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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

is anyone having the odd glass of wine?

218 replies

daisystone · 09/07/2010 13:26

When I found out I was pregnant I stopped drinking immediately and then the morning sickness kicked in and the thought of alcohol sent me running to the loo.

However, now I am over that (thank the Lord!!) and although I am still not drinking per se, I have had a glass of Champagne, two coronas and a glass of red wine spaced over about 11 weeks.

The NHS say that one or two units once or twice a week is acceptable but obviously a lot of people think it is a big no no anyway.

I am interested in what other people are doing and if they feel guilty if they have the odd glass of wine.

OP posts:
notnowbernard · 09/07/2010 13:30

Absolutely yes!

I am 37w and am enjoying an ice-cold bottle of beer or a glass of cider about twice a week (sometimes 3 times even...)

No guilt here

susie100 · 09/07/2010 13:32

Definitely! In Italy you are actively encouranged to have half a glass of wine with your dinner!

PickleSarnie · 09/07/2010 13:33

I have had about 10-12 units since finding out I was pregnant 27 weeks ago. I don't actually enjoy it that much because all this "oh you can have a drink now and then" isn't enough.....I want to be able to spend all day in a beer garden drinking cider or drink a bottle of wine over dinner. So having just one makes me want more and then I sulk because I can't have one.

Quite pathetically though, I never drink whilst in a public place since I'm scared of people judging me, even though I know it's my only drink I've had in weeks!

Ragwort · 09/07/2010 13:34

Well, not actually relevant as I am not pregnant but yes, I certainly did have a glass of wine most evenings when I was pregnant and - shock horror - when I was breast feeding - perhaps that's wby DS was/is such a good sleeper .

KnitterNotTwitter · 09/07/2010 13:36

with DS I didn't drink for the first 12 weeks then had about a unit a week for the rest of the pregnancy. I even went to the Great British Beer Festival when 37 weeks pregnant and had a 1/3pint of a beer/cider each night. Got lots of 'bloody hell' type comments though - but I quite enjoy that as I'm a bit of an attention seeker!! no one harangued me or made me feel guilty though!

Ragwort · 09/07/2010 13:37

PickleSarnie - I absolutely agree that it is other people's judgy looks and comments that are totally off putting; I believe in America you can be refused alcohol if pregnant?? (off subject but that reminds me of an occasion in America where my balding, 40 year old DH was asked to 'prove' he was over 21 before they served him with a beer - he then had the cheek to ask for another one - you should have seen their faces !!)

MiniMarmite · 09/07/2010 13:39

I have the odd glass of wine, maybe once a week, probably less than that. I'm 19 weeks. Like you I didn't really fancy any for a while anyway (nature is clever like that I think).

I work with a couple of toxicologists and they believe that the amount of alcohol that would reach a foetus from a single glass is tiny. Some people, of course, feel that risk is too great for them and that is understandable.

Drinkaware say that the zero recommendation came from the fact that many women were drinking more than the advised amount per week and it is also unclear as to how much is safe.

I believe in well-informed decision making rather than blanket bans on everything so no, I don't feel guilty.

I still remember being chastised by a work colleague for drinking half a glass of wine when I was about 26 weeks pregnant with DS and it still upsets me that someone could think I would do anything that would put my child at risk.

5DollarShake · 09/07/2010 13:41

I abstained throughout the first trimester, and since then I've had probably 1-2 units a week. Some weeks I won't have any. I did the same when pg with DS1.

I am absolutely comfortable with that decision.

I have also been perfectly happy to have my weekly allotment in a public place - if strangers want to judge me, they can knock themselves out. No skin of my nose.

Original poster
daisystone · 09/07/2010 13:42

PickleSarnie - I know what you mean about not drinking in public. Now I am showing I am much more wary of drinking in public. I feel like saying to everyone around me "yes, this is booze but I haven't had anything else all week and probably won't for another two weeks - so back off!"

People are so judgemental. And it is worse when a man is judgemental - how dare they be??

OP posts:
fragola · 09/07/2010 13:50

I'm not. Not because I think that there's anything wrong with it, but having to stop at one glass would make me miserable, so I don't bother.

I make do with sniffing dhs glass

carolondon · 09/07/2010 13:58

I have had 1-2 small glasses of wine per week since 2nd trimester with no guilt. Would rather drink the rest of the bottle but am 36+3 so not long to go now.

MiniMarmite · 09/07/2010 13:58

You sound like one of my friends Fragola - just one seemed more like torture than a pleasure so she gave up completely!

parkj83 · 09/07/2010 14:20

I had 1-2 bottles of beer a week for a few weeks in the early to mid 2nd trimester, then DH started to get funny about it (it's hot, you have a beer fridge full of Bud, and you wonder why I want to have a drink!!!)

So I now have drunk nothing but Becks Blue since... DH tried to get funny about those, but I tactfully pointed out that I'd need to drink 100 of those to match one Bud, and he shut up rather quickly!

I don't know how much I drunk in the 1st trimester. None, once I found out I was pg, but I think I was 7 or 8 weeks gone by then, and it was Xmas, and left over/entertaining quite a bit in December and early Jan... Oh well!

5DollarShake · 09/07/2010 14:29

My DH is the exact opposite - he would turn on anyone (and massively enjoy it, I think!) who passed any sort of judgement on me partaking of a drink, and tells me if I want to enjoy a glass of wine I bloody well should!

I would be furious with an OH who happily swigged away whilst expecting me to fully abstain. Not that I would ever expect him to abstain just for the sake of it, but to get snippy with me enjoying the odd glass would Not Go Down Well at all!!

InTheZenGarden · 09/07/2010 14:50

I'm having a few units a week, like other posters didn't fancy it much during the first trimester, and wanted to avoid it tbh.
Now 31 weeks, and have the occasional drink.
You're so right, it's the other people's opinions that are so off-putting. I had a pint of very weak bitter shandy in a pub the other day, but it looked like lager - I was probably being paranoid, but I felt like everyone was giving me evils.

DH is a bit funny about it, but mainly because I abstained completely with DD. But as I point out, that's because I had such killer heartburn, I couldn't even have a sip of beer

MrsGangly · 09/07/2010 14:51

I have done occasionally, like having a tiny glass of wine with dinner, champagne at a party, although I've tended to avoid alcohol.

pinguina · 09/07/2010 14:54

I am 34 weeks, and have half a glass of wine almost every night - just as I did for DD1 (great sleeper as well, Ragwort!). I would never get drunk or have more, but I think half a glass is good for both of us.

EnglandAllenPoe · 09/07/2010 14:56

i have been enjoying a beer/cider/wet GNT - am at 36 weeks now - baby is cooked already!

i normally don't drink during the first months as feel too crappy.

PrivetDancer · 09/07/2010 15:01

Yeah, I'm having the 'odd one'
Just discovered those pre-mixed echo falls spritzers, they come in 250 ml bottles so you feel like you've had a big glass of wine, but only 1 unit per bottle. I may partake later

Original poster
daisystone · 09/07/2010 15:09

I am on the becks blue as well! It isn't the same as my beloved Corona with wedge of lime, but it's better than nothing.

The weather is so hot and all I want is a big cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc but I know that I won't want to stop at one.

Bummer, this not drinking much sucks.

OP posts:
MrsC2010 · 09/07/2010 15:13

I had the odd spritzer/inch or so of wine from around 24/25 wks. I did have a half glass of champagne at 12 wks, and a very weak Pimms a few wks later.

Now at 37 wks (nearly) I feel more relxed about it but still not really drinking. I had a small glass of very cold cider the other day and loved it.

I think everything in moderation, we all know not to go and get hammered!

withorwithoutyou · 09/07/2010 15:21

I had DD2 last week and in this pregnancy I drank occasionally - no more than one or two units once or twice a week.

I am a bit anal and would calculate the exact number of mils that was and measure it out in a baby bottle!

Probably didn't drink every week - more like one drink every ten days.

Didn't drink at all with DD1 one as had a bit of a stick up my arse about it, truth be told. Have since relaxed a lot

DD2 is far more chilled than DD1 was btw.

foureleven · 09/07/2010 15:24

I had the odd glass while I was pregnant yes.

But when i was breast feeding I drank like a trooper.. I always go quite now when pregnant friends complain of how people say its only 9 months of no drinking but in reality its more like 18 months... not in my reality!

Also, if youre feeling guilty bear in mind that lots of people dont even know they are pregnant for the first few months and drick loads (I did.. and my daughter is the picture of health at 5yrs)

Oblomov · 09/07/2010 15:30

A few here and there. Infact once i had 3 very weak white wine spritzers and was a tiny bit tipsy. was a bit ashamed at that.
the general scorn is unwarranted and silly though.

AxisofEvil · 09/07/2010 15:51

I'm having the very odd drink if I really want one but averaging out about 1 unit a fortnight. I've had the odd sip of DH's beer a few times too as sometimes a few sips is better than nothing. I've taken the view that if you're slowing drinking a unit's worth of alcohol (half a larger or v small wine) over 30-60 mins the amount of alcohol in my blood at any given time if going to be very small. And better going in slowly than say downing a shot when it all goes in at once, if taking the abundence of caution approach.