[DoomaYula]

enjoy your recipes...

 

[Jane]

One shot of tequila is the same as a glass of wine in alcohol content.
Lots of professionals suggest that the evidence shows that one drink a week has not been shown to affect the baby.

Here in the US, there is a pretty strong "no alcohol, no risk" strategy, as seen in the strength of your response.

 

[Babes in arms]

I agree with pp. I regularly drank my glass of wine per week with my last two pregnancies. I understand your concern, but don't overreact. If she were routinely getting plastered, then yes worry. But, this is really not cause for concern.

 

[Arwyn]

One serving of alcohol once in pregnancy really isn't that big a deal. Only in the US are we so completely anti-alcohol, and honestly I think it has more to do with defensive medicine and our overly litigious society than real risk. I don't think there's any evidence to say that one drink once in mid pregnancy (or even more frequently, a few times a month or a couple times a week maybe) increases risks for fetal damage.

In England, moderate consumption of alcohol (half a glass to a glass of wine every once in a while) is considered acceptable. Most dietary restrictions are actually pretty arbitrary, and cultural rather than evidence based. (Chronic alcohol consumption or binging in early pregnancy definitely increases the risk of FAS, and I don't think any amount of alcohol is good in pregnancy, but it fascinates me that we're absolutists on the subject of alcohol, but are relatively blaise about, say, mercury in pregnancy, which we KNOW there is no minimum safe level of.)

I would assume that if she's well-educated, then she's well capable of performing her own risk-benefit analysis. Keeping up an annual tradition with her lifemate was probably worth the minuscule risk to her fetus to her.

 

[Potty Diva]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apricot One shot of tequila is the same as a glass of wine in alcohol content. Lots of professionals suggest that the evidence shows that one drink a week has not been shown to affect the baby. Here in the US, there is a pretty strong "no alcohol, no risk" strategy, as seen in the strength of your response.

Here, here. I totally agree with you here. I haven't actually heard the arguement that pregnant women shouldn't consume alcohol for a very long time now. I guess I just figured it was common knowledge that alcohol every once in a while would not negatively affect the baby.

 

[barefoot mama]

Lots of cultures consume alcohol while pregnant.

I had a friend who went to France while obviously pregnant and refused the wine with dinner. The waiter laughed at her and said "silly Americans".

My relatives in Italy continue to consume a glass of wine with dinner throughout pregnancy.

I'm not arguing that excessive alcohol consumption isn't harmful. It most certainly is. But I don't see a problem with an occasional drink here or there. I personally wouldn't be alarmed if your friend had a single shot of tequila.

 

[Arwyn]

Ooo, and on this subject, I am SO looking forward to our annual Christmas day and New Year's Eve eggnog. It has, like, 1/4 serving rum per person, and (gasp!) raw eggs, and there's no WAY I'm skipping it!

 

[Potty Diva]

*GASP* raw eggs?! My dear, now there is some cause for concern! But, don't tell my dd that, she might call DSS on me for abusive pregnancy! I consumed eggnog like it was water when I was pregnant with Kailey (from Thanksgiving til New Years). Oh, oh, and the best kind...The Southern Comfort brand. It...is...heavenly!

 

[Arwyn]

Heh. I also eat sushi, and on the (pardon the pun!) rare occasion I have red meat, I don't order it well done.

I've done my risk-benefit assessment, and I'm comfortable with my choices.

 

[talk de jour]

One shot, one glass of wine, or one beer is considered "one drink", and "one drink" is considered safe in pregnancy. Why be outraged?

 

[Jane]

Aw, come on, be nice

. Some people are simply more comfortable being very conservative. It's all about good research and knowing yourself.

 

[Arwyn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apricot Aw, come on, be nice . Some people are simply more comfortable being very conservative. It's all about good research and knowing yourself.

Not everyone is going to make the same choices in pregnancy. It's all about what each woman is comfortable with. Even given the same information, we won't all make the same choices. And that's OK! I have no problem with others choosing to avoid all tea, even decaf, while I sit here slurping my chai latte, or with people choosing to use marijuana to treat hyperemesis, or using Tylenol for their headaches, as long as they are making educated choices. The only things I have problems with are scaremongering, ignorance, and enforced conformity.

I do think some behaviors are riskier than others, and to say otherwise is false, and potentially dangerous. It's not "anything goes" - I too would be cringing to hear about binge drinking or crack use or nothing but McDonalds in pregnancy. And I do want to make sure that everyone is aware of the risks we currently know about their options (I fully know the risks of consuming "undercooked" meats and eggs, and I wish everyone knew the risks of consuming Tylenol). But there are HUGE grey areas in pregnancy diet, and anywhere within those areas, if a person is aware of the risks, I think it should be assumed that they've made the choices they're comfortable with, and good for them.

 

[Charmie981]

Yes, and I had a margarita on my birthday in my last pregnancy. Incidentally, does everyone know that this whole no alcohol in pregnancy craze started with OBs? They treated preterm labor with IV alcohol and then discovered that it caused FAS.

Just like everything else, moderation and education is key. If you're not comfortable with it, don't do it. But don't try to make everyone else uncomfortable with it also

.

 

[dewi]

Every other first world country thinks we are nuts with the drinking hysteria during pregnancy, and with all our precautions we statically still have the worst infant mortalities and outcomes of all first world countries.

I am more seriously concerned with the effect of some epidural combination medications on a newborns ability to suck and swallow after birth. Where are the stringent recommendations, the medical establishment's outrage, and federal guidelines over a problem that is now evidence based and written about in the "Journal of Human Lactation"?

 

[heartandhandsdoula]

ok, so what is the rule on tuna fish in pregnancy, I love tuna and eat like maybe 1-2 cans per week. My friend freaked and said no, theres too much mercury. I think its fine but what is the general consensus??

 

[BirthFree]

That would be a lot of mercury in my opinion and stay to one can per month honestly. The risk is not worth it I think... but that's just my $.02

 

[Pandora114]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...14/onozhu6.gif

Sorry had to.

Alcohol consumption is mostly a risk during the first trimester of pregnancy because of the still forming brain and spinal column.

I havn't had a drink during this pregnancy because *I* dont wanna hear *it* from my husband. It's not worth the headache and the

it'll get me. And now, I'm not gonna imbibe at all till I know I'm at term, because....I'm SO close to being at term but not close enough that knowing my dumb luck, the moment a sip passes my lips I'll go into labour and drop the kid right in the bar

 

[Brilliantmama]

I can see both sides of the issue. I had a friend who went out with me on her 21st birthday. We both drank a lot. Then she discovered that she was pregnant, and had been pregnant on her birthday. Initially I was horrified at what she "might" have done, but over time, I was able to realize that it could have been me and she did not intentionally hurt the baby.

Intentional drinking in moderation during pregnancy is difficult for me to understand. But I think it is likely due to the US's philosophy that NO alcohol is safe. If I were surrounded by the norm that ONE drink is ok occassionally, I think I would accept that as appropriate behavior. It is all in how we are socialized.

But I am ok with moderate caffine use during pregnancy in our Starbucks/USA. So go figure.

I think it is normal to get alarmed or be shocked, but I have to remember that what the US's philosophy is NOT universal as truth and everyone has the right to weigh risks and benefits while they are pregnant.

Bridget, Newlywed wifey to Rich

(10/21/06) Mommy to my adopted Abby (4/15/04)

: FT social worker while hubby finishes grad school, plotting a SAHM transition and starting with a

: revolution while TTC #2

: and

up a storm

 

[Arwyn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by heartandhandsdoula ok, so what is the rule on tuna fish in pregnancy, I love tuna and eat like maybe 1-2 cans per week. My friend freaked and said no, theres too much mercury. I think its fine but what is the general consensus??

That is a lot of mercury, even most of the mainstream medical recommendations are for 1-2 cans a month these days (which actually upsets other groups, because they think it should be on the "never" list along with shark and swordfish), but it depends on how much you're comfortable with. Also, if I remember right, there are some variations in the amount of mercury based on the type of tuna. Don't have any links, sorry.

 

[BelgianSheepDog]

Quote:

Most dietary restrictions are actually pretty arbitrary, and cultural rather than evidence based.

Word. Like how sushi is scary and eggs benedict is scary but roasted turkey, one of THE major sources of food-borne illnesses, is a-OK.