Why is wine a special case?

tokenhoser · December 2010

And don't feed me the "heart healthy" crap. Grape juice has pretty much the same pros without the alcohol.

Is it just cultural? Is wine inherently classier than craving a bit of rum or beer? Do all you occasional drinkers simply prefer wine to every other alternative? All the "I would only drink wine" responses are really weird to me. Your body and your baby can't tell if it's wine or something else.

MrsD1 · December 2010

heylee · December 2010

I personally don't feel comfortable drinking while pregnant. If someone else wants to do it it's their own choice but liquor is my normal choice, I can't stand wine lol

oliverncherie · December 2010

I'm not drinking at all. Plus, I prefer vodka over wine or beer, so it's kind of moot.

megan_gardner_10 · December 2010

That's a really good question...I've heard people say they drank a glass of red wine almost every day during their pregnancy....it's definitely weird. But then again I've also heard people say that their dr. told them it's ok for them to smoke as long as they don't have like more than 2 cigarettes a day or something, I think that's b.s. Honestly I think some people just might make up excuses to make themselves feel better about indulging in things they normally would. For me though,the thought of drinking any kind of alcohol makes me want to vomit.

megan_gardner_10 · December 2010

And actually...idk why I didn't think of this when I first replied but I just remembered. About a year ago I found out I was pregnant only when I was miscarrying. I had no idea before that and I don't even know how far along I was but my guess is early. My bf and I would regularly drink a bottle of wine together...about every other night or so (which means about 2 glasses each). That's the only thing that stands out to me when it comes to why I miscarried. I'm extremely healthy and 13 weeks pregnant right now with no problems or signs of anything bad. So yeah from personal experience I would just say no amount of alcohol is safe...there's no proof that even small amounts aren't harmful.

luvdv8 · December 2010

Wine is more of a cultural thing in our house (Italian), though I would have nothing against having a beer. I guess my issue with mixed drinks is that you don't know what percentage of alcohol you're getting- someone could mix it particularly heavy handed and instead of having a half a drink you're having closer to one and a half.

LiluBee · December 2010

My guess is its in how its measured. I don't think a beer is much worse/better than wine but the alcohol content of beer is so varied in my opinion. Well, at least the ones DH brings home. A small glass of wine is just that, a small amount.

LittleDelany · December 2010

I think it's one of those old-school mis-informations. A lot of people I hear all the old wives tales are the same ones who swear that you can "only drink wine" while pregnant, and they swear that only wine is healthy for your heart, not beer or liquor. Thousands of studies have been done and when it comes to alcohol, it doesn't matter what kind it is, they have essentially the same risks and benefits. My dad's a doctor and he says a drink is a drink.

laurakaz13 · December 2010

megan_gardner_10:
And actually...idk why I didn't think of this when I first replied but I just remembered. About a year ago I found out I was pregnant only when I was miscarrying. I had no idea before that and I don't even know how far along I was but my guess is early. My bf and I would regularly drink a bottle of wine together...about every other night or so (which means about 2 glasses each). That's the only thing that stands out to me when it comes to why I miscarried. I'm extremely healthy and 13 weeks pregnant right now with no problems or signs of anything bad. So yeah from personal experience I would just say no amount of alcohol is safe...there's no proof that even small amounts aren't harmful.

But there is absolutely zero proof that you miscarried due to alcohol consumption. Many of us have had miscarriages, and I hate it when people try to come up for a reason it happened when they have absolutely no medical proof.

Jenn0810 · December 2010

LittleDelany:
I think it's one of those old-school mis-informations. A lot of people I hear all the old wives tales are the same ones who swear that you can "only drink wine" while pregnant, and they swear that only wine is healthy for your heart, not beer or liquor. Thousands of studies have been done and when it comes to alcohol, it doesn't matter what kind it is, they have essentially the same risks and benefits. My dad's a doctor and he says a drink is a drink.

I agree...a drink is a drink. I would rather not drink for 9 months than risk the life of my baby. My thoughts are that if someone can't give up alcohol for their child then they might have a problem. Sorry if I offended anyone here...

Nechie122 · December 2010

In many cultures, wine is considered closer to food than to a vice like it is here. When my mom was pregnant with me in Italy, her OB told her she could continue having wine with dinner. I'm not endorsing either side -- but there is something about the "ritual of the table" versus having a drink in a bar that makes people feel more comfortable (right or wrong).

alliejoe · December 2010

laurakaz13:
megan_gardner_10:
And actually...idk why I didn't think of this when I first replied but I just remembered. About a year ago I found out I was pregnant only when I was miscarrying. I had no idea before that and I don't even know how far along I was but my guess is early. My bf and I would regularly drink a bottle of wine together...about every other night or so (which means about 2 glasses each). That's the only thing that stands out to me when it comes to why I miscarried. I'm extremely healthy and 13 weeks pregnant right now with no problems or signs of anything bad. So yeah from personal experience I would just say no amount of alcohol is safe...there's no proof that even small amounts aren't harmful.

But there is absolutely zero proof that you miscarried due to alcohol consumption. Many of us have had miscarriages, and I hate it when people try to come up for a reason it happened when they have absolutely no medical proof.

This! Most miscarriages happen for reasons beyond the mother's control. It's a possibility that the drinking had something to do it with, but it's more likely that there was something "wrong" from the beginning.

cynnnabun · December 2010

I posted the question the other day about whether people were drinking wine or liquor. And most of them said wine but there are a few of us that think a drink is a drink. I haven't drank thus far, but I plan to have a drink tomorrow and a drink NYE, and it's going to a mixed drink, that I mix myself.

This is just my opinion though.

tokenhoser · December 2010

If Italians get wine, Germans get beer.

Miscarriages mostly happen because the fetus was unviable chromasomally or did not implant properly. Don't bring booze into it. That's just silly.

I just think it's stupid to criticize someone really wanting a (small) rum drink that she can easily control the alcohol content of while saying "but a glass of wine is okay". And beer's alcohol content doesn't vary nearly as much as wine - beer is usually between 4 and 7%, while wine can be anywhere from 6% to 13% (or stronger). Really, a sip or small serving of beer is less bad, alcohol wise.

mybobofo · December 2010

If I was going to have a "little glass" of something, I would choose a beer in a frosty cold mug.

pinkflipflops44 · December 2010

personally, only one beer that i have had a sip on since i was pregnant has tasted good to me. wine has continued to taste good to me. but i see a glass of beer / a glass of wine as interchangable. the only liquor drink i have even wanted was a margarita but i just made that virgin. i dont really prefer liquor but i dont see what would be wrong with using 1 shot to make a drink.

iris427 · December 2010

megan_gardner_10:
And actually...idk why I didn't think of this when I first replied but I just remembered. About a year ago I found out I was pregnant only when I was miscarrying. I had no idea before that and I don't even know how far along I was but my guess is early. My bf and I would regularly drink a bottle of wine together...about every other night or so (which means about 2 glasses each). That's the only thing that stands out to me when it comes to why I miscarried. I'm extremely healthy and 13 weeks pregnant right now with no problems or signs of anything bad. So yeah from personal experience I would just say no amount of alcohol is safe...there's no proof that even small amounts aren't harmful.

Well if we're going by this logic, I miscarried after watching a TV show about vampires. Vampire shows must cause miscarriage. Nobody watch any vampire shows, ever. No amount of vampire is proven safe.

I'm sorry about your m/c but there is zero proof it was caused by you drinking. The majority of miscarriages are caused by fatal genetic defects in the fertilized egg.

iris427 · December 2010

tokenhoser:
Is wine inherently classier than craving a bit of rum or beer?

::taps nose::

I wouldn't say it's actually inherently classier, but I think the cultural assumption is that it is.

JaneBeam · December 2010

I'm so glad to know that there are so many other ladies who want their glass of wine/beer/mixed drink but who can't justify it versus the potential risks. I don't think poorly of ANYONE who chooses to have one but I can only speak for me and my body and my own choices. What I am tired of is my friends who are pregnant also trying to pressure me saying "oh one glass is fine" just so they can justify their own choice. It's okay to have your glass, I just couldn't forgive myself for one glass if it meant something went wrong.

Either way- wine can be totally classy I still put my drinks in wine glasses just to feel important.

SeaMama · December 2010

It's not. People just tell themselves it's somehow different than a shot of tequila while pregnant.

Scout05 · December 2010

iris427:

megan_gardner_10:
And actually...idk why I didn't think of this when I first replied but I just remembered. About a year ago I found out I was pregnant only when I was miscarrying. I had no idea before that and I don't even know how far along I was but my guess is early. My bf and I would regularly drink a bottle of wine together...about every other night or so (which means about 2 glasses each). That's the only thing that stands out to me when it comes to why I miscarried. I'm extremely healthy and 13 weeks pregnant right now with no problems or signs of anything bad. So yeah from personal experience I would just say no amount of alcohol is safe...there's no proof that even small amounts aren't harmful.

Well if we're going by this logic, I miscarried after watching a TV show about vampires. Vampire shows must cause miscarriage. Nobody watch any vampire shows, ever. No amount of vampire is proven safe.

I'm sorry about your m/c but there is zero proof it was caused by you drinking. The majority of miscarriages are caused by fatal genetic defects in the fertilized egg.

Agreed. I'm so sorry for your loss Megan.

But don't take that guilt on yourself. Many people drink before they have any idea they are pregnant, and everything works out just fine.

I miscarried five times before this. I never drank during any of those pregnancies. While it's not in my comfort level to drink during this pregnancy either, I do not believe for one second one (or two) glass of wine/beer/etc. would cause an otherwise healthy pregnancy to suddenly end.

Ciaram22 · December 2010

Sometimes there is just a craving for a sip of something that is "off-limits". I personally have only had 2 sips of wine and a sip or 2 of DH beer when he is trying something new. The taste of wine just set me off and I couldn't even take another sip because it tasted terrible.

I now kinda blame myself for the cleft lip and palate my son is going to have because I took those sips. I know that those happened between the 4th and 8th week of pregnancy and I didn't drink from July to December so by the time I had had the sips of wine the cleft was already well established and not from me having 2 sips of wine and a couple sips of DH beer.

LadyXaverian · December 2010

I've wondered the same. My doctor told me before Thanksgiving and again a few days ago, "Have a glass of wine at Thanksgiving/ Christmas!" I don't drink wine anyway, and I don't care enough about having a drink to question whether or not he thinks it would be ok for me to have a hard liquor mixed drink.

I did, however, have a dream last night that I took his advice, had a glass of wine, and it made me completely drunk. I felt like the world's worst mother lol.

6fsn · December 2010

It's the connotation that wine isn't as bad for you.

Egg nog with bourbon was much better last night than any bit of wine I could have had.

BaumMom · December 2010

SeaMama:
It's not. People just tell themselves it's somehow different than a shot of tequila while pregnant.

I don't generally choose to drink while pregnant aside from a few sips here or there, but this is completely false. What matters is your blood alcohol level. True, a glass of wine and a shot of tequila may have the same alcohol content, but to take a shot would send your BAC much higher because its all at the same time. Having a glass of wine (especially with a meal, which lowers the increase of alcohol absorption) over the course of an hour is much different that taking a shot of tequila.

kcisthebombdotcom · December 2010

Why red wine is beneficial:

https://www.meteck.org/wine.html

https://www.red-wine-and-health.com/

https://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/The_super_benefits_of_red_wine____a1444.html

And an article of drinking while pregnant:

https://news.discovery.com/human/alcohol-drinking-pregnant-women.html

I disagree the statement that alcohol is alcohol. I trust wine over beer and hard liquor anyday and feel the benefits outweigh the risks. Many midwives still use a glass of red wine to help prevent pre-term labor and pre-eclampsia, as wine in small amounts can have a relaxing effect and lower blood pressure and is a heck of a lot more natural than all the crap ingredients medications have.

I think drinking a small glass of red wine occasionally is a hell of a lot better for people while pregnant than more culturally acceptable behaviors like eating a big mac or drinking a diet coke. It's a lot more natural than a lot of the crap Americans consume nowadays.

In terms of the comparison between taking shots, there's no comparison. The harm in drinking during pregnant is the rise in blood alcohol level. The spike in BAL from a 1/2 glass of wine consumed slowly during a large meal is negligible. Taking a shot is a different matter.

ManiacMcGee · December 2010

Personally I just really like wine. But I'll have a sip of beer here and there.

In addition, the alcohol content of beer and mixed drinks is incredibly variable and it isn't as easy to just pour half a glass of those drinks.

If a bottle of wine is open, I can just pour a bit into a glass and enjoy it with my husband/family. If I open a beer I feel like a waste only drinking half of it (silly, I know). Plus, the carbonation annoys me now.

Also, a half a glass of wine can decrease my anxiety and relax my muscles in ways that no other alcohol can.

tokenhoser · December 2010

Beer just doesn't have a "more variable alcohol content" than wine. It's on the bottle, exactly the same. I don't mix myself up a beer.

And DH would happily drink any beer so I don't "waste" it.

As for the magic benefits of wine, there are equal risks for normally partaking of alcohol. No doctor would actually encourage someone to take up drinking for their health - it's usually at best a break even on the things it reduces risks for and the things it increases risks for.

Point being: it's a really stupid high horse that seems to have a lot of people on it. Be careful up there, ladies.

starlily313 · December 2010

Wine & beer have less alcohol percentage by volume than hard liquors. It is also easier to control the amount of wine or beer being consumed in comparison to a mixed drink. In addition, many mixed drinks have a lot of added sugar & calories due to the mixers being used.

In my particular case, yes I do prefer wine to other alcoholic beverages. I also prefer posters who don't judge others from high up on their soapboxes. How's the air up there from holding your nose so high above us lowly souls who enjoy the occasional drink? Must be nice living in a glass house .....

weezieee · December 2010

iris427:
megan_gardner_10:
And actually...idk why I didn't think of this when I first replied but I just remembered. About a year ago I found out I was pregnant only when I was miscarrying. I had no idea before that and I don't even know how far along I was but my guess is early. My bf and I would regularly drink a bottle of wine together...about every other night or so (which means about 2 glasses each). That's the only thing that stands out to me when it comes to why I miscarried. I'm extremely healthy and 13 weeks pregnant right now with no problems or signs of anything bad. So yeah from personal experience I would just say no amount of alcohol is safe...there's no proof that even small amounts aren't harmful.
Well if we're going by this logic, I miscarried after watching a TV show about vampires. Vampire shows must cause miscarriage. Nobody watch any vampire shows, ever. No amount of vampire is proven safe.
I'm sorry about your m/c but there is zero proof it was caused by you drinking. The majority of miscarriages are caused by fatal genetic defects in the fertilized egg.

lol...this. I also had a miscarriage and didn't drink a drop of alcohol.

starlily313 · December 2010

weezieee:
iris427:

megan_gardner_10:
And actually...idk why I didn't think of this when I first replied but I just remembered. About a year ago I found out I was pregnant only when I was miscarrying. I had no idea before that and I don't even know how far along I was but my guess is early. My bf and I would regularly drink a bottle of wine together...about every other night or so (which means about 2 glasses each). That's the only thing that stands out to me when it comes to why I miscarried. I'm extremely healthy and 13 weeks pregnant right now with no problems or signs of anything bad. So yeah from personal experience I would just say no amount of alcohol is safe...there's no proof that even small amounts aren't harmful.

Well if we're going by this logic, I miscarried after watching a TV show about vampires. Vampire shows must cause miscarriage. Nobody watch any vampire shows, ever. No amount of vampire is proven safe.

I'm sorry about your m/c but there is zero proof it was caused by you drinking. The majority of miscarriages are caused by fatal genetic defects in the fertilized egg.

lol...this. I also had a miscarriage and didn't drink a drop of alcohol.

My brother & SIL recently had a baby. She didn't even know she was pregnant until 5-1/2 months along & had been enjoying a nightly glass or two of wine up to that point. My nephew was born perfectly healthy.

tokenhoser · December 2010

CTGirl30:
tokenhoser:

Beer just doesn't have a "more variable alcohol content" than wine. It's on the bottle, exactly the same. I don't mix myself up a beer.

And DH would happily drink any beer so I don't "waste" it.

As for the magic benefits of wine, there are equal risks for normally partaking of alcohol. No doctor would actually encourage someone to take up drinking for their health - it's usually at best a break even on the things it reduces risks for and the things it increases risks for.

Point being: it's a really stupid high horse that seems to have a lot of people on it. Be careful up there, ladies.

And you also seem to be very high up on your soapbox. Mighy judgmental of you - which is just what moms and women need more of from each other, no?

I asked my OBGYN what her thoughts were on me enjoying a 1/2 glass or less of red wine with my Christmas dinner meal. She was not concernd and okayed it. I trust her opinion and she is the one treating me throughout my (uncomplicated, healthy) pregnancy. Think I'll be deferring to her opinions on these matters, thanks.

I think you missed my point.

Colour me unsurprised.

megan_gardner_10 · December 2010

True...in my case there is zero proof...but whether you hate it or not it's only human to try to figure out what went so wrong. Not everybody can just shrug it off as something that just happens. Anyway, like I said I agree, in my particular case there is no medical proof, however anything that you can find on the topic will tell you exactly what I said. No amount of alcohol can be considered completely safe. That's the only point I was trying to make, but you really shouldn't let such small things (such as a person trying to find a reason for why something so terrible could have happened) bother you.

megan_gardner_10 · December 2010

yeah yeah yeah....There's lots of cases where people drink alcohol and everything turns out fine...however I can bring up stories of friends and friends of friends who did the same and the outcome wasn't just fine. It's like listening to people talk about how they smoked cigarettes during their pregnancy and everything was fine. Sure it happens, but not all the time. It's the same thing, they both have risks, but those risks don't turn into reality 100% of the time. Bottom line, it's a personal choice but I really don't see how any of the above arguments can even be considered feasible. It's called proof for a reason.

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