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

Original poster

Alcohol in pregnancy

132 replies

yvonneb13 · 22/10/2022 15:03

Hi everyone I have a big celebration tonight with family. I know just recommend not to drink at all
I'm 22 weeks Almost 23 weeks would you or have you had say an Alcapop or small wine or something when celebrating I don't smoke and I haven't touched alcohol since I found out. What's your thoughts?

OP posts:
Emmamoo89 · 22/10/2022 18:23

I wouldn't. I have the odd glass of wine whilst breastfeeding and that's as far as it'll go. Couldn't when pregnant

sugarapplelane · 22/10/2022 18:37

Have a glass of wine or beer op.
I had a shandy or small glass of wine occasionally when pregnant so did my friend who’s a midwife.

she told me that the current guidelines of zero alcohol is only really there for the women who ignored the occasional glass of wine is ok rules and had several a week. It’s all about common sense and managing your own risk.

ignore all of those telling you that you’re a demon to even think about having a small glass of something.

Cas112 · 22/10/2022 18:45

Personally no

Surely you should be able to go 9 months without a drink for your baby?

Kindofcrunchy · 22/10/2022 18:46

If you're okay with what is essentially pouring alcohol into your baby's mouth then by all means, go ahead. Just don't complain when people judge you 👍

Theowlwhowasafraid · 22/10/2022 18:53

I had two small glasses of Prosecco (at different occasions) when I was pregnant and she’s absolutely fine, it’s totally up to you- if you like beer you may as well get alcohol free as there’s some great ones (Heineken was my fave!) or something similar. I hated none alcoholic wine but I wouldn’t beat yourself up over one small glass. Maybe have a small spritzer?

both times I’ve been pregnant I’ve had a lot to drink before I found out and everything is fine.

GillXer · 22/10/2022 18:55

Kindofcrunchy · 22/10/2022 18:46

If you're okay with what is essentially pouring alcohol into your baby's mouth then by all means, go ahead. Just don't complain when people judge you 👍

😂

RascafríaMom · 22/10/2022 18:59

Some women and their fetuses, zero impact. Some women and their fetuses, huge impact. They can't predict the outcomes. You hear stories both ways of drank and no consequences and drank with huge consequences.

So it is a risk you chose to take. I wouldn't and didn't. The potential outcomes worried me.

WhereIam · 22/10/2022 19:00

Kindofcrunchy · 22/10/2022 18:46

If you're okay with what is essentially pouring alcohol into your baby's mouth then by all means, go ahead. Just don't complain when people judge you 👍

I won't judge you for shovelling frozen 'chicken' nuggets down your child's mouth.

I won't judge you for having a starter, a main course and a dessert while you're 14 stone either?

I won't judge you for anything, ever.
Deal?

MissHavershamReturns · 22/10/2022 19:04

I wouldn’t. I didn’t drink at all in any of my three pg just to be no the safe side.

The research shows there is no safe level of drinking in pg. That’s why they changed the guidance to zero alcohol.

Birthdaycake25 · 22/10/2022 19:04

One drink probably wouldn't harm the baby. But I would feel so guilty and worried even if there was a tiny chance so I wouldn't be able to enjoy that 1 drink anyway. So it's not worth it. And I've felt so rotten for most of my pregnancy drinking alcohol and socialising is the last thing on my mind!

I think the advice is no drinking alcohol at all because it is easier for the public to follow and the rules aren't blurred then. If the advice was 1 drink is ok, people would then take it two of three drinks etc because they don't know when to stop.

Confusion101 · 22/10/2022 19:04

@WhereIam that's actually a great point. I highly doubt there is a person on this thread that went through pregnancy without processed food, high sugar, caffeine, etc, all shown to be potentially harmful (which also means potentially doesn't harm) foetuses.... Ultimately only u can decide OP!

bravelittletiger · 22/10/2022 19:05

I drink a small amount when I'm pregnant. A small glass of wine sipped slowly or a glass of champagne. Would have probably done it once a week at your stage and maybe a couple of times a week at the end of pregnancy.

MissHavershamReturns · 22/10/2022 19:06

@Confusion101 i didn’t have any of those things. Only because I had had a Mc and couldn’t bear any risk just in case.

Monkeyrules · 22/10/2022 19:11

IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 22/10/2022 16:00

Goodness me. There is ample proof that both smoking and alcohol exposure in utero are bad for infant development.

Smoking reduces oxygenation of the baby, increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, leads to infants who are more likely to be premature or small for age and who are more likely to have problems with their own lungs (at birth and throughout life).

Alcohol is a teratogen - a substance which damages, changes, and kills cells. A baby in utero is nothing but a bundle of developing cells, particularly the brain. As a result alcohol exposure risks every part of an infant's brain and body development, throughout their life.

One glass of wine, like one cigarette is not going to lead to these outcomes. But, given the mechanism of impact (eg how they cause bad outcomes) I just don't see why you'd bother to be social.

Totally agree, why risk harming someone so small and innocent. Your future baby doesnt have any choice, but will bear the consequences. Why risk it?

WhereIam · 22/10/2022 19:19

MissHavershamReturns · 22/10/2022 19:06

@Confusion101 i didn’t have any of those things. Only because I had had a Mc and couldn’t bear any risk just in case.

That's so sad. You're still trying to find what you did wrong. You did nothing wrong lady. I'm sorry for your loss.

Irridescantshimmmer · 22/10/2022 19:20

As alcohol crosses the placenta BEFORE it hits the mothers' liver, the answer to your question is no.

The baby does not get to choose

WhereIam · 22/10/2022 19:21

Irridescantshimmmer · 22/10/2022 19:20

As alcohol crosses the placenta BEFORE it hits the mothers' liver, the answer to your question is no.

The baby does not get to choose

You know that how? I'd love to see the study on that one.

Sallyh87 · 22/10/2022 19:21

WhereIam · 22/10/2022 19:00

I won't judge you for shovelling frozen 'chicken' nuggets down your child's mouth.

I won't judge you for having a starter, a main course and a dessert while you're 14 stone either?

I won't judge you for anything, ever.
Deal?

Show quote history

Haha, please don’t, as those things are very true of me in pregnancy (not quite 14 st but certainly on the overweight side!).

I think women would be much happier if we stopped judging each other entirely. Particularly, for something as silly as having a small glass of wine. An activity, which no one can show any robust proof is damaging to a baby.

WhereIam · 22/10/2022 19:23

Sallyh87 · 22/10/2022 19:21

Haha, please don’t, as those things are very true of me in pregnancy (not quite 14 st but certainly on the overweight side!).

I think women would be much happier if we stopped judging each other entirely. Particularly, for something as silly as having a small glass of wine. An activity, which no one can show any robust proof is damaging to a baby.

Show quote history

Stressing a Mum-to-be out is almost undoubtedly not helpful. Have I a study to back that up? No. I just know.

SwordToFlamethrower · 22/10/2022 19:27

Have a Guinness for the iron! Midwives used to recommend it back in the day. You can have 2 units twice a week. Choose something that we actually help you because iron deficiency is a big problem in pregnancy!

WhereIam · 22/10/2022 19:28

A calm, happy, mum-to-be is not something horrifically damaging. When that baby is born, Mum will need to be happy and healthy in order to care for her baby. That's what we should be looking at, but it's not.

WhereIam · 22/10/2022 19:28

SwordToFlamethrower · 22/10/2022 19:27

Have a Guinness for the iron! Midwives used to recommend it back in the day. You can have 2 units twice a week. Choose something that we actually help you because iron deficiency is a big problem in pregnancy!

I suspect you're of my generation!

Dangermouse80 · 22/10/2022 19:30

No I wouldn't, what is the point? I really enjoy alcohol but when pregnant it is just a no.

StampOnTheGround · 22/10/2022 19:30

You don't have to toast with an alcoholic drink, why does it have to be pure alcohol to make you feel better or more involved? You can still toast with any drink, that doesn't make sense at all.

Massive drinker over here and didn't touch a drop throughout the whole pregnancy, it's unnecessary.

WhereIam · 22/10/2022 19:32

StampOnTheGround · 22/10/2022 19:30

You don't have to toast with an alcoholic drink, why does it have to be pure alcohol to make you feel better or more involved? You can still toast with any drink, that doesn't make sense at all.

Massive drinker over here and didn't touch a drop throughout the whole pregnancy, it's unnecessary.

Are you rearing future Einsteins? Are you happy? Were you happy? Are the children happy?