wine and pregnancy

[seamama11]

Do any of you drink a little wine here and there during the second and third trimesters? I didn't with my first but would like a glass here and there while pregnant with my 2nd. I am 16 weeks and have heard it is fine to drink a bit of wine. No more than a glass a week....is what I have heard.
Thanks,
Sarah

[tamagotchi]

Sure, I'll have a little here and there. I've read that up to two glasses of wine per day is fine, but I play it safe and don't drink more than one glass at a time :)

You should see the looks I get sometimes, though, even for having no more than a sip of DH's glass at a restaurant!

[seamama11]

More and more that is what I hear. Then why such the stigma around it. My mom looked horrified when I mentioned that I was going to enjoy a glass of wine.
Sarah

[lynnie2183]

I'm 14 weeks and I had a small glass of red wine with some ice in it tonight. It was all I needed! I probably won't have another glass for a while.

[GinaRae]

I don't have wine often (because I do agree with the militant anti-alcohol preggos that remind us that any little bit COULD affect the baby) but I still do enjoy it probably once per week. My husband makes me a spritzer that's light on the wine in a pint glass.

He says between the amount of sparkling water he uses, the amount of ice, the fact that I drink it SO slow and ice it again, I probably only drink 1/4 glass of wine in the end. But it tastes good, makes me feel relaxed, etc.

I have no tolerance for booze anymore and am sensitive to everything, so really, 1/4 glass is all I want or need!

[mkmama]

yes, its fine!
1. i think they "have" to say any bit can be harmful. But i think other ancient cultures have still used their wine while pregnant.
Of course just a little. I had a sip for our anniversary and once in second/third trimester i'll have a glass a week or something.

2. alcoholics that drink crazy amounts have something like 30% born fetal alcohol syndrome babes. maybe that statistic has changed, that was in nursing school.

[mama2rey]

My understading is that the studies on FAS that were done used women who drank about a 6 pack of beer every day.

I can't bring myself to do it-however I don't think a glass of wine here and there will hurt. Think about this: pregnant women in France drink wine every day! They don't have a higher incidence of FAS in France.

[alisaparrent]

Does beer count? Ohhh I think I like this thread. Ever since seeing those commercials for that new beer Miller Chill, I've been craving one. I love anything with lime and salt and it looks so good~

[jazzybaby9]

I've steered clear till now. I'm 36 weeks and I had a glass at a birthday party yesterday and a few sips tonight...not much, but it hits the spot.:wink

[riverside knitter]

My OB assures me that moderate alcohol consumption, such as a small glass of wine with dinner, is fine. She told me that the fetal alcohol syndrome studies have been done on rats and severe alcoholics, and she is comfortable allowing her patients a bit of wine if that is what it takes to relax. I'm abstaining myself since I am on heparin and aspirin for a thrombophilia - alcohol & blood thinners aren't the best combo. Plus, the smell of alcohol is no good for me these days. I nearly barfed at the smell of the tequila in hubby's margarita yesterday.

On the beer front, there are some really good N/A beers out there. They work in a pinch for that beer craving.

[beansmommy]

DH is a homebrewer, so with this pregnancy, I've sampled a half-pint of whatever he currently has on tap (yes, on tap-- he kegs his beer and pulls pints from his "kegerator" fridge in the basement) a few times-- he's in the process of brewing a nice organic Mother's Milk stout for me to tap once baby arrives, with homegrown hops, no less! My 3 Irish great-aunts insist that stout is the best thing for keeping up milk supply, and though the prescription hasn't failed me yet, they cite the lack of stout (in 1950's New England) among the reasons they formula-fed their collective 15 kids...

And, when it was really hot a few weekends ago and the kids were driving me up a tree, I spent an afternoon nursing a gin and tonic... Moderation is the key, though. I'm far past my partying days, anyway, so a drink or two is usually more than sufficient...

I don't worry about having a sip or two, or even a pint of beer or a mixer now an then while pregnant, but only at home-- I doubt many bartenders would serve me since I look every bit of my 38 weeks, that is, of course, if DH and I ever got a chance to go out without the kids... ;)

[aylaanne]

I've had small glasses of wine or champagne while I've been pregnant. I even had a weak margarita at one point. I think as long as you're aware of your drinking and how it's affecting you (once I start feeling like I'm drinking, I stop) you should be fine.

[SunChild]

Im 39 wks and enjoyed half a glass once or twice a week...I would of had more if I wanted it but I genuinely didn't feel like it. I have had a beer now and then too. I think it only poses a risk if you feel tipsy or drunk, then you know you've had too much.

[AimeeandBrian]

I share DH's glass of wine when we go out. I also had a glass of beer a few weeks ago because we went somewhere that had a favourite beer of mine that isn't often found in the US and I wasn't about to pass that up.

[MilkTrance]

When I was pregnant, I'd have sips here and there. I think you can go overboard on the safety. My friend wouldn't even touch a bottle of Windex, drink coffee or eat chocolate. But then she had her baby circumsized. There isn't a big enough rolleyes icon for that.

[weeirishlass]

I don't have an issue with it. The studies on FAS are on women consuming much more than the 1/4 glass I have occasionally. I entered the second tri this week, and had 1/2 glass of malbec last night to celebrate. It was so yummy! I did have some sips of wine very early in my first tri, but nothing now for a couple months. I rarely have even a full glass, and never more than that, and never very often, but I 100% believe that an occasional glass of wine is a-okay during pregnancy.

[hubris]

Starting maybe mid-2nd-trimester, I'll occasionally enjoy a half glass of wine if it's available and I want it. My tolerance is very low right now, too, so I limit how much I drink more than I normally would.

I tend not to order wine in public, though. It's not worth the hassle, IMO. I did it *once* at a small restaurant during my second pregnancy and got the hairy eyeball from the owner all through my dinner. That discomfort made the glass of wine less enjoyable, so I haven't ordered in public while pg since then. I'd love to be a little more of an activist about it, but when the point of enjoying the glass of wine is to have a relaxing nice dinner, that doesn't mix terribly well with activism. ;)

[MoreThanApplesauce]

Do any of you drink a little wine here and there during the second and third trimesters?


No.

[Avarie]

My OB said that a glass of wine or a beer once or twice a week is OK. We went camping this weekend, and I had one flavored malt beverage Friday night and did a little wine tasting on Saturday (four samples is about one glass). I probably won't have any again for a while.

[dcgrl]

Yes, I've had wine. Not much. Maybe once a month I'll have a small glass--probably about 4 ounces. always as a complement to a meal that calls out for it. And I never order it in public because of the negative reaction I expect.

[Jezzy]

I was having trouble sleeping in the 3rd trimester of my last pregnancy. I asked my doc what I could do ( I was exausted ) He told me to drink 1/2 glass of red wine before I went to bed. I would say that it is ok.

[GISDiva]

On the beer front, there are some really good N/A beers out there. They work in a pinch for that beer craving.

Yes! We're big micro-beer drinkers and my husband, worried about my lack of beer consumption when we were trying to conceive (haha), did a bunch of research. The key is to get an imported one. The American ones brew the beer regularly and then perform some chemical voodoo to get the alcohol out, whereas the imported ones from Germany and such just brew it normally, but not long enough to form alcohol, I think. Apparently N/A beer is big in Germany, so they wouldn't bother with it if it wasn't good!

ANYHOO - off topic. I had a tiny bit of wine this weekend because the in-laws were in town and BOY did I need it...I like the spritzer idea someone posted, I will have to remember that!

[weeirishlass]

Yes! We're big micro-beer drinkers and my husband, worried about my lack of beer consumption when we were trying to conceive (haha), did a bunch of research. The key is to get an imported one. The American ones brew the beer regularly and then perform some chemical voodoo to get the alcohol out, whereas the imported ones from Germany and such just brew it normally, but not long enough to form alcohol, I think. Apparently N/A beer is big in Germany, so they wouldn't bother with it if it wasn't good!


Sorry to take this thread on a total tangent. but you are exactly right! German n/a beer is still brewed according to German Purity Laws that have been in effect since the 1700s! German beer is only allowed to contain: water, hops, barley, yeast and malt. That's it. No added chemicals, nothing to remove the alcohol. So enjoy!

[jbirdbrain]

Interesting thread. I've been drinking N/A beer occaisionally to satify the craving...
I've been contemplating a half glass or so of wine though now that I'm 36 weeks along and having trouble sleeping. Good to know I'm not alone!

[OldFashionedGirl]

I'm quite impressed that this thread hasn't gotten nasty, as I have seen a LOT of similar threads do.

With my last preg., I had a glass of wine about a week before my due date. This time, I had a VERY small glass (maybe 1/4) in the first couple weeks, and last week, at 12 wks, I had one beer.

My personal "rule" is one drink (beer/wine) per month. It's what I'm comfortable with, and all it takes to get rid of the beer craving I get ONLY during pregnancy :lol

[crazycandigirl]

I think it is fine to have a drink every once in a while. I have so been craving alcohol, but I only have a sip or two of DH's drink when we are out. When I am at 38 weeks than I will probably allow myself a small drink once or twice a week. I am all about the relaxing and taking it easy as a "trick" to go into labor. A nice glass of wine, long bath and romantic evening should do the trick! (At least I think they will):lol

[BostonianBaby]

I think it's fine too. I had a little bit (e.g. about 1/3 of a glass) of champagne at my friend's bachelorette party, and I've had sips of other people's wine here and there. My midwives said it's completely fine a couple of times a week, and they actually advise women to have a glass once they've gone into labor so they can relax.

[ComfyCozy]

How ironic that I read this earlier... on getting some mild back to back contractions this afternoon I took 1/4 cup of sherry and laid down. I definitely needed my muscles to relax and that tiny bit did the trick. A good nap and the contractions stopped. Good thing...we have a ways to go.

[anjanetteopal]

I just keep thinking about all of the cultures who have consumed more watered down wine than water throughout the ages and it seems hard for me to imagine a little bit hurting my baby.

I'm still waiting for someone to tap me on the shoulder during communion at church and politely inform me that I shouldn't partake, though. haha. I'm sure they would just be doing it from a kind assumption that since this is my first baby, no one told me not to. Hasn't happened yet these first 15 weeks!

[exquisitebones]

Sure, I'll have a little here and there. I've read that up to two glasses of wine per day is fine, but I play it safe and don't drink more than one glass at a time :)

You should see the looks I get sometimes, though, even for having no more than a sip of DH's glass at a restaurant!

More and more that is what I hear. Then why such the stigma around it. My mom looked horrified when I mentioned that I was going to enjoy a glass of wine.
Sarah

Both of these things happened to me :dizzy: :lol
I have not drank with this pregnancy, as I am still in the first tri (well outside of what we drank on our honey moon when we didnt know we were making another :lol :loveeyes: )
But my midwife told me today that she reccomends it in the last tri to help combat early labour, and to chillllllout!

[bri276]

I really don't care what anyone else does, but I was thinking about this the other day, and how it's so often "red wine". I mean, alcohol is alcohol as far as the baby is concerned, what does the fact that it's red wine or tequila have to do with anything? (ie, sipping a glass of red wine over the course of 1/2 hour vs. sipping a shot of tequila over the same time period). :) like I said, not a judgment, just an observation

I had a couple of sips of beer while pg. just sips though, I was too paranoid to enjoy a whole one.

[StrawHatBrat]

I wouldn't. I enjoy an occasional drink or 3 when I'm not pregnant, but I can avoid it for the 9 months it takes to grow my baby. It just isn't something that I'm willing to risk.

[Rico'sAlice]

I really don't care what anyone else does, but I was thinking about this the other day, and how it's so often "red wine". I mean, alcohol is alcohol as far as the baby is concerned, what does the fact that it's red wine or tequila have to do with anything? (ie, sipping a glass of red wine over the course of 1/2 hour vs. sipping a shot of tequila over the same time period). :) like I said, not a judgment, just an observation

I had a couple of sips of beer while pg. just sips though, I was too paranoid to enjoy a whole one.

Maybe because there are nutritional benefits to drinking red wine that are not applicable to drinking tequila. Not so much in terms of how it affects the baby, but in determining whether ot not it is "worth it."
Also, IMO, socially and gastronomically, drinking wine with a meal serves a different purpose than having a shot of tequila while hanging out at a bar or something.

[mothragirl]

i have a small drink once in a while during pregnancy, yum!

[su9799]

i think it not so good...

[bri276]

Maybe because there are nutritional benefits to drinking red wine that are not applicable to drinking tequila. Not so much in terms of how it affects the baby, but in determining whether ot not it is "worth it."
Also, IMO, socially and gastronomically, drinking wine with a meal serves a different purpose than having a shot of tequila while hanging out at a bar or something.

:lol yeah, I know, I mean antioxidants and all that, but nothing you couldn't get from a piece of fruit, right? I just think it's funny. I think if someone likes tequila or a hard liquor, and they hate wine, then if they were to slowly sip that over the course of an hour like I said, there's really no difference to the baby health wise, as long as it's the same alcohol content, but yet people would probably be saying "gasp! she drank tequila while pregnant!" but they'd be okay with it if it had been red wine instead? kwim?

[etoilech]

I really don't care what anyone else does, but I was thinking about this the other day, and how it's so often "red wine". I mean, alcohol is alcohol as far as the baby is concerned, what does the fact that it's red wine or tequila have to do with anything? (ie, sipping a glass of red wine over the course of 1/2 hour vs. sipping a shot of tequila over the same time period). :) like I said, not a judgment, just an observation

I had a couple of sips of beer while pg. just sips though, I was too paranoid to enjoy a whole one.

Well, we live in Europe and if you like tequila, I'd say go for it. I just find it's nicer to sip on a glass of wine, than sip on a shot of tequila. That's just me.

No one here would bat an eyelash. Generally people are drinking wine as part of a meal... where as not generally so with tequila. Although, I've had beautiful tequila in Mexico that would absolutely drink with dinner or after. Tequila can be very, very nice. We're not talking Quervo (sp?) though.

Most women here have wine occasionally with dinner. IIRC Switzerland does not have a a higher rate of FAS, than the USA... for comparison purposes.

It doesn't really have to be an all or nothing, but I think it should be what you are comfortable with. Some people are comfortable with having a glass of wine or other liquor... some are not. I respect that.

:lol yeah, I know, I mean antioxidants and all that, but nothing you couldn't get from a piece of fruit, right? I just think it's funny. I think if someone likes tequila or a hard liquor, and they hate wine, then if they were to slowly sip that over the course of an hour like I said, there's really no difference to the baby health wise, as long as it's the same alcohol content, but yet people would probably be saying "gasp! she drank tequila while pregnant!" but they'd be okay with it if it had been red wine instead? kwim?

I really don't care what people have to say so, I guess, that wouldn't bother me.

[ltk]

I enjoyed the occasional glass here and there w/ my last..and also Lambic FRAMBOIS, belgian ale. Delicious. In my first tri so I will wait. But I always made sure there was food involved, slow sipping and that it didn't add up to too much. :) I do remember one evening where I had several tastes in a course of 5 hours, along w. a lot of food but I was like 7 months plus...it was really nice. screw the judgemental people..your body, your baby! the research is scewed and the scare tactics are meant for people w/ serious drinking problems.....those who cannot control their consumption.

[housefullofmonkeys]

Well my OB actually "prescribed" me a (small) glass of wine every night towards the end of my first pregnancy. (I can't remember exactly when though). I was way too stressed the whole pregnancy, and he wanted to get me to calm down. My next two pregnancies, I did have a little wine, but not much. I was much more relaxed by then.
Oh, and I did drink my "prescription" with my meal each night.:)