Did anyone else receive this advice?

Question

I was speaking to my doctor the other day when I went in for bloods and he said it was ok to have 1 glass of red wine per week. Now, I love red wine but I wondered if this would have any effect on my baby? Im quite sceptical and have gotten on just fine without it since finding out I was pregnant, infact i dont think I will ever go back to being the drinker I was before i fell pregnant(not that I was a major drinker,at all, 1-2 glasses was usually my limit anyway).anyone have any stories they could share?

I just wanted to say , before the nut cases jump on their soap boxes, that I am not intending to have a glass, I am too scared, I just wonderd what everyone's views were? I dont judge others who have a glass or 2 a week, i miscarried at 6 weeks adn with this pregnancy I am taking all precausions.

also wanted to add,that i didnt miscarry cause of drinking, it was just one of these unfair and horrible experiences of life.

Just wanted to add, in my pregnancy book it says that a small glass of wine is ok. Im so confused about different types of info that is given to you when pregnant. Not just about drinking but lots of other things such as development ect"

Answer 1

I work on a neonatal unit and have seen the horror babies can come out like when the mum has drank A LOT. I think a little is fine but getting plastered every night certainly is a no no. The new recommendations are no alcohol at all but i wonder, in my mums generation they were told to drink a glass of stout every day to give them a strong healthy babies and there were no problems. I think advice is very confusing for women these days. My sister drank a little bit but was sensible and i think that is the key, be sensible about it and use common sense. I would probably have a small glass of wine when i am pregnant but only once or twice a week at most. Like i said you wonder about these women that didnt know they were pregnant and drank the same. The babies we get are from women who have drank excessively and i believe that if you care about your unborn child then you simply wont be able to do it to them x

Answer 2

The World Health Organisation recommends that pregnant women do not consume any alcohol at all. So do the US and Canadian governments.
UK government advice is slightly different, hence what your doctor told you.
However, there is increasing evidence that even small amounts of alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Some women seem to be able to drink quite a bit during their pregnancy, others consume a small amount and there are affects on their baby. It's impossible to know which type of woman you are.
Even if a baby appears to come out fine, the alcohol could have easily caused a reduction in IQ.

Alcohol is absorbed directly into the blood stream and therefore gets delivered straight to your baby.
You might want to ask yourself, would you give a few mouthfuls of wine to a newborn? Could you live with yourself if something was wrong with your baby as a result of drinking?

I think that within a few years, the government in the UK will have revised its advice on this matter. To be on the safe side, don't drink. There's plenty of time for a nice glass of red after the baby is born.

Answer 3

I've heard a glass is ok, but I wouldn't risk it. Also consider this:

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby. There is no known safe amount of alcohol that a woman can drink during pregnancy. There is also no safe time during pregnancy to drink alcohol. Alcohol can have negative effects on a fetus in every trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, women should not drink if they are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or could become pregnant (that is, sexually active and not using an effective form of birth control).

What is a "drink"? What if I drink only beer or wine coolers?

All drinks containing alcohol can hurt an unborn baby. A standard 12-ounce can of beer has the same amount of alcohol as a 4-ounce glass of wine or a 1-ounce shot of straight liquor. Some alcoholic drinks such as malt beverages, wine coolers, and mixed drinks often contain more alcohol than a 12-ounce can of beer. There is no safe kind of alcohol.

Answer 4

Yeah, the general concensus of the medical profession is that it is ok to have the odd glass, but new research is starting to question that, and suggests that it is safer not to drink anything at all because of how early neural tube development can be affected. I was of the same opinion as you during both my pregnancies (as soon as I found out at about 5-6 weeks) I stopped drinking completely. To be honest I didn't really miss it (not that I drank that much anyway) and even now 6 months after having my second baby I could count on one hand how many alcoholic drinks I've had. That also being said, I discovered just after New Year 2006 that I was pregnant with my second and I had been drinking quite a bit on Christmas day and had also had quite a few on New Year's Eve (also my 30th birthday) and worried myself stupid until he was born (fine and perfect, thankfully).

Answer 5

Drinking a glass of wine once a week is fine.. I have heard that too and like someone else already mentioned, they say it helps with blood circulation... But it is always best to go with your gut instinct and do what you feel is best for you and your baby. To be honest, I was almost 6 months pregnant with my 1st baby before I found out I was pg and I did a TON of things that I would have NEVER done had I known I was pg...(not smoking or drugs or anything but had a few drinks, went without eating for long periods of time, etc.). And she is a gorgeous 3 year old now and was born happy, healthy and perfect! So... you can only do your best... Good luck!

Answer 6

Personally I didn't consume any alcohol during my pregnancies.

Everybody is different. What might have been okay for one might not be okay for someone else.

I would encourage you to not drink alcohol, but I am sure that, as many others have pointed out, the occasional glass of wine will do no harm.

You will find that advice regarding pregnancy, childbirth and once your baby is born is very contradictory. Opinions and information changes constantly. Your best guide is what sits best with you. You know your body.

Answer 7

Yes a glass of red wine is good for you. However, midwifes, GP's and pregnancy books advise that alcohol should be avoided throughout pregnancy. The only drink you can have really is a Sweetheart Stout. You used to get this in hospital as it is low in alcohol but full of iron. So I suppose the decision as to whether or not you should have a glass of wine lies firmly at your feet. Good luck and Congratulations!

Answer 8

well to be honest over the years a lot of women have had a glass or 2 of wine and there babies were fine, same with smoking too
i even smoked with my two there now 18 and 20 and perfectly healthy

but these days they seem to say everything is bad for you,if we all took notice of what was bad for us we'd all be dead

my friends daughter drank, smoked, used weed and had a healthy baby girl

im NOT saying go ahead and do this, think common sense comes into it and how much you limit yourself too

i dont think your going to do your baby any harm from having a glass of wine hun

as long as your taking your folic acid tablets your baby should be fine

good luck

Answer 9

If the Doctor tells you one glass of red wine a week is fine then it is. I think it is fine for you to have one drink a week and this is your choose not anyone elses. You should not feel guilty when you have been told by the GP it is fine.

Answer 10

you should avoid alcohol, but the odd glass of wine would be fine, its not like your paraletic drunk everyday. I had a few glasses of wine on my boys there 5 and 6 now and i never had problems with them. My mate didnt drink nothing throughout her pregnancy and shev had nothing but problems with her little boy. Im on my third pregnancy and il have a half of larger with lime when all my friends are drinking, but i always make sure im eating aswell.