When do you stop drinking? - Page 2

[brichole1214]

Everyone has mentioned on the question of Alcohol use but not many have said anything about the Motrin use...and my OB and RE took me COMPLETELY OFF Motrin and other products of that kind when we started TTC. I use to take Naproxen for my AF cramps and that is just a really powerful Motrin really...and even it says not to take if you think you might be pregnant or if you are pregant. I stick to Tylenol products if I have to take anything while TTC and during pregnancy since they are considered "safe"...but i try to avoid any kind of medications during pregnancy myself. (not including vitamins and supl.'s and stuff like that...but over the counter DRUGS i don't use) If you're too concerned about anything just ask your doctor. Good luck with TTC!!!!

[LivingSky]

Oh yes, the meds. I cut out everything except for Tylenol products as soon as we started TTC. No Advil, no aspirin, no naproxen, nothing. Better safe than sorry. I avoid taking meds as much as possble normally, but not having my Advil while I was going through caffeine withdrawal was awful! LOL

[ValH]

I used to drink until I thought implantation may occur, around 7 or 8 dpo, just in case. Now, my DH is a little concerned that it's taking so long, so he wants us to be ultra-cautious. At this request, I've quit drinking at all after O - that's fun to explain to our friends that don't know we're trying...

[ErinYay]

Transition.

[azdesertrn]

Ok, while I have to say I personally am OK with a tiny amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, I don't buy the argument that alcohol doesn't touch the embryo/fetus before it implants or the placenta forms.

Alcohol is water soluble and the bloodstream transports the it throughout the body where it is absorbed into the body tissues in proportion to their water content. The blood alcohol test was originally developed to be able to assess the alcohol level in the brain tissue. Alcohol also enters the lungs, which is why breathalyzers work.

Since the dividing cells of the baby are getting nutrition from the surrounding fluids, I don't see how they could not get some small amount of alcohol too. Alcohol isn't just in our bloodstream, its throughout our bodies when we drink. I have heard medical people say that alcohol doesn't matter before the placenta develops, but I just don't buy it. Even before implantation the baby is getting nutrition from the surrounding fluids, how would alcohol be blocked?

I'd be interested in seeing any existing research on it.

[Maurine]

Originally Posted by azdesertrn

Ok, while I have to say I personally am OK with a tiny amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, I don't buy the argument that alcohol doesn't touch the embryo/fetus before it implants or the placenta forms.

Alcohol is water soluble and the bloodstream transports the it throughout the body where it is absorbed into the body tissues in proportion to their water content. The blood alcohol test was originally developed to be able to assess the alcohol level in the brain tissue. Alcohol also enters the lungs, which is why breathalyzers work.

Since the dividing cells of the baby are getting nutrition from the surrounding fluids, I don't see how they could not get some small amount of alcohol too. Alcohol isn't just in our bloodstream, its throughout our bodies when we drink. I have heard medical people say that alcohol doesn't matter before the placenta develops, but I just don't buy it. Even before implantation the baby is getting nutrition from the surrounding fluids, how would alcohol be blocked?

I'd be interested in seeing any existing research on it.

I'm totally not a scientist...but I think the argument is that the developing ovum has yet to actually be absorbing anything from outside itself at this point. Up until around the time you would start producing HCG, or even later, it's just nestled in there, dividing away all on it's own. For instance, when doing IVF, it fertilizes, then takes 3-5 days to get to the first stage blastocyst...all while being outside of the womb still.

That's my take on it, anyway!

[BarefootScientist]

Where is it getting the materials it needs to divide from then? It does sound a bit fishy to me too. I don't know much about this, I can't really picture a small ball of cells floating nebulously through the fallopian tubes and uterus.

Another thing that I have heard is that in the very early stages of pregnancy (and obviously they weren't talking about before you can test positive) things like alcohol could cause miscarriages (I'm sure not in small amounts!) but they wouldn't cause birth defects. Probably because the development is not really taking place at all yet, just cell division and so forth. If that affects anyone's decision at all.

[azdesertrn]

Yes, even if its not in the uterus, I would think a zygote has got to be absorbing things from the surrounding fluid. Fertility clinics have done tons of research on the best culture medium to grow them in for IVF. If the culture medium matters, surely the content of our bodily fluids matters.

Again, I'm not faulting people for having a bit of alcohol. I've had sips or a tiny bit of wine. I just really don't believe that alcohol can't get to the zygote before implantation. So, I think people should at least be aware of that possibility when deciding to drink.

[jeminijad]

I don't drink heavily at all, anymore. 1 whiskey sour, or 1 beer, or 1 glass of wine. That stops when I get a BFP.

The wine starts again after the first tri- something like once a month. I have zero qualms about it, having actually obtained and studied some peer reviewed literature on the subject.

[Abraisme]

I stopped drinking the day I got a positive pregnancy test (the day of the missed af). I didn't drink all the much before that (1-3 times a week), but I didn't bother stopping until I was sure I was pregnant.

[MountainMamaGC]

Originally Posted by azdesertrn

Yes, even if its not in the uterus, I would think a zygote has got to be absorbing things from the surrounding fluid. Fertility clinics have done tons of research on the best culture medium to grow them in for IVF. If the culture medium matters, surely the content of our bodily fluids matters.

Again, I'm not faulting people for having a bit of alcohol. I've had sips or a tiny bit of wine. I just really don't believe that alcohol can't get to the zygote before implantation. So, I think people should at least be aware of that possibility when deciding to drink.

I dont think its any more risky than it is to our eggs themselves. Our eggs also have to be exposed to that alcohol and they seem to be fine. I have thought about that too though. Also the egg is the biggest cell in the body. Its full of more than jsut genetic material. It gets nourished by the body for a reason. I think it must have some stored energy as well. Neat stuff to think about.

[ValH]

Saw this on Fertility Friend today (see below), and it reminded me of this post. Seems thier position is anit-drinking while TTC. I'm still in the half-and-half boat - will drink the first half of my cycle, but not around or after O.

As quoted in Fertility Friend:
"Heavy drinking has been associated with impaired fertility and is definitely not recommended when pregnant so should be avoided when trying to conceive. Studies on fertility and moderate alcohol consumption are not conclusive, with some showing adverse affects and others showing little or no impact. Our recommendation when trying to conceive is to treat your body as if you were pregnant, since you could be pregnant at any time."

[gummibears]

Originally Posted by Rainy229

I, like you, don't drink much anyway, but I "quit" drinking when we quit preventing. I still try what others are drinking though. I don't take OTC meds unless I'm completely and utterly ready to give up, so I'm not much help in that department. I pretty much behave as if I were I'm preggo just in case I am...

--Rainy

That's what I was doing, too. Despite being tempted to drink during stress otherwise. I knew I'd never forgive myself is something happened, so I chose to err on the side of caution.