My family are big drinkers so i am always around alcohol. They say it is okay to have one alcohol beverage every once in a while. If it is okay... what kind? how much?
2007-09-28 08:57:32 · 36 answers · asked by amberlee 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
The Gloom & Doom Brigade would have you think that the mere smell of alcohol will leave you with a damaged baby... The fact is, there are no studies showing increased risks for birth defects/FAS for a beer a week, a mixed drink a week, etc... Get REAL people! Yes, we all know getting drunk every night would damage a developing fetus... no one debates that point. Likewise drugs, tobacco, etc... The alcohol content of a single beer or mixed drink is fairly miniscule, especially when nursed out over the course of an hour. The question was "A" social drink...
To the Asker... there are benefits to drinking. The calming effect to a single beer/mixed drink... that should be worth SOMETHING... Pregnancy isn't a medical disability, it's a chosen state. It doesn't mean you cease to be YOU.
I doubt there are more than a scant handful of women alive who did EVERYTHING they were supposed to, without fail, while planning or being pregnant... As in the rest of life, educate yourself to the risks, and make the choices YOU are comfortable with!
2007-09-28 09:20:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
I was in Europe for part of my pregnancy and everyone there thought it was so strange that I was avoiding alcohol and caffeine. There, a pregnant woman may still have a glass of wine every day.
Well, I couldn't do it. What if something were to happen? I would NEVER EVER be able to forgive myself. The medical community just doesn't know enough about when or in what quantity alcohol can be consumed during pregnancy. While I'm sure ONE low alcohol drink might not do anything, WHAT IF IT DID? The risk outweighs the benefit, for sure.
Only 3.5 more months and you can celebrate with some Champagne.
2007-09-28 10:39:05 · answer #2 · answered by Evin 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I personally don't believe that the risk is worth the drink. There is no proof that even one sip of alcohol does not cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Only you can make that choice. As an alternative there are some non alcoholic beers that are not bad if you just want to drink because of social reasons. Really though, you should not feel as though you have to defend you decisions to your family. This is your pregnancy, your body and your baby. You should do the best for all to to hell with everyone else
2007-09-28 09:12:53 · answer #3 · answered by kacupskey 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No one really knows how much is too much. It is better to be safe than sorry. Have you ever known a child born with fetal alcohol syndrome? You do not want to do that to your child. Why take a risk? I craved beer when I was pregnant the second time, and I found that the non-alcoholic beer was actually pretty good when you hadn't had a beer in months.
2007-09-28 09:03:53 · answer #4 · answered by kat 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Fetal Alcohol occurs when alcohol is consumed during critical times of fetal development. It is NEVER ok to consume alcohol as you never know when that critical time of fetal development is occuring. Is it worth the risk??? Would you be able to live with your self.. What would you tell your child when she becomes pregnant? Are you willing to devote your life to caring for a child's high needs should he/she develop fetal alcohol. Would you give your baby a glass of wine after it was born? Maybe that is why your family are "big drinkers".. maybe their parents drank w/ them and they were born addicted.. Who knows?? It is like telling your 16 year old that it is ok to drink and drive.. When there is really no clear understanding how much would affect their ability to think clearly.. You would not want your child to take that risk..
2007-09-29 15:52:30 · answer #5 · answered by children1st 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My family are big drinkers too. Do I care? No! What I cared about during my pregnancy was MY baby. I could always drink after. I didn't drink at all when I was pregnant, had two beers after the baby was a few weeks old. Boy did they taste gross! LOL I see it this way my baby's health is MY #1 priority. Why risk it! Good luck!
2007-09-28 09:04:36 · answer #6 · answered by Claudia-Elena's Mommy 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
with my first pregnancy 16 years ago my doctor said it was ok to have ONE 12 oz beer a day because of the nutrients in it and it would relax me. he said this is not the same as having a mixed drink since the liquor is stronger and doesn't have the same nutritional value.
with my second pregnancy 1 year ago, my doctor said no alcohol at all, including beer. he said there is no direct evidence that a beer now and then would cause problems but that there's also no proof that it doesn't and wouldn't i feel terrible if i did drink and the baby had problems.
2007-09-28 09:08:13 · answer #7 · answered by lilitheden 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No way the only thing you might be able to have is a maybe a glass of red wine because that helps with the Iron. But thats still maybe 4 oz once a week at the most. Ask your doctor first though,
2007-09-28 09:02:15 · answer #8 · answered by smilies1998 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
i was told by my doc that an occasional glass of red wine is not only OK, but good for me and will not hurt the baby. I did have a glass here and there for special occasions and stressful nights and my son came out just fine. Anything in excess is bad so keep that in mind. If you can not limit yourself to one drink then i suggest not drinking at all. The thing with me is that i don't like red wine so i did not drink it that often. I like beer but i don't want one beer, i want six beers so i stayed away from it all together. Think about if it is really worth it. I would not suggest drinking a mixed drink, seems to harsh. It is up to you, a drink here and there will not hurt the baby but is it worth just having one?
2007-09-28 09:09:41 · answer #9 · answered by micah z 4 · 7⤊ 1⤋
NO, not ok at all to drink while pregnant. Read these, click the source for the full article, these are just a quick piece of each I've copied for you:
"Even small amounts of alcohol can be harmful. Because no amount of alcohol can be considered safe, pregnant women should avoid all alcohol during the entire pregnancy." http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/fetal/068.html
"Whatever you eat or drink while pregnant goes directly through your bloodstream into the placenta. If you're having a drink, baby is too." http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/preg/a/aa070997.htm
"Mainly because alcohol consumption during pregnancy affects your baby's cognitive and physical development. The highest risk from alcohol to your developing baby is during the earliest stages of pregnancy, when baby's critical organs are forming and cells are dividing very rapidly." http://health.discovery.com/centers/pregnancy/americanbaby/alcohol.html
"The spectrum may include mild and subtle changes, such as a slight learning disability and/or physical abnormality, through full-blown Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which can include severe learning disabilities, growth deficiencies, abnormal facial features, and central nervous system disorders." http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/pressreleases/sg02222005.html
"When a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, she risks giving birth to a child who will pay the price — in mental and physical deficiencies — for his or her entire life." http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/fas.html
National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome http://www.nofas.org/
FAS kids - yes, they have a look about them that doctors can identify easily (kind of like how you can tell when someone has Down Syndrome)... here are some photos: http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADBF_enUS228US228&q=fetal+alcohol+syndrome&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi
2007-09-28 09:21:39 · answer #10 · answered by Tanya 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋