Alcohol if you are pregnant??? - Page 2

[LovemyBoo]

I had sips of beer. Would do it again.

[babygrant]

I have never and would never drink while pregnant. I don't drink anymore even while not pregnant anyways.

[onelilguysmommy]

i completely stay away, though i might would have a glass or something in labor since its not exactly affecting the babys development like it would now, ya know? its about to come out anyway and barely anything gets to the milk and well, it would be quite a while in between.
other than that, though for some reason ive been *really* wanting a mudslide, LOL i wont do it.

[antannie]

Alcohol crosses the placenta into the baby and will affect whatever part of the baby is growing at that time. The brain grows the whole time. As a person who works with people with fetal alcohol spectum disorder (FASD) I have seen too much to think it is ok to drink while pregnant. Since there is no known safe amount I would say it is not worth the risk. Alcohol does scary things to a growing brain.

[neetling]

I have tasted new beers that my DH has tried out. So not really drinking, when it's just a sip.

[sunnmama]

I've had wine a couple times in the third tri of this pregnancy (I'm 40 wks now). Once was at 34 wks, cause my braxton hicks contractions were *really* strong and I was considering going to the hospital. Drank 1/4 glass of wine and they stopped.

The other time was this weekend, hoping that 1/2 glass might relax me into labor. I knew I would have to have an ultrasound today if I didn't deliver first, so I thought it was worth a try. Didn't work, obviously

[Shanana]

I had a shot of vodka and a glass of wine (spaced 24 hours apart) during my 40+ hour labor in an attempt to space out the contractions so I could get some sleep. Didn't work, and I didn't really consider this "drinking while pg", since it was used with a sort of medical pupose in mind, lol.

My thoughts on drinking for pleasure while pg are conflicted. I tend to feel it's probably not a big deal in moderation, but would still probably abstain if I got pregnant again. But there are so many things that are potentially dangerous -- do you eat non-organic food when you're pg? Drive your car? When it's snowy???!!! Take a walk? Breathe? (lots of toxins and pollutants in the air, folks!) Just being alive can be dangerous, and I don't believe it has been proven that drinking small amounts will harm the fetus, so .

Everyone draws their line at a different place. My friend would remove her ds from his car seat and bf him while her hubby drove (on a long road trip), because she hated having to stop the car for 30 minutes every two hours to nurse. I find that risk unacceptable, but she didn't. My dd was an awful sleeper, and if she fell asleep in the car seat while running errands, I would run into the post office, etc., and leave her in the (locked and running, as it was winter) car. My friend's dh thought this was an unacceptable risk, but I did not. With something like drinking that is not completely clear cut, people are going to come down on different sides, and I can see it both ways. But that said, I would still probably avoid it, just to be safe. Also, I had an aversion to alcohol while pg (except at the very end), so it was no big deal.

[roadfamily6now]

Originally Posted by angelpie545

Since there is no measure of how much is safe, I wouldn't drink at all during pregnancy. Not worth it at all.

I agree. Besides, I did not reply to the poll. The answers were confusing.:

[RubyWild]

I didn't drink a drop when I was pregnant, but I have many European friends who drank wine with dinner most every single night, yet they don't even know what Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is and think it's rather silly how uptight Americans are about something that is so natural to them.

I'm not planning to have another child, but, maybe if I did, I might drink once in a while. I don't know.

[AileenM]

I guess I'm the bad mama... I had an entire glass of champagne to ring in the new year, and a glass of wine at a friend's wedding a few weeks ago. I don't see the problem with one everyonce in a while. I won't drink hard liquor, but a small glass of wine can be beneficial, IMO.

[**guest**]

I'm guessing that the last one is supposed to say "Nope...And you shouldn't drink while pregnant", right?

[applejuice]

Originally Posted by RubyWild

I didn't drink a drop when I was pregnant, but I have many European friends who drank wine with dinner most every single night, yet they don't even know what Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is and think it's rather silly how uptight Americans are about something that is so natural to them.

I'm not planning to have another child, but, maybe if I did, I might drink once in a while. I don't know.

A study should be done as to the incidence of FAS in European countries since alcohol is a common beverage in those cultures even during pregnancy. Since most European countries have government run health care systems, I wonder how well it is diagnosed.

That said, I did not drink during my four pregnancies since I was too scared that something would happen and I would never forgive myself if something did happen; it would TRULY be all my fault.

[Live~Laugh~Love]

Originally Posted by applejuice

A study should be done as to the incidence of FAS in European countries since alcohol is a common beverage in those cultures even during pregnancy. Since most European countries have government run health care systems, I wonder how well it is diagnosed.

ITA Good thinking applejuice

[ledzepplon]

I had small amounts (sips here and there, always less than a glass) of beer and wine during pregnancy. I don't think it's a big deal in that quantity/frequency. FAS is usually found among children of mothers who are heavy, habitual drinkers.

Here's an interesting link: http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/FAS/FAS.html

[frenchie]

Originally Posted by Foxxymama

I have 3 friends that are pregnant, 2 have told me that they drink beer "occasionally" while they are prego... I think it is a terrible idea, I crave a good drink, but I can wait for the sake of my baby. I push away several meds while I am prego too, these mama's take whatever "if they dont feel good" The other mama is in agreeance with me, we do NOT touch alcohol.

I was wondering if you mama's would disclose whether or not you touch alcohol while prego...

I mean, are you for it or against, did you do it or not do it?
Little background one is almost 5 months, the other is almost 7 months.

The word you're looking for is agreement. "Agreeance" is not a word
Anyhow...I have an occasional half glass of wine. I see no issue with it. Europeans drink wine while pregnant, and I know Irish women enjoy a pint of ale now and again (according to my friend, who was born and raised in Ireland) There are certainly worse things a pregnant mother can (and do) consume. I'd take issue with a woman drinking daily, or copius amounts of alcohol. A beer "occasionally" is nothing to get wound up about. JMHO!

[fly-mom]

Originally Posted by ledzepplon

I had small amounts (sips here and there, always less than a glass) of beer and wine during pregnancy. I don't think it's a big deal in that quantity/frequency. FAS is usually found among children of mothers who are heavy, habitual drinkers.

Here's an interesting link: http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/FAS/FAS.html

nak

That was very interesting, and I happen to agree with the article. It was nice to see all the references. What I particularly like was the very last part which explained why this fear mongering tactic is not at all useful. The women who drink enough to cause FAS in their babies are not going to respond or be able/willing to change their behavior based on these recommendations, meanwhile other women are caused undue worry over an accidental rum ball . To really address and reduce the tragedy of FAS different tactics are necessary.

I had 1/2 glass of champagne with my first pregnancy and a few beers and a glass or two of wine during my second. I believe that an occasional drink during pregnancy is perfectly safe, my main limiting factor (besides the fact that I am not much of a drinker anyway) is the social stigma of being seen in public drinking while pregnant.

[FrederickMama]

I don't drink .... pregnant or not.
But I am not bothered by other moms drinking a glass ( not bottle) of wine for a special occasion.
I have known children born to mothers that were heavy drinkers in early pregnancy and I do not support that at all.

[MaryLang]

I do not drink while pregnant at all. My MW once recomended a glass of wine while in labor, I didn't take it then though either.

[~member~]

Originally Posted by antannie

Alcohol crosses the placenta into the baby and will affect whatever part of the baby is growing at that time. The brain grows the whole time. As a person who works with people with fetal alcohol spectum disorder (FASD) I have seen too much to think it is ok to drink while pregnant. Since there is no known safe amount I would say it is not worth the risk. Alcohol does scary things to a growing brain.

: There are plenty of studies showing what happens to an ADULT brain with just ONE serving of alcohol. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what happens to the brain of a fetus.

[marnie]

my first pregnancy i was in italy. they do not approve any medication or supplements while pregnant, not even a prenatal vitamin or tylenol. Homeopathic medication is, of course, ok, and i got several blood screens a month testing for everything under the sun.

all issues (vitamin needs, etc.) are met through diet. definitely not a haphazard outlook on maternal health and how it affects the fetus.

that said, i was told to drink 3 glasses of red wine a week for my anemia. i was told that red wine aids the body in absorbing the iron from the foods you eat.

It was actually hard for me to do, because i had such terrible heartburn that drinking the wine was painful, so i only managed a few sips a couple of times a week.

my point is that every society, every medical system has its own set of research. I hear of OBs in this country prescribing vicodin and saying "no alcohol" and to me it sounds absurd - perhaps as absurd as "no iron supplements, but drink wine" may sound to you.

I'm at peace with realizing that I am no expert in this field. Everything I know I learned from someone. some doctor, nurse, midwife, friend, article... I didn't conduct any of these tests myself, i, alone, am no expert.

So you want to tell me that even one glass of beer is harmful? ok. maybe it is. you want to tell me that it's not? perhaps it isn't.

i am at the mercy of others. the least i can do is be merciful to the others around me.