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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Did anyone drink alcohol through pregnancy?

99 replies

KacyB · 07/02/2008 23:24

Hi,

I am just wondering how common it is for women to drink during pregnancy.

I used to drink quite a bit, but stopped the minute I found out I was pregnant. I would rather not drink at all, that's my personal choice.

I was chatting to a couple of friends today, one of who happens to be PG and she said she's still drinking 1-2 glasses of wine a day...

I didn't say anything other than I've made a personal choice not to drink at all during my PG... I mean, I know it's not a guarantee everything will be OK, but it makes me feel better...

The more I think about what she said, the more shocked I am about it... I am thinking maybe I should say I disagree?

OP posts:
CrushWithEyeliner · 08/02/2008 10:27

2 glasses a day seems a bit much to me

I drank a glass of wine every now and then whilst PG at various occasions but didn't enjoy them at all. I don't think alcohol is really condusive with the foetus - haven't they found that just a glass will have an effect of the heartbeat and movement? A Doctor I know told me to remember when drinkig whilst PG;

"1 for you 3 for your baby"...

MrsMattie · 08/02/2008 10:27

I didn't drink at all for the first 6 months (didn't feel like it), but after that I had the odd glass of red wine (maybe 2 glasses a week) and I drank a few half Guinesses right near the end.

dropscone · 08/02/2008 10:31

Went off wine - but did like a G&T in the bath in the 3rd trimester !
Think a few glasses a week is fine but 2/day is probably too much .

themoon66 · 08/02/2008 10:32

Was extremely pissed the night I conceived DD. I suffered terrible morning sickness so hardly drank at all through that pregnancy, apart from the odd glass of shandy (half bitter/half lemonade).

With DS I suffered morning sickness again, but also had a craving for cider and got through about 2 litres some weekends.

Both DCs are fine and DS is in top sets at school in all subjects.

PortAndLemon · 08/02/2008 10:39

I didn't drink at all first trimester. I've probably had somewhere around the equivalent of 6-8 small glasses of wine since then (am now 32 weeks), but well spread out.

lollipopmother · 08/02/2008 10:45

It looks like drinking in the first trimester might be the worst as that's when all the cells are being made and things, but I am hopefully wrong, just for my own sake!

WorzselMummage · 08/02/2008 11:12

I've had the odd glass of wine here and there, certainly not enough to cause worry.

2 glassed of wine a day is a lot though, thats above the recommended limit for women even when your not pregnant !

PortAndLemon · 08/02/2008 11:24

IIRC until you are about 5 or 6 weeks pregnant you don't share a blood supply with the foetus, so drinking before then not such a big deal.

nh101andhertwinbeans · 08/02/2008 13:31

I haven't read the whole thread but I just wanted to say I am shocked at 1-2 glasses of wine A DAY!!!

I have just started having a small glass of wine once a week if we have friends over for a meal or we are out for dinner. I am 24 weeks PG.

I can't say I have missed alcohol that much even though I loved a drink before, but the one glass of wine has been really enjoyable! And actually after that I don't want any more. I think if you drink it really slowly then your body processes it really slowly and then it can't affect the baby too much

(And I am making two babies so surely the alcohol is shared between them which makes it even less bad )

doggiesayswoof · 08/02/2008 14:03

KacyB, 2 glasses a day - especially if they are large "home" measures - would put your friend over the recommended limit for NON-pg women (ie 14 units per week)

So that's too much imo.

First pg I hardly drank any alcohol. With this one I didn't drink in the 1st trimester and since then I reckon I have had a small glass of wine every couple of weeks. Over Christmas/New Year I was drinking nearly every day - but it would be literally half a small glass of wine or a very small sherry.

The recent change in guidelines - ie don't drink at all - was apparently because they felt that any sanction to drink alcohol, even in small amounts, was tantamount to encouraging pg women to drink and they couldn't be seen to be doing that. I heard a spokesman saying this at the time. There was no new research to back up their advice.

doggiesayswoof · 08/02/2008 14:05

By lollipopmother on Fri 08-Feb-08 09:44:10

Just seen lollipop's post - can I point out that this quote is def from an american website. The guidelines there have been more strict than the UK for a while.

Madamez I think I may be the only one to agree with you about controlling women's behaviour - you're right about that one...

PetitFilou1 · 08/02/2008 14:08

I drank quite a bit with ds as I didn't know I was pregnant early on - he turned out fine. Second time round, I had a glass of wine a week. This time I just don't fancy it at all so not drinking but would have a glass of champagne if one was on offer!

madamez · 08/02/2008 14:22

Oh FFS at about 6 weeks PG I went on a right bender, litres of red wine and lots of gin, got so pissed I fell off the patio decking and got the most spectacular bruising I've ever had. Before you all start ringing social services let me just point out that I had no idea I was pregnant when this happened and that I cut right down on y drinking once I decided to continue with the pregnancy - and DS is, as I have said, fine and healthy. I think the set of problems commonly known as fetal alcohol syndrome may have a link to excessive alchohol consumption but there;s a far bigger genetic component to the risk - but governments, etc, would far rather point the finger at women and blame them than fund research into genetics and risk.

motherinferior · 08/02/2008 14:39

I drank a glass or so a day most days of both my pregnancies. Do feel free to stone me, won't you?

My daughters, incidentally, appear to be unimpaired by this horrific abuse.

finallypregnant · 08/02/2008 14:41

hardly anything - nothing until I was 16 weeks and then a glass on the plane to America and one coming back! Had a couple of mouthfuls from a glassa on wednesday but went off it.

Original poster
KacyB · 08/02/2008 14:43

Madamez...

I too drank quite heavily (though never fell over!! ) until I found out I was PG...

I have stopped completely because I find it easier to do that than have 1 small glass. That's just me...

I don't feel I should lecture my friend. I am a little worried that she's drinking more than she really thinks (someone mentioned 'home' measures....) and I just wanted people's opinion... She isn't out on the lash every night!!!

OP posts:
madamez · 08/02/2008 14:47

Kacy: Leave your friend alone. She's an adult who can make her own decisions, and the chances are that her baby will be fine. There are no guarantees that the most spectacularly, fanatically health-conscious pregnant woman will have a perfect baby, really, so it's up to all of us to choose for ourselves what level of risk we are comfortable with.

Original poster
KacyB · 08/02/2008 14:57

Madamez...

Thankyou! I needed to hear that!

OP posts:
nh101andhertwinbeans · 08/02/2008 15:04

The alcohol thing is a really touchy subject.

When the UK government changed the advice to no alcohol they admitted it was only because they couldn't trust women to know how much a unit was! Cheeky b*stards!!

I think moderate amounts are fine, but I would worry if I drank more than a glass or so a week and pregnancy is worrying enough already!

You can't tell your friend what to do but I think it would be OK to just ask if she thought it was really a good idea to drink so much. But then you can say some things to some friends and not to others so only you can say how she would react. If she is informed of all the facts and still chooses to drink two glasses a day then that is up to her.

sagitta · 08/02/2008 15:15

Kacy - I agree with madamez - leave her alone. Its her baby, her body, her choice...maybe she's doing well to keep it down to that amount as it is - no point piling more pressure on.

twelveyeargap · 08/02/2008 15:26

Incidentally, the Portland hospital recommends a glass of red wine if you have painful braxton hicks contractions.

Interesting that the rich don't have the same "rules" as we on the NHS...

VictorianSqualor · 08/02/2008 15:28

I didn't drink at all with DD, I drank about 3 glasses of wine every friday with DS and have had about 8 glasses of wine this pregnancy(now 31 weeks).
It's none of anyone elses business if a pregnant woman drinks, I'd like to think that once you fall pg you immediately think 'OK, FOR MY CHILD, I shall...' but more people carry on smoking than drinking which is proven to harm the fetus.

kekouan · 08/02/2008 16:11

I drank harldy anything in my first trimester (maybe a couple of glasses of wine for the first 3 months) but after than would have a glass or two a week, if I felt like it.

Fennel · 08/02/2008 17:10

I also drank lightly but regularly throughout all 3 pregnancies. I just wasn't convinced there was any good evidence why not to.

if I had friends who told me didn't approve I'd have probably dropped them as friends.

nh101andhertwinbeans · 08/02/2008 17:13

It is her body but if it was one of my friends I would say something for her sake and her baby's. What are friends for if not to give you a little nudge if you are being an idiot.

Obviously if this woman has some sort of problem with drink then that is different but maybe she just doesn't realise it is not good for the baby or has misread the guidelines.

If she turns round in a year and says 'why didn't you tell me I was drinking too much?' you'd feel like a bad friend.

Of course, her baby will more than likely come to absolutely no harm. I think most of our mums probably drank through pregnancy cos that's what they did in those days. I know mine did. And we're all alright.

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