have no higher rates of miscarriage, disability, pre-term birth etc.) My own mum said that when she was pregnant with me, the medical advice at the time was not to go tee-total, but to limit drinking to one glass of wine per day, which she did.

This having been said, is anyone willing to 'admit' to any light drinking during pregnancy? I'm certainly not planning on regular drinking, but am considering very occasional drinks e.g. a small glass of prosecco on my birthday or our wedding anniversary. No hate please!

OP posts:
Yearsyearsandyears · 08/02/2020 18:53

I think that it's highly unlikely to negatively affect your baby, especially after the first trimester but I echo a pp who said that if anything went wrong, you'd probably always question it and wonder if it was worth it.

I didn't drink at all in pregnancy but my beautiful DD was born with a birth defect and will need lengthy surgery soon at 2, which in itself carries other risks. Nobody knows what caused it but it was likely an "insult to the fetus" at around 5 or 6 weeks. I try not to dwell on it because it was probably unavoidable but most days I wonder if it was the day I had my nails painted in the first trimester, or the food I ate at a restaurant, etc etc, or a combination of these things.

Even in the three months before we start to try to conceive again now I'm being careful (without being obsessive) while eggs are maturing because I just don't think it's worth it. Actually though I think I'd probably be comfortable with one small glass near term, although I wouldn't, but early pregnancy is the most vulnerable time.

june2007 · 08/02/2020 18:57

I am sure manyhave said be save don,t have any. But the reality is the odd glass is unlikely to harm. But we don,t know how much will.

ShirleyPhallus · 08/02/2020 19:03

@nimuexox that link is really interesting, but even their definition of “light drinking” changes to “moderate drinking” on the page. One of the studies they use to back up their own findings does state that alcohol causes issues with learning in school, but, again, says that this was based upon 2 glasses of wine “per drinking session” (but doesn’t specify how often these drinking sessions took place).

In the same study it goes on to say: “drinking one unit of alcohol a day – about half a glass of wine – was not found to lower children’s academic abilities“

To me, a unit of alcohol a day still seems more than I’d ever drink but seems to point that a small level of alcohol would be ok

LH1987 · 08/02/2020 19:16

I find the argument that you wouldn't give a newborn baby any alcohol, so you shouldn't drink it funny. I mean I wouldn't give my newborn baby a big mac either, but I happily ate one of those today!

Wingingitmother · 08/02/2020 20:03

If alcohol won’t harm your baby, then why will a baby stop moving for 2 hours after mum has ingested just 1 unit of alcohol? Alcohol is a teratogen ie poisonous to a developing baby. My daughter has FAS, come and spend some time with us if you think alcohol in pregnancy is harmless. And no , birth mum was not an alcoholic.
I wish people would stop justifying choosing to have the odd drink I’m pregnancy. Would you add the odd glass of Prosecco to your baby’s bottle? Having a glass whilst pregnant is even worse

Wingingitmother · 08/02/2020 20:05

Seriously? How is a Big Mac harmful to a developing baby? Ingesting a Big Mac will not stop your baby from moving for 2 hours, whereas drinking 1 unit of alcohol will. Alcohol is poison to a developing baby.

bingbangbing · 08/02/2020 20:11

I'm astounded at how flippant people are about this.

It's just like eating a Big Mac...??!!

ClubfootMaestro · 08/02/2020 20:12

1 unit of alcohol means a baby stops moving for 2 hours? However slowly it is ingested?

And you think a baby drinking alcohol directly from a bottle ingests the same amount of alcohol as if it is metabolised by the mother first?

Do you have links to evidence for either of those assertions?

ClubfootMaestro · 08/02/2020 20:13

it's just like eating a Big Mac...??!!

Come on, she didn’t say that. She said the argument that you wouldn’t give a newborn alcohol so you shouldn’t drink it in pregnancy is a pants argument because you eat plenty of things in pregnancy you wouldn’t give a newborn.

Petals000 · 08/02/2020 20:21

What's the point in having just "the odd one" is it really that hard to stop for your baby for 9 monthsConfusedConfusedConfused if someone's that needy for a drink have non alcoholic at least. There's no evidence as it "being bad" or whatever they say, but it can't exactly be good for your developing baby can itConfused

Ginger1982 · 08/02/2020 20:27

"Ginger you see to know better than us who are looking after the children affected by FAS"

@nimuexox I don't know why you're directing that at me? I am in favour of no alcohol in pregnancy.

Ginger1982 · 08/02/2020 20:29

"The evidence says what it says but if you’re implying no professionals drink in pregnancy then that’s not my experience at all."

@ClubfootMaestro I'm not implying that at all. We can only go by our own experiences and, in my experience amongst other professionals, no-one drinks whilst pregnant. In your experience they do, horses for courses I guess.

EightWellies · 08/02/2020 20:30

My DD has FASD. Her birth mother was not a heavy drinker. The impact for my DD will be lifelong. I just don't understand why anyone would choose to drink during pregnancy when you could just..not.

FromEden · 08/02/2020 20:40

Ingesting a Big Mac will not stop your baby from moving for 2 hours, whereas drinking 1 unit of alcohol will

Is there a link to the peer reviewed study with enough participants to prove that one unit of alcohol WILL stop your baby moving, fact? Didnt think so.

LoveIsLovely · 08/02/2020 21:33

Fromeden

Obviously not, because it would be totally unethical to complete such a study.

But why would you even take the risk? "Oh this might harm my baby but whatever".

ClubfootMaestro · 08/02/2020 22:41

@LoveIsLovely the PP stated that nugget about 1 unit and not moving as fact, which is what @FromEden was responding to. You’re making a different point (to which the answer is there’s no evidence that 1 unit over an entire pregnancy might harm the baby)

bluemoon2468 · 08/02/2020 22:46

@Herringbone31 You’re doing your very best to try and convince many women that drinking in pregnancy is ok

I'm doing nothing of the sort, and I think this is a little condescending to other women who I'm sure are able to make their own decisions about their pregnancies. If someone changes their drinking habits based on a forum post without doing any of their own research then I don't think I'm the biggest harm to their babies...

OP posts:
RainMinusBow · 08/02/2020 23:05

I'm 24 weeks' pregnant with my third and haven't had any alcohol since becoming pregnant. I also only limited myself to a very small amount when ttc.

Yes I do miss having a glass of wine (especially at the end of a stressful working week), but personally I don't want to even risk taking a risk.

However, as I did with my two boys, I plan to breastfeed this little one until the age of at least three so will have a small glass ocassionally. I can always express too.

bluemoon2468 · 08/02/2020 23:09

I'm really sorry to hear about some people's experiences with FAS. It's obviously a horrendous condition and no one would wish it on a child or their family. I understand why some people are very passionate on the topic as a result, but I do think that the link between my OP and FAS is a little overblown. I said that after reading about the research I'm considering potentially having 2-3 small drinks over my entire pregnancy (the two events I mentioned would be in my late 2nd/3rd trimesters). I was talking about around 3 units of alcohol spread over 9 months. If anyone can link me to any peer reviewed study (or even a well backed up case study!) that this level of drinking has ever caused a case of FAS then of course I'd be very interested to read it, and it may well convince me of the dangers 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
MindyStClaire · 09/02/2020 05:23

RainMinusBow no need to stick to a small glass when bfing, and no need to express either, unless you're away from the baby and need to do so for your own comfort.

LoveIsLovely · 09/02/2020 05:51

MindyStClaire, the AAP recommends waiting 4 hours between drinking and pumping/feeding.

bingbangbing · 09/02/2020 06:27

What's the AAP? That advice regarding breastfeeding is wrong.

OP have you read any of the links so far?

The whole argument that the rules regarding pregnancy and alcohol is a result of the patriarchy, or judgemental or condescending of women is thoroughly demolished by a female doctor in one of them.

LoveIsLovely · 09/02/2020 06:33

@bingbangbing The AAP is the American Association of Paediatrics who are literally the only evidence based research group worldwide.

So, no, it's not "wrong" unless you think you know more than the researchers who study this for a living.

bingbangbing · 09/02/2020 06:38

Well your first paragraph is wrong!

LoveIsLovely · 09/02/2020 06:45

I didn't write more than one paragraph?