Pregnancy-Why do people think it's okay to have one or two drinks when pregnant...?

Question

and then freak out if the mom smokes pot-occassionaly? Marijuana has been used for centuries by midwives to ease morning sickness, anxiety and insomnia and to increase appetite. People are appalled at a pregnant woman taking a couple hits, but see no problem with a pregnant mom having a glass of wine or beer (or two). Alcohol causes fetal alcohol syndrome.

I've heard from numerous midwives and OB/GYN's that smoking pot (in small amounts, as needed) is perfectly fine, as long as you stay away from alcohol, cigarettes or hard drugs.

My question is-why don't people complain about the alcohol? God, people, calm the &%$# down!

How could you say drinking-only occasionally-is okay?!?

Answer 1

People freak the heck out about a mom having a half a beer too. Because it's "SOOO risky!" Even when confronted with the facts:
*women in countries where mild alcohol consumption during pregnancy is the norm have no higher risk of birth defects than women in the US.
*No study has proven there to be a harmful effect to drinking once in a while.
*Many doctors recommend a small glass of wine, especially in late pregnancy to help the mother rest.
People still howl about what a "terrible person" and unfit mother she must be who touches alcohol in pregnancy.

It doesn't bother me if a woman with severe hyperemesis uses the anti-nausea properties of marijuana to be able to nourish herself and her unborn child. I believe every substance was created for a purpose. Every substance can be abused, or used legitimately.

I'm far more disgusted by the hypocrisy of people who wouldn't dream of even taking a tylenol or sudafed while pregnant, but then insist on being doped up with narcotics the second they feel one labor contraction. Most of those drugs are made from the same base substances as cocaine and heroin. They have their place, and legitimate use just like anything else. "Just because" doesn't fall into that category. I have had drugs during two of my labors, once by choice, once against my wishes, so don't start howling that I'm "beating up" on people who had drugs during labor. I'm pointing just as much at myself as anybody else.

Edited to add:
On the other hand reading all the hyperventilating and stuff on this thread is pretty entertaining. Kudos to you for finding a way to beat pregnancy boredom! LOL! All the eye rolling should give you some nice optical exercise too;-)

Answer 2

I can't believe people are actually saying drinking and doing drugs in any amount is OK. IT'S NOT!! I think those who drink and do drugs through out the pregnancy are selfish and immature. Why would you risk harming the baby like that? For the stupid girl who said she smoked pot when she was pregnant and her baby is fine,,,is she really? You really think the drugs had no affect on her little body? There are more side affects than having a higher birth weight. She will probably be slow in school, because her brain development was affected before she was even born.
You will hear stories about babies being OK after a woman smoked, did drugs and drank while pregnant. Not everyone will have the same outcomes. But you also hear the stores where the babies suffer damage. Whether its severe or minimal, the parent just took away that child's chance to a normal life.

Don't subject your child to a harder life because you drank or did drugs while pregnant, it's not fair.

To those parents who drink and do drugs while pregnant, I think you are bad parents. If you can't even take care of your child before it's born, how can you after you have it. Why don't you just put some vodka in their formula and give the baby some pot so they fall asleep quicker. Losers.
People like Melissa B and Kathy A should not be parents. Doing drugs though out your pregnancy is different than having an epidermal for a couple hours while giving birth you idiot.

Answer 3

I'm not a drinker, I basically never drink. I would never drink while pregnant. I totally agree with the "why risk it" approach. Although, I got pregnant with my daughter around Christmas of 2007, and was drinking on New Years 2008, but that's because I didn't know I was pregnant and I wasn't trying to get pregnant at the time. I felt horrible when I found out, but luckily it only happened once and my daughter was healthy!

Answer 4

Beer and red wine have beneficial things in them that are good for you whether you are pregnant or not, I don't think you should do it every day though. As for pot, I personally think its a cop out, but if your doctor says its ok do whatever you want. Be wise enough though to keep it between yourself and your physician. When my sisters daughter was born premature the nurses tried to keep her baby because of needle marks on her arms.......she had had chemotherapy...thats why she had scars and why her veins were shot.....there was no drug test, yet they tried to keep the baby away from her anyway. So be careful and consider not doing it......easy for me to say, I don't get morning sickness and crave salads when I am pregnant.

Answer 5

Neither one of these are safe for the baby and anyone that says it is, doesn't need to have any kids. There is no need for pot during pregnancy at all. The midwives and OBGYN's take have told you this is ok, should lose their license and they would lose it in the state of Kentucky. As a mother of 2, I am totally against drug or alcohol use while pregnant, it is wrong and it means that the mothers that are doing this have no regard for their unborn child, and shouldn't be parents at all.

Answer 6

That is the dumbest thing to do. Drugs or any alcohol, cigarettes can harm the fetus. No woman is a like, some babies will be fine and others will be harmed.

Answer 7

You have got to be f***ing kidding me?! Are you out of you god damn mind? You are opening your child up to all kinds of learning disabilities. Why would you think it would be ok to take any sort of mind or altering substance while pregnant? If pot is ok why not cigarettes? The tar level in cigarettes is actually lower then it is in pot, did you know that? Common sense could've given you that answer...cigarettes are filtered pot is not. Whatever midwife you heard that bulls**t from should be fired. You better hope someone you know doesn't get it in their mind to call CPS on you. I hope for your child's sake you don't end up going into labor too early, which by the way happened to a friend of mine back in high school. She thought the same thing and ended up going into labor 2 months early, had her baby prematurely, and now 8 years later her son has learning problems in school, is very small for his age (even small for A preemie) and even has asthma and is prone to getting sick. Make smarter choices in the future, if not for you then please for the innocence of that child!

Answer 8

Quite honestly, I'm appalled at anyone smoking pot, but that's just me. And mother's drinking while pregnant does nothing for me, although rumor has it my grandmother was smashed the day she gave birth to my uncle and my aunt drank through the first three months of her second pregnancy (she didn't realize she was pregnant, thought she had an ulcer).

Answer 9

There is no conclusive evidence that shows occasional drinking during pregnancy is harmful OR not.

Same with caffeine. No conclusive studies either way. But why take the chance?

I agree with you that it's best to avoid all of these things just to be sure. Better safe than sorry.

Answer 10

Why take the risk at all? I didn't do anything risky when pregnant with my daughter. I watched my fish intake and didn't take a Tylenol unless I really needed to. My daughter is perfect and I am happy knowing that I helped her by taking care of myself.