What's everyone's take on alcohol?

wanderlust508 · April 2014

So I am a HUGE wine drinker ....not a heavy drinker but it's not uncommon for me to have 3-4 glasses per week. I just love it, it relaxes me. So far I have always told myself that I will drink (in moderation) until I actually see a positive pregnancy result). This past Sat I went in for IUI #1 which was a very benign procedure with minimal discomfort. The NP who did my insemination told me to lay on my right (where my only remaining ovary was located) and rest for about 15-20 min after the procedure. I asked if I could drink my usual glass of wine here and there throughout the week until the end of the 2WW. She looked at me sternly and said "No, nada! The wine has to go for the next 9 months." I said "Yeah, IF I get the positive result." And she just said "Treat your body as you would if you knew that you were pregnant.", smiled at me and then left. LOL. She also told me that I should avoid any strenuous exercise in the next 2 weeks. I'm a runner - she said NO running as it would be too jarring to my 1 remaining ovary that they want to keep healthy. No running. No Jillian Michaels circuit training or core strengthening DVD's. Just aerobic walking .....boring! :-/

I don't think she's necessarily right that all women should just cut out alcohol when TTC and/or cut down on the exercise. But here I am after 15 months of trying with a bunch of BFN's. For this month at least, I'm gonna abstain and try to find other ways to relax myself. Listen to music. Read a good book. Take my dog for a walk. NOT obsessively google all things pregnancy and TTC related (haha). My friend's wedding in which I'm a bridesmaid is on Sat 4/26 ...and that is the day that I go into the lab for my pregnancy blood test! I don't find out the official results til Mon 4/28. But my plan for now is that if I see AF before 4/26 and also take a HPT that comes out BFN ...then I will allow myself some wine/champagne at my friend's wedding (why not?). But until then, I'll lay off. Just curious what everyone else does when it comes to alcohol!

Alicia_R1 · April 2014

I was told no running. basically this 2nd IUI, I was going to run if I wanted to or not since I was more stressed being told I wasn't allowed to run.

The RE said I could drink lightly during the 2WW but no hard liquor, I will have a drink here and there when I want one. Not drinking (which I tried for 5 months) didn't help me get pregnant. After this last IUI, I told DH I wanted mimosas every morning that weekend.

wanderlust508 · April 2014

SportsChick33 - that's my mind-set right now! I actually had a glass of wine the night before my IUI but ever since I have avoided it completely. I did have a few sips of cola and half a cup of chai tea yesterday morning ....so I'm definitely not avoiding caffeine. But I will consider that step as well if I end up having to move on to the next cycle.

.Mrs.Matt. · April 2014

Personally, I prefer a drink each night of the week, and a couple on Saturday and Sunday. As part of my efforts to get lose a few lbs and potentially help my fertility, I'll have one drink a couple of nights a week, and 1 or 2 on Saturday. So I haven't cut down significantly, but I've seen research showing that women who drink less than a certain amount each week were some % more likely to conceive (I don't have that link handy).

Whether or not there is truth to that, I'm still giving it a try.

I also enjoy running, and so far my RE has said that I have no restrictions at all. However, she didn't even ask about my pace or mileage. And some of our paperwork from their office advises not to run... I don't know who to believe! I've taken it easy this TWW, but mostly because running just hasn't gone smoothly for me lately.

Whatever you do in regards to alcohol and running, try not to judge yourself too harshly!

xc1148 · April 2014

I split the difference....when we were trying on our own, I would do whatever till BFP. Once we started meds (even during stims) I cut out caffeine, alcohol and most crappy food. You're paying all that money and trying so hard, I just didn't want to risk anything and give myself the best odds.

athlete010688 · April 2014

xc1148 said:

I split the difference....when we were trying on our own, I would do whatever till BFP. Once we started meds (even during stims) I cut out caffeine, alcohol and most crappy food. You're paying all that money and trying so hard, I just didn't want to risk anything and give myself the best odds.

This is a good take on it. Makes sense too.

wishiwaspreggo · April 2014

xc1148 said:

I split the difference....when we were trying on our own, I would do whatever till BFP. Once we started meds (even during stims) I cut out caffeine, alcohol and most crappy food. You're paying all that money and trying so hard, I just didn't want to risk anything and give myself the best odds.

That's exactly how I'm approaching this cycle. I'm taking every precaution I can because the stakes are high. I'm worried I'll get a BFN and then blame myself for it. If I get BFN, I want to chalk it up to shitty luck and nothing else.

Sami14vb · April 2014

I didn't drink for several months while I was doing my IF treatments. The past two months I have been drinking. If I am not pregnant this month ( I find out this weekend) then I'm going to stop drinking and eat really healthy! I'm running out of options short of IVF, so I'll try whatever I can to hopefully get a BFP. Best of luck to you!

Pintobean39 · April 2014

I started back running while on bc over a month ago and they told me I could continue until it's painful. Well it became painful Friday day 8 of stimming, I was only running 10 miles a week, 2 miles a day for 5 days. I'll stop for a few days and after I trigger I'll start back. I want to be able to exercise while preg so I don't want to quit unless there is a problem.

They told me I could have a glass of wine here and there but that's it. I had a glass the other night but I didn't finish it because I started getting a buzz (cheap date here) and I had half a mimosa at brunch yesterday morning. I'm sure during the 2WW I'll have a glass of wine here and there.

As far as caffeine, I had to give most of it up years ago because I have Ménière's. So I'm only use to 1 cup of coffee a day and an occasionally cup of tea in the afternoon. So while I'm stimming I just don't have my afternoon tea only morning coffee.

Lillovebug79 · April 2014

I don't drink caffeine at all and rarely ever drink alcohol since I started TTC. It hasn't helped me any as I've had 20 cycles of BFNs. I don't think a glass of wine here and there will hurt anything!

rolson84 · April 2014

I posted on the other thread that was discussing this topic... I'm 6dpiui - normally, I will have wine every night (usually 2 glasses). During the 2ww I've cut back significantly and only had wine two or three of the nights.

My nurse didn't say anything to me about the exercise part so I find it really interesting some Drs did... I work out 3-4 times per week pretty strenuously. I do weight/cardio classes and usually run once a week. I've resumed totally normal activity after having my IUI. Before I left the office, the nurse said "just act normal and resume normal routine" so that's what I did.

pmpknbride · April 2014

I do not drink caffeine ever (a ice tea at lunch will keep me up until 3:30 in the morning) and I'm not much of a drinker so I'm avoiding all if that during TTC. I was told I could resume normal activity after IUI, but honestly I don't get to the gym much during the TWW..I'm generally crampy, bloated and miserable so brisk walking in the most you'll get out of me during that time.

Autumray · April 2014

Since you drink wine... I hear 1 glass of red wine a day is ok. There has been a lot of research on it you can check it out.

nswain85 · April 2014

I hardly ever drink (I'm usually the DD and such a light weight that I'm ready for bed after the first round, lol!) so it's typically not difficult for me but this past weekend we went away for our anniversary and I had a few drinks. I'm in the middle of my TWW but after this long of not drinking I'm not going to put much worry into it. I agree with the poster who said that when they are on their own it's not such a big pressure point but when I get into cycles with my RE and treatment then I will play by the books. I don't want anything being a "what if??" during those.

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