[HelloMama]

I think that all doctors have different views on this subject.. but I'd like to know what you ladies think??

IMO, I think alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy. I wouldn't want to risk anything when it comes to the health of my baby... even if that means ignoring my "biggest craving". I've read on here that some mommies have had wine every week while pregnant. I don't understand why enjoying a drink is more beneficial than their baby's health??? There IS a thing called "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome"... which is a lifelong condition caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The way I see it.. it's really only 9 months that you can't have a drink.. and that's really nothing compared to the lifespan of your child.

[Lisa771]

I freak out when I use mouthwash..I don't use it every day...

[1stbaby]

No alcohol for me. They do not know how much is safe, if any. Plus every woman's metabolism is different on breaking the alcohol down so what may be ok for one pregnant lady may not be ok for another.

[momto4blessings]

I don't drink when I'm not pg so I'm not going to start now.

[azlady28]

No reason to drink, really. Don't miss it, don't feel the need to. Perhaps it's because I'm 33 and I've had many, many years of drinking under my belt! I am going to miss my diet coke and diet dr. pepper though!

[felissa]

None for me, not worth the risk, I don't get that either. A social worker at my hospital told me that there has been research that even occasionally drinking alcohol can create problems in the long run for the baby. I am pretty conservative about all of the things you aren't supposed to do because if something was wrong and I had something I wasn't supposed to I would feel so guilty.

[Chrisa]

I personally don't drink when pregnant. With dd I took one sip of beer. That's it. However, I am almost 35 and when my mom was pregnant, they never said not to drink. Many, many women did and their babies were okay. Now, I'm not saying to go drink, but I am saying that one drink probably won't harm your baby. With dd I had one and half glasses of champagne on my anniversary and was most likely pregnant then, although I didn't know. So, I guess my feelings are you should avoid it, but if you have one drink during your pregnancy, it's probably okay.

[janie]

I do miss sharing wine with my husband but not as much as I thought I would. I guess your body helps you out by making things that aren't good for you less appealing. I may have a sip in my last trimester when I have a good steak but not even a whole glass. I do have friends that drank a glass of wine in their last trimester and the babies are perfectly healthy.

[TheMommyProject]

I really don't get this one at all... I mean I LOVE red wine but I have not had a drop since I was pregnant, in fact I didn't even drink during the stim part of my IVF cycles and beyond. It just can't be worth the risk. I feel the same way about caffeine... I know they say the equivalent of a cup of coffee a day is fine now, but I haven't had any coffee, tea or cola at all either and I used to be at least a 1 cup of tea a day girl.

[redbirds]

This is funny, cuz my friend and I were JUST talking about this! I don't think folks should drink while pregnant, although I have heard dr.'s prescribe a glass after amnio with cramping. I also have to admit I had a 1/2 glass of red wine (made it a spritzer by mixing with diet sprite) on my wedding day... Doc said that would be ok.

I have not drank anything else prior to that (after I found out I was preg!) and won't again, unless doc recommends a glass to move the labor along (I heard they do this frequently to "get things going" when it is about time to deliver and the body is saying... nah, not yet) I have even cut out all caffeine and diet sodas with any sweetners but splenda. I also plan on not drinking this or alcohol while nursing. Don't miss it now!

I was kind of freaking out because I did not realize I was preg until I was about 7 weeks along. I was traveling quite a bit, and almost just "forgot" about monthly visitor... Then I realized something was missing (or now present). Prior to that, I had a few beers (not heavy drinking, mind you) at our monthly poker party (nickels, dimes, quarters). Doc did not think much of it because it was once and I did not overdo it at my height and weight.

So, that is my confession and my thoughts!

[sleepybear]

Some say it's ok, some say stay away from it. I stay away from it. My last drink was the day I started my last period, and I haven't even had any cokes since then (other than the occasional Sprite).

I heard or read somewhere that if you drink enough to have the SLIGHTEST buzz, that the baby has had enough to be passed-out drunk. I don't know how much truth there is to that or if it's a certain stage of pregnancy, but it's a scary thought. When the baby's born, I wouldn't even think of putting even a drop of alcohol in its mouth, so why would I allow alcohol to get to the baby now?

To me, it's just not worth the risks involved. If something hasn't been absolutely proven that it's perfectly safe, I try to stay away from it. I'm even avoiding Tylenol and holding my breath around the slightest smell of smoke! I guess I'm a paranoid pregnant women.

We have a friend who owns a beer/wine bar. He told us recently that there was a really pregnant woman in there once, and she had 3 glasses of wine. She ordered her 4th and they decided to say something to her. He thought it was a joke, that she would pull a basketball out from under her shirt but she didn't. A few sips is one thing, but 4 glasses????

[Tinabeana]

My DR told me to stay away from it all together not even a sip of wine and that is what Im doing.

I just got married and I had sparkling apple cider in my glass and in the limo, I didnt EVEN what too risk have just a sip, I dont agree with it at all, It should be avoided till after birth

[SandyJ]

I have had two tiny half glasses of red wine early in my pregnancy. Nothing for the past two months though and I doubt I will drink again. I wasn't a frequent drinker at all before pregnancy so I don't miss it that much. Neither my doc nor my friend the RN were concerned about the sips. I've got a long road to hoe though, as I plan to breastfeed. So I'm looking at a long, long sober time. Not that I'm a big drinker, as I said, but

i agree with you for the most part and avoid alchol from the day i learn im preggo. but in the ninth month i usually breakdown and have half a glass of wine, because it always seems to be a holiday around the ninth month and by then all the orangs are formed and the brains functioning and i dont think there a reason for much concern but again i only half a glass of something so it never much.

[ValandTim]

I have had 3 sips of wine (not even enough to swallow, just to taste the flavor) this pregnancy. Last time I had nothing. I would never have a glass, but I don't think a taste is going to cause harm to my child.

[QueenCrafty]

This might cause some drama, but I have the opposite opinion about alcohol from a lot of you. For me personally, I haven't felt the need or really want to drink except for a sip of champagne at my friend's wedding. However, I don't think that an occasional small glass of wine here and there is a huge deal. My sil drank a half glass of red wine about once a month and her daughter is a normal and smart almost 3 year old. My friend's sil used to drink 2-3 full glasses of red wine about every other week, which is too much in my opinion.

I think the alcohol issue is something to be discussed with your doctor, but if the doctor is okay with an occasional amount, I think the mother needs to be very responsible about that amount that she drinks. I don't deny that alcohol can affect a growing baby differently, but women have been doing this for centuries and you can't tell me that hundreds of years ago women gave up wine when they were pregnant.

So that's my two cents, please don't get angry at me!

[SandyJ]

*chuckle* My grandmother had three boys and she use to put a bit of whisky in the baby bottles "to help baby off to sleep". It was pretty common less than 50 years ago to use alcohol that way. Of course they didn't know then what they know now, but my Dad and both his brothers all turned out to be highly successful businessmen, so I guess it didn't hurt them. I think culture has also to do with people's perception of alcohol too. Some countries think its normal to offer children wine with dinner. In medieval europe it was safer to drink alcohol than water! Who knows. Since the FDA seems to change its mind once a month about what's good and what's bad for us, I'm sure we'll learn someday that alcohol cures cancer. Wouldn't that be shocking!

[spicymustard]

I'm not touching the stuff.

One of my neighbors works in the maternity ward at one of the hospital's in my area, she said it's fine to have an "occasional" drink here and there. Me? I can wait to after my pregnancy. Why take a chance? It's not worth it. Besides how does it look seeing a pregnant girl with a drink in her hand?

[Roni]

If you know what alcohol does to an adult, then just imagin what it does to a baby that is a fraction of your size?

I am an avid wine drinker, and had a couple of alcoholic drinks prior to knowing I was pregnant, but I didn't know, and figured, since the egg hadn't planted yet (I had an early ultrasound cause the doctor thought I had an ectopic pregnancy) it was okay. But now that the baby depends on everything you eat to get it's nutrients, I don't think it's very wise.

People say that way back when they use to do all this and all that, and thier kids are healthy, but really, how do we know that? How is thier mental state of mind? They may be fine physically, but what about thier chemical balance in thier heads? How do they do in school? At jobs? Interacting with other people? Autism is at a high right now, why?? I'm not saying it's cause of alcohol, but maybe it's something else we think "couldn't hurt". ughhh, just makes me mad with all these women who think they can't harm the baby they are growing inside them.

if you want to risk the chance - go ahead, but not me! I will sustain from alcohol even longer since I too will be breastfeeding.