Honestly who is drinking?

v1wwo

Everyone is telling me it's ok to have a little. Even my Doctor.
Love beer, but I didn't have any since I found out..... Ok maybe one sip....... Two sips.
What do you guys think.

BeachBabe22

I don't drink at all while I'm pregnant. It's really not that hard to go ten months without alcohol. It just isn't worth the risk in my opinion.

LittleMommaBlueHen

I don't drink during pregnancy.  Like PP said, it's not that hard to forgo and it isn't worth the risk.

snikai

My understanding is that no one really knows how much or how little can cause harm, so I think its best to avoid altogether. Not worth the risks!

bazingaa

I think I value the life of my child too much to do anything that would cause potential harm, regardless of how small that potential is. To each their own.

korileighb

nope. no drinks here. with my dd i had a glass of wine like twice in my third trimester, I thought it would be awesome but in all reality i took 2 sips and wanted to fall asleep. 

adtaylor2015

Definitely no drinks. Not worth the risk, in my opinion.

jen83mn

Not worth it to me! I'm not a big drinker anyways, but if I did, I would feel so guilty and would worry about it the entire pregnancy. I figure I have the rest of my life after having babies to drink! But I'm also not drinking any caffeine, not even the allotted cup ... I would just rather play it super safe

WheresTheGlow

I miss wine, but im steering clear of it until the bean is delivered

alholman89

Nope. Not worth the risk to me.  Alcohol isn't going anywhere so it can wait.

sailorgal

I think it's okay to have a little but I personally don't. I've never been a big drinker so I don't miss it. I will miss summer drinks though when the time comes! Love margaritas and daiquiris etc. But will have the non-alcoholic versions.

v1wwo

katydid2014 said:

Strictly vodka here. It's the same color as water so no one can tell that's what I'm drinking!

Finally an honest answer!!! Let's go out girl!!!!!!

(Ok that is a joke for you people that are about to bash me)

jupiterthecat

To answer the question, no, I'm not drinking. However, I have no judgment at all towards people who choose to drink small amounts here and there. A few sips of alcohol-- if you're literally talking about a couple of sips-- is not going to affect fetal development unless it's laced with listeria or Accutane. Later in pregnancy-- because the risks of non-heavy drinking are largely confined to right around the period we are in right now-- I think it's OK to have the occasional half beer. That said, during my last pregnancy (and I'm sure with this one too) I didn't end up doing that, for two reason. First, the taboo is so strong that, justly or not, it makes you feel like a terrible person and mother. Second, I found that the occasional sip or tiny glass was not very satisfying to me-- it just made me wish I could have more. 

I also disagree with others' assertions that it's easy to give up alcohol for 9 months. I love beer and wine and miss them terribly. Fortunately, abstinence gets easier over time-- you get used to the rhythm of alcohol being OK for other people but not for you (just like when you were a kid). It's hardest at first, which unfortunately is also the time where the dangers of drinking are the highest. 

marcus7676

Have you read the book Expecting Better? It took all the studies and analyzed them and gave a really thoughtful explanation as to why occasional drinks are okay in the first trimester (and a daily drink is okay later in the pregnancy).

v1wwo

Eliza040502 said:

Have you read the book Expecting Better? It took all the studies and analyzed them and gave a really thoughtful explanation as to why occasional drinks are okay in the first trimester (and a daily drink is okay later in the pregnancy).

I want to read it. I heard it on NPR.

wishiwaspreggo

I've gotten piss drunk a few times over the course of my pregnancy but I don't think it did much harm.  For it to be bad it has to be consistent, right?

aprilmay92

@wishiwaspreggo‌ please tell me these instances were only BEFORE you found out you were pregnant.

As for me, I miss my wine dearly. I'm certainly not drinking at all during the first and second trimesters. My doc said wine here and there in the third trimester was fine, but I'm not sure I'll even be able to do that without feeling guilty.

momofsweetps

No. Never. Especially in the beginning when everything is forming. I don't even take Tylenol. I am not an alcoholic and can function and survive without a drink for awhile. Heck before a few months ago, dh and I hadn't had any alcoholic drinks for 5 years. We are just not big drinkers and I refuse to be an alcoholic like my parents.

kaylaef

Meh. Im not missing it yet do I can't really comment on how difficult out is. I'm struggling more with caffeine

Veronica0422

My fiance and I used to drink wine on Sunday's, because that was our only day during the week we were both off and we are kid free. (my daughter is 5 and his son is 7) so they go to our ex's (we were both married previously). So now "sunday funday" will now consist of movies and popcorn. lol. We aren't big drinkers by any means and I personally don't even drink more than one caffeinated beverage a day either after finding out I'm pregnant. I think its about responsibility. Everything you put into your body will affect the baby inside you no matter what... Studies are studies, and may justify careless actions or make people sleep better at night, but every body is different. Its just not worth the risk of ANYTHING being affected, but thats just MY opinion. Good luck!

May14th2011

Nope. Not worth it. I also stay away from caffeine. If I'm not willing to give up alcohol for this baby, what am I going to be like when I have to give up other stuff that's harder?

marcus7676

viwwo said:

Eliza040502 said:

Have you read the book Expecting Better? It took all the studies and analyzed them and gave a really thoughtful explanation as to why occasional drinks are okay in the first trimester (and a daily drink is okay later in the pregnancy).

I want to read it. I heard it on NPR.

It's fantastic. The husband read it first (he likes statistics) and I'm reading it now. It's a very straightforward analysis, but it doesn't dumb things down.

ForeverEverAfter

I had a half glass of champagne NYE (before I knew I was preg). I'm still BFing my toddler, so I can't remember the last time I had more than one drink. Last preg I stopped drinking 6 months before TTC, but I'd have sips of DH's beer if he was trying something new or exciting. I was too nervous to have any more than that-and I'll probably be the same way this time.

katz_meow02

On the infrequent occasion that we're visiting somewhere that wine is being served, DH will usually have a glass, so I just take a sip or two out of his.

irenejean

I drank some beer and wine over the holidays, before I found out I was pregnant, haven't had any since. Like several pps here, I'm not a big drinker anyway, so not drinking is easy for me. I could see myself having a sip of beer that DH is drinking once in a while this summer, but I'll be abstaining for the most part.

akg629

I just don't think it's worth it. Would I like a glass of wine? Sure, but the health of my bean and me is much more important.

vongool

Why risk it?

marcus7676

Some of the responses here really surprise me. It's a personal choice. The studies show that a limited amount has no negative effect. While drinking in moderation may not be your choice, respect the decisions of others (and the educated opinion of a medical doctor).

sw34tyc4rc4ss

I personally wouldn't risk it. Just because I know personally the effects on it. My two brothers and I were born with fetal alcohol syndrome. No one would be able to tell by the looks of us. Except my youngest is really short and will maybe reach a little over 5 feet tall. As for me and my brother right under me we sometimes have problems with learning and remembering things. I just wouldn't want to wonder if my child was born with problems if it was my fault.

mlindon

I have had a sip, literally one sip just to taste a mango Rita. It made me want to drink it so

musicmomma00

Looks like I'm in the minority here, but once the second trimester comes around I will probably have a half glass once a month or so if the mood strikes.

alarias2008

I had beer and wine a couple of weeks ago before I found out. I'm not sure if I will have a drink later in my pregnancy as of right now im not craving it at all but I'm not a big drinker anyway. If the mood strikes I've read and heard that a sip here and there is not harmful so I will not rule it out. Its a personal choice in my opinion.

natback

Drinking while pregnant is still the number one reason babies are born with mental retardation and other disabilities. Think before you drink!

mich5504

But doctors aren't always right. And studies aren't done on every person and every person is different. I find it highly ridiculous that you can't go through your pregnancy without a drink. It's selfish. And what is two sips gonna do for you anyway?

CaliVal

I love IPAs (India pale ale beer) And I'm not opposed to having a few sips later on in pregnancy.

CaliVal

mich5504 said:

But doctors aren't always right. And studies aren't done on every person and every person is different. I find it highly ridiculous that you can't go through your pregnancy without a drink. It's selfish. And what is two sips gonna do for you anyway?

It's called flavor. Lots of people regularly use beer or wine to season food. If you drink regularly and enjoy it, sometimes it is satisfying to have a small taste of something you enjoy. To each their own.

indogbeersiveonlyhadone

I won't drink while I'm pregnant however, DH is from Costa Rica and his mom said and I quote "it's beneficial to the baby and mom to have 1 glass of wine a week" bahahahaha and also, when I was stationed in Germany A LOT of the German wives drank moderately while they were pregnant per their Dr's orders. I even brought this up to my OB during my first appt, not because I want to drink but out of curiosity. He basically told me "everyone has their own opinion on alcohol while pregnant but in the US we don't condone it". Funny fact, my best friends wife is German, drank a beer or 2 a week during her whole pregnancy and their son is a genius, even skipped a grade.... Could it be the alcohol??? Or just awesome genetics?? I guess I'll never know because I won't drink while I'm pregnant. I'm not condoning drinking while being pregnant, I'm just saying "to each their own" I guess.
Plus, I'm a child that when my mom was pregnant with me he told her it was fine to smoke with me in the womb as long as she switched from regular cigarettes to lights... I was born 7 pounds 11 ounces wit no health issues.... 10 years later when she got pregnant with my brother dr told her it was bad and she quit and never picked the habit back up.

mhillaert

I don't drink at all the first trimester. After that, it's a few half-glasses a week at most... I go wine or beer only... usually just wine.

I've worked with numerous doctors and midwives (I'm doula trained) and having a ton of friends with big families and healthy babies... I've come to the conclusion that occasional glasses are fine. It's the habitual drinking or the over drinking that causes the problems. I've actually had a doctor suggest a glass of wine towards the end of pregnancy when I was really stressed.

I have 5 healthy kiddos and followed this philosophy with 4 of them.

That being said... always do your own research, go with your gut and trust your instincts

barrelocarol

This thread is interesting to me. Personally, I don't drink. But, I also don't do a lot of random things make make my body feel a little icky, like eating mangoes and cantaloupe (random, I know).

I have no judgement on what others do, drinking or not, or otherwise.

What surprises me is people's ability to call out "you have a problem."

My thoughts: 1. Who can know if someone has any problem based off of one piece of information through a one-way delivery mechanism like a post?

2. If a person really did have a problem, I'm guessing hearing this in this way, without having a personal relationship, wouldn't be very motivating.

3. There could be a better way to show rather than tell. I think a number of women on this thread have done this well. They have stated their opinion without making a written judgement call on the original poster. Yay for that.

4. Maybe I see all of this as a giant comparison for how we decide to treat out children and that may be what I'm reacting to. Also, I'm hormonal and everything seems a bit bigger than it usually would in my daily intake of the world

5. To the OP, as with any other decision in pregnancy, I think these insanely strong hormones and aversions and symptoms are to teach us to rely on our gut. If I have a twinge of not feeling good about doing something, I think my body is telling me it something specific about my pregnancy...maybe that's the deciding factor?

hatchback4g

I'm not a big drinker so it hasn't been an issue for me yet but with baseball season coming up I know that I'm going to want to have a beer while watching the game I will probably stick to no alcohol for the first trimester but after that I may have a sip or 2 during a game and maybe a glass of wine while out with my girlfriends every once in awhile depending on what my doctor says. I'm having a more difficult time cutting out my caffeine lol!

stacey609

Nope... I guess I've worked with too many fetal alcohol syndrome children to even consider risking having that kind of life for the satisfaction of having the alcohol. As I really don't know exactly how much is too much I just choose to avoid it. I've replaced my beer and wine with carbonated water from the soda stream, anf sparkling grape juice at special occasions.