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Original poster

Did anyone have a drink or two in third trimester?

125 replies

loub91 · 09/09/2024 11:30

Tbh not looking for any backlash or judgment, just trying to understand views. So, I am going on holiday to Rhodes next week which will fall over my birthday and I will be 31 + 6 weeks. Now one of my friends said treating myself to a birthday cocktail or a couple of glasses of wine would be totally okay (I haven't touched a single drop of alcohol throughout and found out when I was 2 weeks as well) and that even having a glass of wine with dinner isn't totally frowned upon.

I even spoke to my midwife and she also said its really not the end of the world to have a glass of wine here and there in the third trimester, but she advised there isn't a "known" amount of alcohol that is deemed safe hence why its not recommended.. but she told me she had some prosecco at a friends wedding when she was in the 3rd trimester so its really down to how I feel about it as well.

And if I'm being totally honest I have been craving a little drink every now and then! I've always been a sensible person but being pregnant throughout the summer has been a bit depressing and I have struggled in the pregnancy quite a lot with various, aches pains, nausea, you name it.. so I can see why I feel like I want to have a cheeky little tipple on hols!

I just want to know if anyone else did this and what your views are (again no nasty judgment please). I feel as though I should be able to enjoy a little drink on my birthday especially as I am on holiday too but I still feel some guilt around it? Any advice or feedback is welcomed🙂

OP posts:
Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 09/09/2024 13:54

Of course have a drink! I drank the odd glass with both of mine, probably one or two a week, and they're both extremely bright superstars! So don't worry.
I do think there's a huge amount of bullying of pregnant women and new mothers.

Spomb · 09/09/2024 13:55

I had a glass of champagne on NYE and a glass of port with Stilton on Christmas Day.

I didn’t ‘need’ to drink it, but then I didn’t ‘need’ to eat the massive McDonalds meal at 16 weeks either (just really fancied it at the time!).

I’ve suffered first trimester losses, but was very pragmatic about the risks in pregnancy and acted according to what I was comfortable with.

Honestly, as soon as you get pregnant you will have to sadly put up with judgement from random strangers who don’t know you, don’t know your family, and don’t know your baby. You’d think that parenthood would make people more sympathetic, but it seems just to make them judgemental. Everyone parents differently, just do what’s best for you.

Mitsky · 09/09/2024 13:55

I have had three small glasses of wine in this pregnancy (33 weeks) and I have enjoyed every single one. Expecting Better is a really interesting book.

no judgment here, I really don’t like alcohol substitutes so they never hit the mark and I don’t really drink cocktails when I do drink so wouldn’t never have had one while pregnant.

tonyhawks23 · 09/09/2024 13:56

Orangesarenottheonlyfruit · 09/09/2024 13:54

Of course have a drink! I drank the odd glass with both of mine, probably one or two a week, and they're both extremely bright superstars! So don't worry.
I do think there's a huge amount of bullying of pregnant women and new mothers.

Can I just say FASD isnt about brightness.

nnjj · 09/09/2024 13:58

I had a glass of red wine around 5 days overdue as I was so miserable!

SophiaSW1 · 09/09/2024 13:58

No because there is risk attached to it. That's a fact.

tonyhawks23 · 09/09/2024 13:59

In the interest of raising awareness, just do a little research before you decide - its permanent brain damage.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder/

SophiaSW1 · 09/09/2024 14:00

I did however breastfeed after having a drink. It is safe to do so.

Happii · 09/09/2024 14:00

Pretty sad really if you can't wait a bit to have a drink. Statistically a small drink will likely be fine, but for something completely avoidable where tasty mocktails exist, why would you?

Olika · 09/09/2024 14:02

I didn't drink at all and I just took it as one of those things you better not do as part of being pregnant. While breastfeeding my friend brought us some M&S champagne filled truffles and I only have 2 or 3 of them and my DD kept throwing up her milk a lot that day so I didn't touch any products including alcohol while breastfeeding after that.

notaurewhatusername · 09/09/2024 14:03

I'd just wait, it's really not the end of the world to give up for 9 months. Is one drink really going to make a huge difference? It will also probably make you crave it more

Strokethefurrywall · 09/09/2024 14:05

Yes I did in both pregnancies - no regrets, no concerns.

I don't drink now but pass no judgement!

FrenchandSaunders · 09/09/2024 14:06

You'd need to drink a hell of a lot more than the odd cocktail or glass of wine for FASD to develop surely.

Dithercats · 09/09/2024 14:08

September 9 is FASD awareness day.
No alcohol for 9 months is proven safe choice

Did anyone have a drink or two in third trimester?
cannynotsay · 09/09/2024 14:11

Hard no, and I wouldn't be flying that far into pregnancy either just

Rory17384949 · 09/09/2024 14:11

I had two weddings when I was in my third trimester, I had a half glass of champagne in each. Just for the toasts really.
I wouldn't have been comfortable drinking more than that.

reabies · 09/09/2024 14:11

I had a small glass of fizz on NYE in my first pregnancy, and have had another to celebrate a friend's engagement in this pregnancy.

As PP have mentioned, the blanket rule is none because no one can say for sure what the safe limit is, and it may be that the safe limit depends on each individual mother.

There are so many things in pregnancy where you just have to weigh up what you are comfortable with. I probably drink more caffeine than I should do. I have a friend who refused to take any medication at all, not even paracetamol during her pregnancy, whereas I've taken paracetamol, anti-emetics and heartburn stuff. I also know people who drank more frequently than I would be comfortable with.

Also not to be that person, but you'll pretty much be judged on every decision you make as a mother once that baby pops out too 😅so it's a good chance to stop giving a shit now and let people judge if they want.

I will also be flying long haul at 33w in this pregnancy, for work, and I will make sure I do that as safely as possible and mitigate the risks as much as possible too. But someone else would probably think that's a terrible decision by me and I am a dreadful mother.

soberholic · 09/09/2024 14:12

I live in Japan where they sell 3% alcohol cans, and after getting through the first 2 trimisters I started to crack and had the odd one of these cans now and again in third trimester (17 units in entire pregnancy).

These cans are genuinely 1 unit but, BUT if you look at my username you'll know I have an alcohol problem. I researched high and low (2 science degree's here) and the verdict is, if you can drink 0%, please do. Elimination of alcohol from the amniotic fluid is 3-4% of maternal rate.

Off of MN, in real life UK I know ALOT of women who drank a little in pregnancy. It made my decision to drink 'now and again' a little more comfortable because 'everyone does it' - but the hard fact is speedballing on heroin and cocaine is actually safer for a developing fetus than alcohol (if they live).

Don't drink if you can hun.

FeedingThem · 09/09/2024 14:18

loub91 · 09/09/2024 12:01

yes, the Royal College of Obstetricians and the NHS state that flying is safe in an uncomplicated single pregnancy before 37 weeks

Show quote history

They might, but when I flew with my eldest, the airline required a letter stating it WAS a healthy pregnancy, and they had a cut off of about 32 weeks. As much about prem labour as anything I imagine. Which isn't to say you shouldn't,but you need the guidelines from your airline, not ab obstetrician in this case.

Re drinking, had one glass very early on, one sip in and I had a massive headache. Didn't touch it again and until I'd finished breastfeeding (6 months and 4 months) because I just didn't see why I would. I've never needed alcohol sufficiently to bother when it isn't advised. Similarly I cut back massively on my y caffeine. But plenty of people do and the consensus seems to be that one here or there causes no problems.

emmypa · 09/09/2024 14:24

I just wouldn't drink alcohol because even though you'd probably be just fine, it wouldn't be worth the (small) risk. If anything goes wrong down the line, you'll always wonder if it was your fault. Also it's easy to get carried away with a glass of wine here and there. Find something else to celebrate with, a Perier maybe? You can treat yourself to other things and besides that, your pregnancy is almost over.

Genuinelyenquiring · 09/09/2024 14:31

I did for all three pregnancies. Never more than a 175ml glass of wine but fairly regularly. I'd avoid cocktails as they might be quite strong.

usernother · 09/09/2024 14:32

Yes, I went out with my friends every week throughout my pregnancy and had a couple of halves each time I went out.

soberholic · 09/09/2024 14:53

Genuinelyenquiring · 09/09/2024 14:31

I did for all three pregnancies. Never more than a 175ml glass of wine but fairly regularly. I'd avoid cocktails as they might be quite strong.

That's nearly 2 units of alcohol a time

lololulu · 09/09/2024 14:56

No, no alcohol or caffeine. Why risk it?

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