Red wine anyone?

[mama2walden&luna]

I've read here and there that a glass of red wine is beneficial in the last weeks of pregnancy. I also read in several places in Spiritual midwifery about drinking alcohol to slow contractions. Anyway, I think one glass can't hurt if you need to relax in the evening, but I'm a little freaked out about trying it. Some doctors and midwives reccomend it, I know, but how safe is it? I love my red wine, and with all the stress on my body right now, it sounds like a great way to take a load off after dinner. How does everyone else feel about it?

[josybear]

my mw says that the benefit of a glass of wine at the very end of pregnancy is that it relaxes the mama, but if the mama is getting freaked out at the idea of alcohol then there's no point at all and skip it. she also says it's too late in brain development to give the kid FAS. but it so depends on your comfort level...

personally, i'm getting a wine kit this week so that by the time it's ready i can definitely drink again.

[danotoyou2]

A glass of wine does NOT cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Maybe if you're downing whiskey it'd do something, but a glass of wine after dinner won't harm the baby.

I'd read a bunch of studies on this recently, when debating whether or not to have the occasional glass of wine/champagne/port. Basically, it takes daily drinking in large amounts to cause FAS, or drinking in excess (like, to puking) fairly often.

To me, the benefits of red wine are numerous. Also, I just missed the taste.

But, like Josybear said... if it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it! It's a personal decision for everyone.

And now... I want some wine, and I don't have any. Damnit.

[ani'smommy]

I have had a few glasses this pregnancy. It doesn't bother me in the least. I'd say go for it.

[gratefulmum]

I finally allowed myself a nice glass of red while on vacation this last week. It tasted delightful and I really enjoyed it, until the very end when I started to feel queasy and upset in my stomach. I then remembered that we had eaten lunch at a seafood fry type place that had many oysters on the menu. Well, I am highly highly allergic to oysters and apparently the fried grit cakes had some oyster juices get into them because I spent the rest of the night in the hotel room sending that glass of wine back up.
Now, I am positive it was the oysters and not the wine, but what a way to ruin a great thing, huh? So, I'll have to see how excited I am about drinking another glass anytime soon. The whole association thing.

[Groggie]

Mmmmm, I'd LOVE some red wine, and wouldn't really have a problem with a glass of it at this point - but I know it would just exacerbate my heartburn, so it's a no-go. :

One thing to watch out for though - I had an "accidental" wine spritzer a while back (a waitress misunderstood my order) and I was like, what the heck, can't let this go to waste ... and the one little glass of diluted white wine gave me a hangover! A hangover while pregnant is not fun!

[MOMGOTSPUNK]

Just had to join for a minute, even though in the Oct DDC. I had 1 glass of red wine during this entire pregnancy when I was about in week 12. It freaked me out so badly, that I did not have any more since. Thank you for the reassurances that some of you have given. :

[wendyland]

I don't drink much normally, so no I don't drink at all pregnant. I don't think there's much harm in a glass once in a while. I had about half of a margarita when I was pregnant with my first child because I was pregnant on my 21st birthday. I was too embarrassed to order it myself, tho, because I was obviously pregnant.

[mama2walden&luna]

Originally Posted by gratefulmum

I finally allowed myself a nice glass of red while on vacation this last week. It tasted delightful and I really enjoyed it, until the very end when I started to feel queasy and upset in my stomach. I then remembered that we had eaten lunch at a seafood fry type place that had many oysters on the menu. Well, I am highly highly allergic to oysters and apparently the fried grit cakes had some oyster juices get into them because I spent the rest of the night in the hotel room sending that glass of wine back up.
Now, I am positive it was the oysters and not the wine, but what a way to ruin a great thing, huh? So, I'll have to see how excited I am about drinking another glass anytime soon. The whole association thing.

Ewww, I know how that is! I have issues with oysters and muscles. The last two times I've eaten them have been very bad experiences. It's funny, I grew up eating oysters, so I guess I developed the allergy sometime in my twenties. It's weird how that happens.

[twilight girl]

There is nothing wrong with a glass of red wine during pregnancy. I've had about 4 glasses in 36 weeks. And, wow does it taste divine when you do allow yourself the occasional glass!

Don't forget that red wine has numerous health benefits. My midwife from my 1st pg told me not to worry about occasional drinks, she said I should absolutely toast the New Year with a nice glass of champagne!

My husband and I are red wine drinkers, though. So, one glass of wine does not alter me in any way. I would never drink enough to feel the effects of the alcohol.

For the later stages of pregnancy, I'm told it's very helpful. Especially to stop a prodromal labor, which believe me, if you can stop it, stop it. Prodromal labor for days is no fun! I wish I had know about the glass of red wine when I birthed DD ... after 3 days of prodromal labor I ended up with pit, epi and hospital birth, instead of birth center. And DD spent a day in the NICU and got an IV and they pushed antibiotics for no reason.

When you think about it, I think the glass of red wine would have been ultimately the better course of action!

[lyttlewon]

The FAS risk is the level of alcohol that is in your body. So drinking 4-5 glasses at once is more of a risk than those same drinks stretched over a period of several days.

One in 30 women who know they are pregnant reports “risk drinking” (7 or more drinks per week or 5 or more drinks on any one occasion). Drinking alcohol at these levels can pose a serious health threat to the unborn fetus.

I personally don't have a problem with what you are talking about. I drink frequently when I am not pregnant so I consider pregnancy my sabbatical away from drinking.

[4daughters]

A glass or red wine is great for you. I've actually craved beer for some reason and now and then take a few sips of dh's.

[echospiritwarrior]

why only talk of red wine?

[MOMGOTSPUNK]

Originally Posted by 4daughters

A glass or red wine is great for you. I've actually craved beer for some reason and now and then take a few sips of dh's.

:

It is just been within the past month that I have stopped CRAVING beer like there is no tomorrow while pregnant. This has been really odd for me, because its been years since I have really drank anything to speak of. :

[queendom lady]

Especially now in the last stretch I have no quams about asking dh for some sips of his beer. He's actually been buying special kinds he knows I'll like (like an amazing apricot belgium - yum!) and giving me about a 2 oz pour on the weekends. It's a good excuse for him and a great treat for me. It was easy not to drink most of this pg but now that's it's summer I definitely have been craving a nice cold one.

BTW.... any/every one plan on having a drink a night while bfing? In some book I was reading it was saying how there are certain nutrients in red wine and dark beer that are beneficial during bfing to both mom and babe. I don't have a problem with it.... maybe not every night but I can't wait!! (especially just not to feel guilty about it).

[mama2walden&luna]

Originally Posted by queendom lady

BTW.... any/every one plan on having a drink a night while bfing? In some book I was reading it was saying how there are certain nutrients in red wine and dark beer that are beneficial during bfing to both mom and babe. I don't have a problem with it.... maybe not every night but I can't wait!! (especially just not to feel guilty about it).

Yes, I wait about 2 months after birth to let the baby develop some good bacteria in her colon and for my body to completely heal, then I drink a little red wine or dark beer. Not daily, but occasionally. It gets pretty filtered out in your system and does not affect the baby in a "drunk" sort of way, unless you overdo it of course. Like you said, there are nutrients that are good to have. I never drink one on an empty stomach and I always follow it with water. When baby is older, l'll sometimes have two drinks.

[lyttlewon]

Breast milk with one or two glasses of wine is still better than formula

Originally Posted by queendom lady

BTW.... any/every one plan on having a drink a night while bfing? In some book I was reading it was saying how there are certain nutrients in red wine and dark beer that are beneficial during bfing to both mom and babe. I don't have a problem with it.... maybe not every night but I can't wait!! (especially just not to feel guilty about it).

One to two glasses in an evening is considered acceptable and safe. I don't know if I would do it every night or not. One thing to look out for is some babies don't nurse as much when you have alcohol in your breast milk. I personally haven't experienced such a thing. Here is an article on it that might help.

[lyttlewon]

Originally Posted by echospiritwarrior

why only talk of red wine?

When you compare the two red wine has more good stuff in it than white or blush wine does, anti oxidants and such. A lot of white wines are made from the crappy immature grapes they couldn't use in the red wine. White merlot and white zinfandel for example. Here is a short article http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1719675.stm.