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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:
NC12345665 · 22/10/2022 19:32

What's your thoughts?

I think you're on the wind up.

SwordToFlamethrower · 22/10/2022 19:35

One drink won't hurt. It is over doing it that hurts.

I have 3 friends with disabled children.
1st mum smoked like a chimney and has a kid who cannot walk or speak with a heart defect.
2nd mum smoked weed and cigarettes throughout pregnancy and her kid was born with one malformed arm, no hand.
3rd mum smoked and was addicted to pain killers and has a kid who is severely autistic, severe sight problems and needs constant 24/7 specialist care.

WhereIam · 22/10/2022 19:40

SwordToFlamethrower · 22/10/2022 19:35

One drink won't hurt. It is over doing it that hurts.

I have 3 friends with disabled children.
1st mum smoked like a chimney and has a kid who cannot walk or speak with a heart defect.
2nd mum smoked weed and cigarettes throughout pregnancy and her kid was born with one malformed arm, no hand.
3rd mum smoked and was addicted to pain killers and has a kid who is severely autistic, severe sight problems and needs constant 24/7 specialist care.

Seriously? That's 3 for 3. 3 'disabled' children?

Or that's nonsense.

WhereIam · 22/10/2022 19:41

SwordToFlamethrower · 22/10/2022 19:35

One drink won't hurt. It is over doing it that hurts.

I have 3 friends with disabled children.
1st mum smoked like a chimney and has a kid who cannot walk or speak with a heart defect.
2nd mum smoked weed and cigarettes throughout pregnancy and her kid was born with one malformed arm, no hand.
3rd mum smoked and was addicted to pain killers and has a kid who is severely autistic, severe sight problems and needs constant 24/7 specialist care.

Do your 'friends' know that you blame them for their children's disabilities?

VinoDino · 22/10/2022 19:41

I think someone on this thread has had a few wines. The 'well in my day we did x, y, z and Mary's wee Jimmy turned out absolutely fine.

Yeah maybe they did, but that's the thing with an evolving life, you get to learn that many things back in the day shouldn't really be done now, for various reasons. Car seats, smoking, smacking blah blah. Loads of folk sat on their granny's knee in the back of cars and didn't die, but there's a reason they were introduced wasn't there.

I'm sure OP a glass will be fine but for me (and my apt username) I don't see the point in nursing a small wine while at the back of my head wondering should or shouldn't I be drinking this. That's no fun at all. Does anyone really know the risks? Until it's an absolute certainty why would one risk it.

pimlicoanna · 22/10/2022 19:42

I never would

Georgeskitchen · 22/10/2022 19:43

A glass of wine or an alcpop is fine. I didn't drink alcohol when pregnant I couldn't stand the smell of it . I had a couple of cigarettes but they made me want to vomit 🤢 🤕

hellosunshineagainxxx · 22/10/2022 19:46

Why bother? Haven't drank at all in my pregnancies, not worth the risk.

WhereIam · 22/10/2022 19:53

VinoDino · 22/10/2022 19:41

I think someone on this thread has had a few wines. The 'well in my day we did x, y, z and Mary's wee Jimmy turned out absolutely fine.

Yeah maybe they did, but that's the thing with an evolving life, you get to learn that many things back in the day shouldn't really be done now, for various reasons. Car seats, smoking, smacking blah blah. Loads of folk sat on their granny's knee in the back of cars and didn't die, but there's a reason they were introduced wasn't there.

I'm sure OP a glass will be fine but for me (and my apt username) I don't see the point in nursing a small wine while at the back of my head wondering should or shouldn't I be drinking this. That's no fun at all. Does anyone really know the risks? Until it's an absolute certainty why would one risk it.

I know that there is as much proof of smoking and/or drinking in pregnancy being related to birth defects as there is proof that me reading to my baby in the womb and playing Beethoven to my baby increased their intelligence.

I did all of the above. No birth defects. He is a musical prodigy and a poet however? 😯

VinoDino · 22/10/2022 19:54

@WhereIam if you say so.

WhereIam · 22/10/2022 19:55

VinoDino · 22/10/2022 19:54

@WhereIam if you say so.

I can prove it to you if you like!

SecretShipping · 22/10/2022 19:57

To answer your specific question, OP, a small glass of wine, on this occasion, will not harm your baby, OP.

It won't.

The raging debate on alcohol and pregnancy on MN will burn forever, but that's the answer to your question ^

VinoDino · 22/10/2022 20:04

@WhereIam nah you're alright. You can fire a million 'studies' at me all you like. My mind is made up.

I think whilst it's possible to drink/smoke during a pregnancy and have a 'healthy' baby, especially the ones who didn't realise they were pregnant until late on (though you can't predict what their health will be like as they progress), generally speaking drinking alcohol other than the odd one, and definitely smoking which is gross anyway, never mind when you're pregnant, will have a detrimental effect on a baby. I don't understand why anyone would risk it but that's up to them.

iammother · 22/10/2022 20:17

No way. You're responsible for everything you put in your body while you're growing a baby. Not for me... I did everything in my power to ensure that my baby was healthy. Some things you can't control, but you can avoid the known risks that come with drinking alcohol while pregnant.

Hrf1503 · 22/10/2022 22:42

This thread is wild 🤯

I hope you had a lovely evening and enjoyed a glass of wine. I have one every now and again and sip very slowly over a couple of hours.

I highly recommend the book Expecting Better by Emily Oster - makes you feel so much better about a lot of the stuff we’re told to blanket avoid / carries risk in pregnancy.

Ethelfromnumber73 · 23/10/2022 10:52

WhereIam · 22/10/2022 15:35

FAS is a syndrome, not really a medical condition. That is to say that it's a collection of symptoms which they blame on a mother's drinking. There is no scientific correlation or proof of the syndrome (or collection of symptoms) having being caused by alcohol.
It could just as likely be caused by poor diet, poverty, negligent healthcare, stress during pregnancy etc. etc.

This is absolute nonsense. There is irrefutable evidence that alcohol causes FAS

Ethelfromnumber73 · 23/10/2022 11:03

@WhereIam why are you so invested in 'proving' that alcohol does not cause harm. I work in the field, and although the evidence cannot be 'perfect' because it is observational, there is no question that alcohol causes FAS and a number of neurodiversities. There is actually also very little evidence that stress harms a pregnancy.

In relation to the OP, if you want to have a drink, there is no real evidence that a small amount of alcohol causes harm. However, it's prob better to stop at one and to make sure you don't feel drunk at all. It takes much longer for the fetus to clear the alcohol than it does you due to different liver function.

Shayisgreat · 23/10/2022 11:34

I'm usually fairly live and let live about most parenting choices people make but, like other posters, I would massively judge someone for drinking (or smoking) during pregnancy.

It's bad for the unborn so don't be so selfish!

OrcaBlondie · 23/10/2022 12:02

Shayisgreat · 23/10/2022 11:34

I'm usually fairly live and let live about most parenting choices people make but, like other posters, I would massively judge someone for drinking (or smoking) during pregnancy.

It's bad for the unborn so don't be so selfish!

I completely agree with you. Very selfish to do something that is solely your choice when you know it could cause potential harm. There is no need!

Redwineandroses · 23/10/2022 12:28

SwordToFlamethrower · 22/10/2022 19:35

One drink won't hurt. It is over doing it that hurts.

I have 3 friends with disabled children.
1st mum smoked like a chimney and has a kid who cannot walk or speak with a heart defect.
2nd mum smoked weed and cigarettes throughout pregnancy and her kid was born with one malformed arm, no hand.
3rd mum smoked and was addicted to pain killers and has a kid who is severely autistic, severe sight problems and needs constant 24/7 specialist care.

Unfortunately it does seem to form a pattern at times. The dc I know of who suffer from learning/behaviour difficulties, slow development, speech impediments etc etc, their mothers were the ones who carried on smoking both cigarettes and weed(!) and thought drinking was fine as that's what "people back in the day" did and were fine.

Op one probably won't hurt, but it just doesn't seem necessary at all. I'm sure no one at the party will think of you as a party pooper if you chose not to have a glass of alcohol for the toast. In fact they'll more likely judge you if you do.

Alcohol is a poison and if it were discovered nowadays, probably wouldn't ever be allowed to be sold for human consumption. I love a glass of something! But when pregnant chose not to have a glass of what is actually a poison for my tiny unborn baby to have to process.

PinkFizz1 · 23/10/2022 12:52

Shayisgreat · 23/10/2022 11:34

I'm usually fairly live and let live about most parenting choices people make but, like other posters, I would massively judge someone for drinking (or smoking) during pregnancy.

It's bad for the unborn so don't be so selfish!

Absolutely agree with all of this.

GreenFly56 · 23/10/2022 13:04

Im 22 weeks. I have had 1 or two glasses of champagne and wine on around 3 occasions. I wouldnt have more than 2 and id drink them slowly. Thats my personal limit. No problems so far. I have friends who did the same and their children seem fine. I wouldnt do it every evening but on a special occasion i allow myself that.

AnneLovesGilbert · 23/10/2022 13:28

No problems so far.

What does that mean? What problems would you expect before the baby’s even born?

VinoDino · 23/10/2022 15:27

AnneLovesGilbert · 23/10/2022 13:28

No problems so far.

What does that mean? What problems would you expect before the baby’s even born?

No problems 'so far' and the babies 'seem fine'. Boggles my mind that.