Drinking during pregnancy!

Quality · 27-06-2008 8:32pm #1

Do you think it is acceptable to drink in pregnancy?

Personally for me, A glass of wine (spritzer) at an occasion or the odd bottle of beer, I am not talking about every day, but from time to time a drink can be warranted.

I would not drink spirits.

What is everyone elses view on this?

ntlbell · 27-06-2008 8:35pm

As a guy, I would prefer if my OH didn't drink any at all.

Especially early on, i's just not worth the risk and I think it would be a tad selfish, 9 month's is not a long time especially when the safety of your unborn child is concerned enough things can go wrong as it is..

Mind Hunter 85 · 28-06-2008 12:01pm

Personally no i do not think its acceptable to drink at all in pregnancy regardless of how light the alcohol content its still alcohol .
There are lots of foods and stuff that needs to be avoided in pregnancy so whats one more thing to miss out on .
And as the other poster says enough things can go wrong already ,why add another risk to the list.

also what is the odd drink from time to time ? are we talking once a week ,or month or couple months?

No offence is intended i understand your not drinking large amounts of alcohol ,or alcohol regularly and my post is only my opinion ,opinions difer widely.

Bottle_of_Smoke · 28-06-2008 12:10pm

Id be annoyed if my OH drank during pregnancy, dont see the point in the odd drink.

Id also offer to not drink for the 9mths as some sort of support gesture.

January · 28-06-2008 7:36pm

I drank the night of my birthday, West Coast Cooler and Sprite mixed together. I didn't drink much (I had three small bottles) and I haven't drank since I found out I was pregnant apart from that time.

I wouldn't touch spirits, there's still a bottle of vodka in the fridge from when I found out I was pregnant, hasn't been opened.

I wouldn't expect my boyfriend to give up drink though, just because I have.

Quality · 29-06-2008 1:07am

I would say I have drank on four occasions in the last 5 months, A btl of beer or a Spritzer. Maximum was two spritzers on one occasion.

My consultant didnt seem to think it was life threatening to the baby. I think it would be a different story if I was drinking heavily or consuming alcohol on a regular basis.

silja · 29-06-2008 7:27am

I didn't drink, but then, I rarely drink anyways.
I would say the occasional drink is ok (a couple of small glasses of wine or ine spirit); with this I mean once a month or so at a party etc.

marti101 · 29-06-2008 9:24am

Im just wondering out of the women who wouldnt drink during pregnancy how many of you smoke.I think smoking is much worse than someone having a spritzer

Quality · 29-06-2008 12:00pm

I dont smoke.

marti101 · 29-06-2008 1:04pm

Quality wrote: »

I dont smoke.

o im not aiming at you im talking bout the people who replied to the op i dont smoke either but i did have an occasional drink so long as your not drinking industrial strenght vodka a little drink does no harm

January · 29-06-2008 1:14pm

I don't smoke either

ntlbell · 29-06-2008 2:25pm

marti101 wrote: »

Im just wondering out of the women who wouldnt drink during pregnancy how many of you smoke.I think smoking is much worse than someone having a spritzer

I'm sure smoking is _worse_ and taken heroin/cocaine is a lot worse than smoking but irrelvant to the thread but why add any sort of risk?

surley not dirnking at all poses _less_ risk than the odd glass of wine...

so why add in any needles risk?

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 29-06-2008 2:30pm

why leave the house either, stay inside wrapped in packing material until your husband decides it's safe enough.

29-06-2008 2:31pm

Isn't the odd pint of guiness good for all concerned when your preggers?

ntlbell · 29-06-2008 2:35pm

Princess Innocent Knickers wrote: »

why leave the house either, stay inside wrapped in packing material until your husband decides it's safe enough.

Sorry, there's adults having a conversation here...

any amount of alcohol especially in the first 12 weeks can cause complications, now considering how hard is to get the unborn past these initial weeks taken a drink is adding undue risk

people generally have to leave the house, they don't have to have a few spritzers...

brianthebard · 29-06-2008 2:39pm

Moonbaby wrote: »

Isn't the odd pint of guiness good for all concerned when your preggers?

that went out of fashion a long time ago tbh,i think it was more a marketing campaign than anything else.

LadyTBolt · 29-06-2008 3:02pm

I don't think an occassional drink is wrong during pregnancy. A low level alcoholic drink like a glass of shandy or spritzer is alright to have IMO, occassionally of course.

I believe smoking and drinking lots of coffee during pregnancy can cause more damage to the woman and baby moreso than an occassional drink.

When I was pregnant on my first I was advised by the midwife at the ante-natal classes an occassional drink is acceptable i.e. glass of wine, glass of guinness, shandy etc. When my iron levels were low I was advised to take iron supplements and if I wanted to have a glass of guinness. On my second child 3 years later I was told they are told they have to advise you against any alcohol at all. They change the rules all the time.

It's up to the mother and father to make responsible decisions on what should be eaten and drank during pregnancy. But I do believe if a man requests his other half to abstain from a substance during pregnancy he too should do the same in support.

I was advised to stay off the motorcycle during pregnancy on my first. That brought me to tears. I gave up the smokes alright and didn't cry about that but the motorcycle spin was the hardest of all....

Quality · 29-06-2008 4:59pm

ntlbell wrote: »

any amount of alcohol especially in the first 12 weeks can cause complications, now considering how hard is to get the unborn past these initial weeks taken a drink is adding undue risk

I'm sorry but where did you hear this???

ntlbell · 30-06-2008 9:42am

Quality wrote: »

I'm sorry but where did you hear this???

From doctor's? consultant's when my OH had our first?

But I would of thought it would be common sense....

although small amounts may not to be as a big an issue later on, I dont think their's a safe time to think it's 9 months this a human being.

the list of complications and learning difficulties etc that can be caused even from very small amounts is just not worth it

whats the point in having one beer?

you can wrap it up anyway you want the simple fact is it's safer to _not_ drink and i just wouldn't take that risk with my child for the sake of a drink

Loomis · 30-06-2008 9:45am

Quality wrote: »

Do you think it is acceptable to drink in pregnancy?

Personally for me, A glass of wine (spritzer) at an occasion or the odd bottle of beer, I am not talking about every day, but from time to time a drink can be warranted.

I would not drink spirits.

What is everyone elses view on this?

Do you think it's fine to have the odd cigarette while pregnant?

Quality · 30-06-2008 10:38am

ntlbell wrote: »

the list of complications and learning difficulties etc that can be caused even from very small amounts is just not worth it

Maybe you could show some evidence to support this statement.

ntlbell · 30-06-2008 10:43am

Quality wrote: »

Maybe you could show some evidence to support this statement.

can you show me evidence that it causes absloutley no risk?

"We have known for a long time that drinking heavily during pregnancy could lead to major impairments in growth, behavior, and cognitive function in children," said Jennifer Willford, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and the study's first author. "This paper clearly shows that even small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy can have a significant impact on child development."

"Learning and memory are cornerstones for success in school and in everyday life," added Sarah Mattson, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, and associate director of the Center for Behavioral Teratology at San Diego State University. "Disruption of the ability to learn and remember new information jeopardizes the job of children, that is, to go to school. The inability to learn new information in the verbal or nonverbal domain will interfere with a child's ability to achieve alongside his or her peers."

from here

the paper is here

you ay have to sign up to read it...

but these professor's you know, they're mad, you enjoy your drinks

Nevyn · 30-06-2008 10:49am

ntlbell you stated that first the burden of proof is on you, cite your references to back it up or with draw it.

ntlbell · 30-06-2008 10:50am

Thaedydal wrote: »

ntlbell you stated that first the burden of proof is on you, cite your references to back it up or with draw it.

done

Quality · 30-06-2008 12:15pm

Could you find a more scaremongering site....

I presume you dont drink at all... Looking at the side effects that this site is showing... You would be mad too.

ntlbell · 30-06-2008 1:00pm

Quality wrote: »

Could you find a more scaremongering site....

I presume you dont drink at all... Looking at the side effects that this site is showing... You would be mad too.

Have you seen the effects of what smoking does to people pregnant or not? yet they still spend 7.40 on a pack to kill themselves

have you see the effects of cocaine/heroin? yet people do it every day.

Because the truth might scare you doesn't mean it's any less true

You asked for evidence, i provided it, now you're not happy with it.

Are you going to provide me with some evidence that proves they're no risks with drinking while pregnant?

I won't hold my breath.

Quality · 30-06-2008 2:17pm

Well there you go, It is my choice. And I choose to have a drink. There are plenty of risks I take unintentionally during my pregnancy. And there are other risks that I do take.

I drink a cup of coffee most days....

I lift my two year old son around...

I have had possibly 8 units of alcohol over 5 months.

If my consultant told me that I was putting my baby at risk by drink alcohol in the manner I do... I would stop without question.. Because I have had this conversation with my consultant and he has told me that moderation is fine. I will carry on.

ntlbell · 30-06-2008 3:22pm

Quality wrote: »

Well there you go, It is my choice. And I choose to have a drink. There are plenty of risks I take unintentionally during my pregnancy. And there are other risks that I do take.

I drink a cup of coffee most days....

I lift my two year old son around...

I have had possibly 8 units of alcohol over 5 months.

If my consultant told me that I was putting my baby at risk by drink alcohol in the manner I do... I would stop without question.. Because I have had this conversation with my consultant and he has told me that moderation is fine. I will carry on.

I never said it wasn't your choice?

You're talking like you're trying to justify it to me there's no need you're not carrying my child

. I'm not stating your right or wrong it is absloutley without doubt your choice..

You've asked peoples opinion on it I'm giving you mine

you asked me to back it up with evidence, I did.

Quality · 30-06-2008 3:23pm

Ok thanks you for your point of view.

Would anyone else like to give their views on drinking in pregnancy?

HoneyButterfly · 30-06-2008 3:55pm

I personally, definitely wouldn't.
But I don't disagree with it, if its your choice and your being sensible about it. As you say, a glass of wine at a special occasion wouldn't be the worst thing you could do (but not early on in the pregnancy).
But I just wouldn't see the point in taking any risks. Some risks you can't help, like 2nd hand smoke, or lifting your child, but I just don't agree with taking unnessessary risks. However, as I said, how harmful can one glass of wine be...its not like you're going out get locked!!

Sulukie · 30-06-2008 3:55pm

Hi Quality

I don't have a problem with the odd drink during pregnancy. That said I totally lost my taste for alcohol and coffee when I was pregnant. I had one glass of wine on my birthday and have only had a couple of glasses since ds was born. The thought of waking at six thirty puts me off.

What really surprised me when I was pregnant and going to antenatal classes and hospital visits was the number of pregnant women who still smoke. Now I have never smoked so I probably don't understand how hard it is to give up but I found it very strange.

Sulukie

LolaDub · 30-06-2008 5:59pm

I didn't drink during my pregnancy at all. I was a social drinker before i was pregnant and i didn't find it difficult in the slightest to give up but i wanted to eliminate as many risks as possible from my lifestyle. I think the idea is with drinking is that its advised but not insisted to give it up but some people don't give up drinking or smoking, to be honest i find it a shocking sight to see a noticably pregnant woman doing either. A woman who has just left our office to have a baby smoked the whole way through and many people (admittedly men mostly) were disgusted with it. It can be very hard for a woman to give something up during pregnancy as pregnancy is such foreign territory anyway. I would expect any man who insisted his pregnant partner should give up drinking/smoking to do the same himself.

At the end of the day how i felt was if i did drink during pregnancy and if something happened to the baby (whether it was to do with drink or not) the guilt would be far worse than giving up the drink, safe not sorry attitude!

Good luck with your pregnancy!!

barbiegirl · 30-06-2008 6:08pm

As my sister-in-law said on the 1st one she didn't, on the 2nd she had maybe 2 spritzers throughout the nine months, on the 3rd she had maybe one spritzer every 2-3 weeks, a special dinner or celebration etc. As a doctor said to a friend of mine, he had a patient with a huge drug habit, with 6 kids, so he saw an occasional spritzer as absolutely no problem.
Totally up to mum, and if dad really wants to express an opinion, so long as we are only talking very moderate, then maybe he shoud also give up for the nine months

Remember mum isn't just an oven for the babe but also still a person in her own right :-)

Bottle_of_Smoke · 30-06-2008 6:44pm

So what's the point of one beer/spritzer? Everyone knows people only drink for effect & if you can feel the effect your baby's developing body surely can. Don't know how people are willing to drink or smoke with a their own developing child depending on their body for nutrition.

quality wrote:

Could you find a more scaremongering site....

I presume you dont drink at all... Looking at the side effects that this site is showing... You would be mad too.

Whatever about the site, the paper's a scientifically controlled study. You really sound like you're trying to justify drinking whilst pregnant to yourself.

Given the paper says light drinking affects the memory/brain the second trimester might be the most dangerous time to be drinking.

I wonder what effect being drunk during conception has on the child :eek:

ntlbell · 30-06-2008 6:50pm

barbiegirl wrote: »

As a doctor said to a friend of mine, he had a patient with a huge drug habit, with 6 kids, so he saw an occasional spritzer as absolutely no problem.
Remember mum isn't just an oven for the babe but also still a person in her own right :-)

so because the doctor dealt with someone who took heroin while pregnant they felt drink was ok? Right....

The mother is a person in her own right but when she takes a drink the child is taken the drink also.

If she smokes she forces the unborn child to smoke, the child doesn't have a choice the mother does.

ntlbell · 30-06-2008 6:53pm

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Whatever about the site, the paper's a scientifically controlled study.

This is a very important point, the paper wasn't written by a few anal mothers.

Ah they're only PHD's what would they know

HoneyButterfly · 30-06-2008 7:29pm

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

So what's the point of one beer/spritzer? Everyone knows people only drink for effect & if you can feel the effect your baby's developing body surely can. Don't know how people are willing to drink or smoke with a their own developing child depending on their body for nutrition.

Whatever about the site, the paper's a scientifically controlled study. You really sound like you're trying to justify drinking whilst pregnant to yourself.

Given the paper says light drinking affects the memory/brain the second trimester might be the most dangerous time to be drinking.

I wonder what effect being drunk during conception has on the child :eek:

I think you made some really good points here. Why bother to drink? People do drink for the effect. And if it isn't for the effect then go get a non-alcoholic beer or wine.
Interesting point made about conception during pregnancy! Makes you wonder....might be some papers written on it, might go look it up now

barbiegirl · 30-06-2008 7:32pm

To clarify on my response, I at all times said moderately. No need for such strong reactions. 1 spritzer every few weeks, not a bottle of whiskey every night.

ntlbell · 30-06-2008 7:34pm

barbiegirl wrote: »

To clarify on my response, I at all times said moderately. No need for such strong reactions. 1 spritzer every few weeks, not a bottle of whiskey every night.

but why bother with the 1? is it going to do anything for you?

by pouring 7 up into wine you're hardly drinking it for taste you just ruined the wine, just have the 7 up

it's 9 months, not for life, for 9 months

Quality · 30-06-2008 7:37pm

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists conducted a study of over 400,000 women, all of whom had consumed alcohol during pregnancy. No case of fetal alcohol syndrome occurred and no adverse effects on children were found when consumption was under 8.5 drinks per week. A review of research studies found that fetal alcohol syndrome only occurred among alcoholics. No apparent risk to a child occurred when pregnant women consumes no more than one drink per day.
A study of pregnancies in eight European countries found that consuming no more than one drink per day did not appear to have any effect on fetal growth. A follow-up of children at 18 months of age found that those from women who drank during pregnancy, even two drinks per day, scored higher in several areas of development. An analysis of seven medical research studies involving over 130,000 pregnancies found that consuming two to 14 drinks per week did not increase the risk of giving birth to a child with either malformations or fetal alcohol syndrome.

Quality · 30-06-2008 7:39pm

ntlbell wrote: »

but why bother with the 1? is it going to do anything for you?

I dont know why you bother to drink at all,,, after reading your scientific reports from that site...:eek:

ntlbell · 30-06-2008 8:02pm

Quality wrote: »

I dont know why you bother to drink at all,,, after reading your scientific reports from that site...:eek:

I never said I drank.

Just incase you missed it earlier

"Whatever about the site, the paper's a scientifically controlled study."

ntlbell · 30-06-2008 8:04pm

Quality wrote: »

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists conducted a study of over 400,000 women, all of whom had consumed alcohol during pregnancy. No case of fetal alcohol syndrome occurred and no adverse effects on children were found when consumption was under 8.5 drinks per week. A review of research studies found that fetal alcohol syndrome only occurred among alcoholics. No apparent risk to a child occurred when pregnant women consumes no more than one drink per day.
A study of pregnancies in eight European countries found that consuming no more than one drink per day did not appear to have any effect on fetal growth. A follow-up of children at 18 months of age found that those from women who drank during pregnancy, even two drinks per day, scored higher in several areas of development. An analysis of seven medical research studies involving over 130,000 pregnancies found that consuming two to 14 drinks per week did not increase the risk of giving birth to a child with either malformations or fetal alcohol syndrome.

This is all well and good, no one is stating that FAS/FES will be caused by small amounts of alcohol these are generally caused by heavy drinking...

So the above is irrelevant

jaffa20 · 30-06-2008 8:13pm

It's the mother's choice. Her life and her baby. Yes drinking and smoking may be harmful but we never hear anything about the chemical ridden food that covers our local supermarket shelves. These can be just as harmful if not more.

LolaDub · 30-06-2008 8:17pm

Quality it sounds more like you're advocating drinking during pregnancy rather than asking for opinions. I would imagine if drinking helped the baby or made no difference then a lot more women would drink during pregnancy as it is it is only advised not insisted so you really are free to make your own choice.

Quality · 30-06-2008 8:17pm

ntlbell wrote: »

I never said I drank.

Just incase you missed it earlier

"Whatever about the site, the paper's a scientifically controlled study."

Oh you never answered my question when I asked it to you, Perhaps you could answer it now.

Yes Interesting site with interesting papers.

ntlbell wrote: »

This is all well and good, no one is stating that FAS/FES will be caused by small amounts of alcohol these are generally caused by heavy drinking...

So the above is irrelevant

The studys were on alcohol during pregnancies. The first study concentrated on FAS, the others were for any developmental issues.

Relevant.

HoneyButterfly · 30-06-2008 8:18pm

Quality wrote: »

A study of pregnancies in eight European countries found that consuming no more than one drink per day did not appear to have any effect on fetal growth. A follow-up of children at 18 months of age found that those from women who drank during pregnancy, even two drinks per day, scored higher in several areas of development.

Thats all a bit vague I think. Scored higher in whats areas of development??! And what were they drinking? If they were all drinking the same thing, it could hae been something else in that drink that was attributing to the higher scores in development (ie.it might not have been the alcohol itself...because I'm presuming medical professional would certainly not conduct the study using spirits?? Which also asks the question of how ethical are these studies?)
And there is no reference there, could you give me one please? I'm not asking that in a patrionising way, I am actually interested in looking it up

LolaDub · 30-06-2008 8:18pm

Jaffa where did you hear that?

Quality · 30-06-2008 8:21pm

LolaDub wrote: »

Quality it sounds more like you're advocating drinking during pregnancy rather than asking for opinions. I would imagine if drinking helped the baby or made no difference then a lot more women would drink during pregnancy as it is it is only advised not insisted so you really are free to make your own choice.

I am not advocating drinking at all, I just dont like the comments ntlbell has made saying any amount of alcohol not matter how small is going to put your unborn child at a severe risk.

I am absolutely pro choice for women and hate scare mongering... Its a womans choice for what she puts in her body, and I do not believe that what Ntl has stated is 100% accurate, I think that the larger picture needs to be seen and then women can make an informed choice.

ntlbell · 30-06-2008 8:21pm

Quality wrote: »

Oh you never answered my question when I asked it to you, Perhaps you could answer it now.

Yes Interesting site with interesting papers.

The studys were on alcohol during pregnancies. The first study concentrated on FAS, the others were for any developmental issues.

Relevant.

So one study says it found nothing one said it did..

If I was a pregnant woman that would be enough doubt for me to not bother.

Yes, I drink.

jaffa20 · 30-06-2008 8:22pm

LolaDub wrote: »

Jaffa where did you hear that?

Everyone knows that convenience food is ridden with E numbers, colourings etc.

Even french food has been spayed with chemicals to bring about growth.

Drinking during pregnancy!

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