The occasional small glass of wine - will you or won't you?

[GinnyBee]

I just wondered what the current attitudes are towards the occasional small glass. I know the NHS recommendation is to avoid it completely, and I've read Expecting Better as well, so now I'm wondering what other women are doing. Will you have a small toast at Christmas or a little sip in front of the fire on a cold night, or stick to soft drinks?

In the first trimester (around 5 weeks before I knew ) I tried to drink a glass of wine and a blond beer and both tasted fermented and turned my stomach so I trusted that instinct and avoided booze, although I’d read that the occasional small glass of low alcohol something isn’t that likely to go into the bloodstream. However your liver does then has to divert attention away from supporting the foetus to clear the toxins, so you are putting more stress on your system. If you drink constantly foetal alcohol syndrome is inevitable and awful.

I did have two 50ml glasses of cava in my last trimester to toast special events. None of this has had a negative impact. But another persons biology might be different so the same choice might have different outcomes.

Finally I do know of someone who had a small glass of wine most day from 37 weeks to birth a month later, thinking it couldn’t hurt and would help her sleep and her 7 year does have Sen. She wonders if the wine could’ve contributed to amplifying it. Someone else had a few drinks during that time and baby has hit all expected milestones. You just never know.

It’s really hard when you’re used to drinking to relax but it’s not recommended for a reason.

I had one glass of champagne 3 weeks before due date. My DD came the next Saturday. Me and DH joke the bubbles pushed her our early 😅

With my son I couldn't stand the smell of it at all and even after birth took a good 4 months to even contemplate it so had none.

Its not recommended by the NHS because people don't know units and they can't accurately say x number a week so they say none.
In France on the other hand a small glass a week is still pretty common.

It's personal choice and the women who have a small glass every once in a while aren't the ones they are worried about with babies it's women who continue heavily to drink.

I didn’t drink as I felt that alcohol wasn’t as important as reducing possible risk to someone else’s life and future health. Why the pressure to have a few sips because it’s the festive season or an occasion? Is it really a personal choice or a behaviour we just do just because we’ve learnt it? It wasn’t always easy with people insisting oh it’s just a sip, don’t be a party pooper (sorry but it’s still a bug bear!)

I haven't been drinking but at xmas meal I think I will nurse a spritzer of quarter glass white wine topped up with tonic.

I cant imagine a quarter glass will pose a problem.

I'm 31 weeks and haven't had any alcohol, and I don't intend to over Christmas/new year either. I know I'd worry, so I wouldn't enjoy it.

I do drink the 0% Doom Bar on "party" occasions though, and I frequently drink caffeine-free Pepsi Max at the weekend when I'm missing a vodka and coke!

I did have a couple of glasses at weddings and at Christmas, but I’d drank a bit more in the early weeks as I didn’t know I was pregnant until 8 weeks.

Yes, I had the occasional small glass.

No I didn't because I didn't like the thought of my baby getting any alcohol and I didn't miss it enough for it to be worth that. I think the odd small one is probably okay if you're someone who really misses it.

Now that I'm breastfeeding I have the odd drink but just the one. I have it right after feeding him when I know I won't need to feed him again for 2 or 3 hours so it'll be gone out of my system.

None, and won't. Not in pregnancy. It's a drink, it's not worth it to me.

Well considering it says "no amount is safe in pregnancy" I'm going to go with the fact that it should be a no but people still do, but I personally will never understand how mothers choose to do things they're definitely not supposed to during pregnancy 🤷🏼‍♀️ not worth it atall imo

I do love a bevy, but I stopped drinking when I came off the pill and haven’t touched anything since falling pregnant. I know there’s a lot of “well it didn’t do me any harm” stories out there, but the fact is it can do harm…not worth the risk for me.

I had a small glass on champers on Christmas Day with both mine. I was 35/36 weeks pregnant both times so felt that baby had all it was going to have and no harm likely to come of it

I think I had a glass of prosecco once or twice in my entire pregnancy and maybe a glass or two of bucks fizz. Obviously all at different times.
I wasn't against drinking the odd glass more often but I was nauseous most days and struggled to eat

I didn't at all when I was pg, early 90s. Me turning down the offer of a glass of wine was how my friends guessed I was pg! I couldn't stand the thought of that unformed little liver having to process alcohol. (I may be wrong but I assume it crosses the placenta.)

Oh goodness yeah I drank. Got absolutely shit faced both weekends before I tested (so 2w after conception 4w pregnant). First trimester I didn’t drink. Second trimester (including over Christmas) I had the “odd” glass. But didn’t really miss it. Third trimester I drank one drink a few times a week. I didn’t drink caffeine for second trimester but did for first and third. Weird now I think about it.

Should say late in third trimester, post term.

As a scientist who has looked at the evidence, I was satisfied that the “risk” from a small glass of wine once a week or once a fortnight was nothing of the sort and so had them. No issues whatsoever. Entirely up to the individual

Wouldn't even risk it with one drink. 33 weeks and haven't touched, or wanted to, a drop of alcohol

Possibly late in the final trimester (still some time away). We are having a very hard fought for IVF baby so I’m not willing to take any risks this Christmas.

Had 4-8 glasses of wine during all 3 of my pregnancies.

With our eldest I had half a glass of red wine in pregnancy. Next 3 term pregnancies nothing after getting bfp. Most recent baby I went teetotal almost 2 years before conception so not a drop.

This whole pregnancy I have craved cold fruit cider so just had the non-alcoholic kobbaberg which tastes exactly the same 😁

I think it’s down to personal preference, I know if something was wrong I’d blame it on that small glass of wine and blame myself even if it had nothing to do with it.

If you understand the science you understand there is no risk from the occasional small glass. But not everyone can get their round sheer logic, when the emotion of pregnancy is involved.

'Their head' that should read.

I had a small glass once a week in second PG, having reviewed the science, which is extremely clear. The NHS prefers to treat women like morons who can't get their heads round science so makes blanket rules. Tedious,