Actually the AAP did not change their position on drinking during pregnancy. The last statement that came out 15 years ago also said there are no safe levels of alcohol intake during pregnancy.
Every now and then a researcher will publish an article saying oh maybe moderate drinking during pregnancy isn't as bad as we thought. The media will pounce on it because it's the kind of newsreport that gets them good ratings.
Because of the work I do, I'm very familiar with the process that the AAP uses when writing these statements. I can tell you that, as with all statements, they review all the research out there and make their decision based on the wide-range of research and not just one report. The guidance is the same as it has been for awhile- there is no way to prove what amount of alcohol you can safely drink during pregnancy, and because of this no pregnant women should feel safe drinking any alcohol.
Well then I'll defer to you!
I was under the impression that they had a subtle change from there being no know safe level (indicating there may be one but it is quite small) to there is no safe level (indicating they know no level is safe). That may just have been the spin the media put on the story though.
I wouldn't take the risk either way, but was astounded by the number of people who said they would occasionally drink in the poll up top so I figured I would share.
@Sgoldberg247 I know the media spun it that way, all of my pregnant friends thought that as well. I'm not sure what kind of guidance ob/gyns are giving pregnant women, but I just looked at the last few AAP statements and they are very clear that pregnant women should abstain from alcohol.
Don't feel bad @june2016baby I'm sure baby is fine. When did you get your BFP (how many weeks/days)? Ask you doctor certainly but babies don't really share with Mom early on (I understand they mostly live off the yolk sac until the placenta is fully formed)
I got my BFP the day my period was due. It was so light that I almost threw it in the trash, thinking it was negative. The baby must have implanted really late. In previous pregnancies (when I was trying,) I got my BFP as early at 7 DPO, and as late as 10 DPO. I only took a test because I was slightly suspicious as to why my boobs were looking a little larger, despite having just lost a few pounds.
Women who have a half glass of wine on their anniversary are not the ones whose babies are at risk for FASD. And making the discussion about occasional or one-time drinking takes the focus off the real public health crisis: Women who can't or won't stop habitual alcohol consumption during pregnancy because they are addicts.
The AAP's role in this is to be conservative. They're exposing themselves and their members to all kinds of problems if they make room in their recommendations for ANY drinking during pregnancy, because a small minority of people can't differentiate between "a half glass of wine is OK one or two times later in pregnancy" and "drink all the drinks!" As with so many things in pregnancy, the message is tailored for the lowest common denominator. Some herbs have unknown effects in large quantities, so we're told to avoid all herbal teas. Unpasteurized soft cheeses can harbor listeria, so we're told to avoid all soft cheeses.
I trust that every woman on this board is capable of doing her own research and making decisions for herself and her baby based on science -- and that we can all respect that and refrain from judging one another's (researched, carefully considered) choices.
Sorry, I'm going to put my 2 cents in here. As a licensed addictions counselor, it really is never ok to drink while pregnant. That being said, I'm not a doctor so do what they say. My doctor is a firm believer of heck no.
Women who have a half glass of wine on their anniversary are not the ones whose babies are at risk for FASD. And making the discussion about occasional or one-time drinking takes the focus off the real public health crisis: Women who can't or won't stop habitual alcohol consumption during pregnancy because they are addicts.
The AAP's role in this is to be conservative. They're exposing themselves and their members to all kinds of problems if they make room in their recommendations for ANY drinking during pregnancy, because a small minority of people can't differentiate between "a half glass of wine is OK one or two times later in pregnancy" and "drink all the drinks!" As with so many things in pregnancy, the message is tailored for the lowest common denominator. Some herbs have unknown effects in large quantities, so we're told to avoid all herbal teas. Unpasteurized soft cheeses can harbor listeria, so we're told to avoid all soft cheeses.
I trust that every woman on this board is capable of doing her own research and making decisions for herself and her baby based on science -- and that we can all respect that and refrain from judging one another's (researched, carefully considered) choices.
I do agree with what you say here. And you are absolutely right about the AAPs role, but I think the minute you give an inch that one glass of wine on your anniversary is okay, you set people up for the slippery slope that maybe it's also ok at Christmas and at your sister's wedding and because your teams in the playoffs-you get the drill. We don't make similar exceptions for Philadelphia rolls or unpasteurized cheeses because it's not worth the risk!
Honestly, I'm not trying to shame women who have a drink here or there during pregnancy, but I think that we should be reversing the growing public narrative that a glass of wine here or there is ok, because once you remove the definitive "Do Not Drink During Pregnancy" commandment, many women may not judge the potential consequences to be as serious as they are.
@chloe97 I don't disagree with you that for some women there's a slippery slope, although it's not quite the same as the unpasteurized cheese issue (where you really are just trying to avoid the single bite that could contain listeria). What I hate is the reality that the woman who has a sip of wine just to taste is looked at like she's a chronic inebriate who's doing irreparable harm to her fetus, and at the same time, we turn the focus on judging the sip-takers instead of helping the addicted binge drinkers.
Don't feel bad @june2016baby I'm sure baby is fine. When did you get your BFP (how many weeks/days)? Ask you doctor certainly but babies don't really share with Mom early on (I understand they mostly live off the yolk sac until the placenta is fully formed)
I got my BFP the day my period was due. It was so light that I almost threw it in the trash, thinking it was negative. The baby must have implanted really late. In previous pregnancies (when I was trying,) I got my BFP as early at 7 DPO, and as late as 10 DPO. I only took a test because I was slightly suspicious as to why my boobs were looking a little larger, despite having just lost a few pounds.
Yeah, I had wine the day before I got my VERY faint second line. I took a test the day I was drinking and it was stark white, the day after drinking it was so light I thought I was imagining it (I was maybe 8 or 9 DPO). I'm not worried at all about it. The alcohol at that point is not shared with baby...baby is living off the yolk sac at that point. The studies I've read said if alcohol impacts anything at that point, its whether or not the fertilized egg implants, not the development of the baby.
I strongly recommend reading this piece on the issues around the AAP's stance on alcohol during pregnancy: https://time.com/4081343/no-alcohol-during-pregnancy/
Women who have a half glass of wine on their anniversary are not the ones whose babies are at risk for FASD. And making the discussion about occasional or one-time drinking takes the focus off the real public health crisis: Women who can't or won't stop habitual alcohol consumption during pregnancy because they are addicts.
The AAP's role in this is to be conservative. They're exposing themselves and their members to all kinds of problems if they make room in their recommendations for ANY drinking during pregnancy, because a small minority of people can't differentiate between "a half glass of wine is OK one or two times later in pregnancy" and "drink all the drinks!" As with so many things in pregnancy, the message is tailored for the lowest common denominator. Some herbs have unknown effects in large quantities, so we're told to avoid all herbal teas. Unpasteurized soft cheeses can harbor listeria, so we're told to avoid all soft cheeses.
I trust that every woman on this board is capable of doing her own research and making decisions for herself and her baby based on science -- and that we can all respect that and refrain from judging one another's (researched, carefully considered) choices.
Thank you.
It would be interesting to see the the levels of FAS and FAE in Quebec and Europe where drinking the occasional glass is not considered taboo. My guess is that they're no higher and probably lower than the US. I have no intentions of drinking glasses of wine during my pregnancy but I have no qualms about having a sip or two here and there.
I personally wouldn't touch a drink while pregnant. It's only 7 more months until baby is here. I think it's easy enough to wait till then. Not worth the risk to me
There's probably more risk in eating fruits and vegetables than there is in having a sip of wine per week for the duration of the pregnancy when you factor in the number of fruits and vegetables we eat in a 9 month period.
I don't drink in the 1st trimester after BFP, but after that I would consider a bit here and there. I had half-glasses with meals a few times in my last pregnancy. I trust myself to know how to be moderate and sensible in my intake of alcohol: less so ice cream and chocolate.
I don't drink in the 1st trimester after BFP, but after that I would consider a bit here and there. I had half-glasses with meals a few times in my last pregnancy. I trust myself to know how to be moderate and sensible in my intake of alcohol: less so ice cream and chocolate.
I can relate. My weakness is chocolate chips, we put them in the freezer and that makes them so delicious and crunchy!
Women who have a half glass of wine on their anniversary are not the ones whose babies are at risk for FASD. And making the discussion about occasional or one-time drinking takes the focus off the real public health crisis: Women who can't or won't stop habitual alcohol consumption during pregnancy because they are addicts.
The AAP's role in this is to be conservative. They're exposing themselves and their members to all kinds of problems if they make room in their recommendations for ANY drinking during pregnancy, because a small minority of people can't differentiate between "a half glass of wine is OK one or two times later in pregnancy" and "drink all the drinks!" As with so many things in pregnancy, the message is tailored for the lowest common denominator. Some herbs have unknown effects in large quantities, so we're told to avoid all herbal teas. Unpasteurized soft cheeses can harbor listeria, so we're told to avoid all soft cheeses.
I trust that every woman on this board is capable of doing her own research and making decisions for herself and her baby based on science -- and that we can all respect that and refrain from judging one another's (researched, carefully considered) choices.
100% agreed! Well said @MynaBird, Although I would never ever take the risk of drinking even one glass of wine during my pregnancy. I've wanted this for far too long, and I'm not about to mess it up over a glass of wine lol
I used to come home from work and not think twice about reaching for the nearest bottle to ease away the stresses of the day but right now, I'm so nauseous that even the thought of booze is making me want to vom. That being said, if this feeling passes, I will indulge in a glass of prosecco on Christmas Day!
Re: Wine during pregnancy?
I was under the impression that they had a subtle change from there being no know safe level (indicating there may be one but it is quite small) to there is no safe level (indicating they know no level is safe). That may just have been the spin the media put on the story though.
I wouldn't take the risk either way, but was astounded by the number of people who said they would occasionally drink in the poll up top so I figured I would share.
Women who have a half glass of wine on their anniversary are not the ones whose babies are at risk for FASD. And making the discussion about occasional or one-time drinking takes the focus off the real public health crisis: Women who can't or won't stop habitual alcohol consumption during pregnancy because they are addicts.
The AAP's role in this is to be conservative. They're exposing themselves and their members to all kinds of problems if they make room in their recommendations for ANY drinking during pregnancy, because a small minority of people can't differentiate between "a half glass of wine is OK one or two times later in pregnancy" and "drink all the drinks!" As with so many things in pregnancy, the message is tailored for the lowest common denominator. Some herbs have unknown effects in large quantities, so we're told to avoid all herbal teas. Unpasteurized soft cheeses can harbor listeria, so we're told to avoid all soft cheeses.
I trust that every woman on this board is capable of doing her own research and making decisions for herself and her baby based on science -- and that we can all respect that and refrain from judging one another's (researched, carefully considered) choices.
Honestly, I'm not trying to shame women who have a drink here or there during pregnancy, but I think that we should be reversing the growing public narrative that a glass of wine here or there is ok, because once you remove the definitive "Do Not Drink During Pregnancy" commandment, many women may not judge the potential consequences to be as serious as they are.
Although I would never ever take the risk of drinking even one glass of wine during my pregnancy. I've wanted this for far too long, and I'm not about to mess it up over a glass of wine lol
However, I'm having a big celebratory glass of something once this little one is born!