Drinking during pregnancy...

Veronica - posted on 08/21/2009

Im reading a book that opens the eyes to ADD and ADHD as well as asthma, allergies, and autism. Talks about natural alternative ways to help with this, rather than the regular meds that can damage internal organs - ritalin attacks the heart (14 year old died from a heart attack from it!) crazy -- anyways, i also work with tremendous products that have helped children and grown ups with these health issues - and we've seen great results. Main things for this are: antioxidants (to detox the system) we have Isotonix OPC3 ; aloe juice to cleanse, promote a healthy immune system, promotes healing, and balances the ph in our bodies; Ultimate Aloe Juice is what we have - comes in four great flavors, natural,kiwi strawberry, pomegranite, and cranberryapple. And finally getting a good multivitamin - most of these children (and adults) are lacking vitamins that contribute to their symptoms and behavior with ADD and ADHD - autism, etc. -- we have Spectrum Isotonix Mightamins for children (multivitamins with or w/o iron for adults).



REad read read, research research research, and find a good doctor that is willing to help with the alternative meds.



Take care,

V

Jeannette - posted on 08/21/2009

Veronica, I personally don't have an ADD, ADHD child, but absolutely loooove one that is. His mother had NO prenatal care. She didn't take prenatal vitamins. She found out she was pregnant via a home test, took whatever over the counter meds she wanted, did not see a doctor one time the nine months...except for the time she got in a car wreck and went to the ER. The baby was amazingly okay. When she went into labor, she didn't want to have the baby! A total disfunction of a human being. She was supposedly afraid of needles, but would touch them, work them, and fill them with fluid when prompted by a therapist.

The baby was born with all 10 fingers and all 10 toes, but has had some health issues ever since. Including the ADHD.

Veronica - posted on 08/19/2009

Let me ask you this - for all mothers who have kids with ADD and ADHD -- did you get the flu shot when you were pg?

Jeannette - posted on 08/19/2009

I actually believe the proof is in the results: many of you stated that you had a "few" during your pregnancies. Any problems with the birth? Any problems with your children now?

Many of you stated that you could wait nine months: Any problems with the birth? Any problems with your children now?

I believe it is personal choice....and women have been doing it for ages. I didn't drink at all with my first child...at all.

With my second pregnancy, I had one glass of wine at a dinner.

With my third none....my children are all very healthy.

I wonder though....the alcohol restrictions are ever increasing, yet more and more kids have ADD, ADHD, and autism. Is there a connection?

Not too serious for those of you who would like to sling 'stuff' at such a question.

Veronica - posted on 08/19/2009

I would disagree for any kind of alchohol during prg. as you rish fetal alchohol syndrome. However, Red Wine I can def. see as ok - why? because Red wine has antioxidants in it - so I can see how it would be healthy -- of course Im not saying drink away now! But, I feel it would be beneficial to a point to rid your body of some free radicals - but if you want to go that route - look into Isotonix OPC3 -- it has red wine extract - along with many other beneficiary antioxidants in it.

Katherine - posted on 08/18/2009

Wow, that's called Pica-eating non food items, for some reason it happens a lot to pregnant women. In fact my Dr, asked me that very question, "do you crave non food items?" WHAT!!!??? But no it can be serious, like with the pinesol, don't think crayons could hurt.

DAWN - posted on 08/18/2009

I was told absolutely no alcohol because there is no known safe amount and moderation can be interpreted in different ways by every woman. There is just not enough evidence to support that there could be a benefit to it. Some women drink every day and go on to have healthy babies while another woman may only have a few and end up with a child that has FASD. It is really hit or miss so I think it is best to not consume any.

Stacey - posted on 08/12/2009

i was pregnant at 16 and was drinking illegally lol..and i was pregnant by one month and got hit by a car and that same day was they day i got totally messed up...4 months after that i FINALLY decided to get the courage to get a test done and found out i was pregnant.So idk i could have just been lucky idk.

Shelley - posted on 08/05/2009

Like many of you have stated, I went with what my body told me I wanted during pregnancy, which (thankfully!) was mostly fresh fruits and veggies. I LOVE French wine and drank a glass every now and then. IDK how many times. More than a few. I was having twins and was an emotional MESS while pregnant, so I definitely felt it to be necessary and enjoyable.



My grandma says that she craved beer when she was pregnant with my mom (in 1954) and drank a gallon of it every night! Not to get drunk. She craved the flavor. And she smoked with all five of her perfectly healthy kids. I'm not into the scare tactics of "What to expect" and think women should just listen to their bodies and make decisions that fit THEM, not their doctors or friends, but themselves. Obviously, if you crave ashes or cleaning products, do refrain. And I'm not saying go get wasted while pregnant. It should be a personal decision. My GYN had no problem with it but acknowledged his professional duty to tell me the risks. My babies are perfectly healthy.

Sara - posted on 08/04/2009

I saw a show about a woman having twins the other day and she was eating crayons...yeah...crayons.

ME - posted on 08/04/2009

IDK Jenn...I know someone who craved pinesol...ewwww.

~Jennifer - posted on 08/03/2009

the oddest craving I've ever heard of was 'tree bark and dirt'

Charlie - posted on 08/03/2009

one our friends mother never drank a drop in her life ( alcohol ) but when she fell pregnant all she craved was whiskey !!

ME - posted on 08/03/2009

I make half-caf coffee, and have one to two cups a day...When I am not preg. I drink a whole pot of coffee a day, so this is the best I can do. I also don't drink anything else with caffiene in it, so the coffee is all I get.

Charlie - posted on 08/03/2009

Personally i didnt drink alcohol or coffee for that matter during my last pregnancy as i had a miscarriage the first time i fell pregnant so i was not prepared in anyway to put the slightest chance of risk on my baby , it was a terrifying 9 months !

Sarah - posted on 08/03/2009

Well i had a few glasses of wine when pregnant. I also drank coffee when pregnant, not as much as i drink now.....but 1-2 cups a day. I don't think it's made my kids hyper or anything. Plus i don't drink any fizzy stuff like coke so that was all the caffeine i was getting.
I always say this but i think 'everything in moderation' :)

Angie - posted on 08/02/2009

hmm... I did have a beer every now and then, I also have had a glass of wine. During my last pregnancy thats all I craved. Now I think drinking in excess or having hard liquor is wrong. I have known people who drank hard liquor during their pregnancies and their children having mental problems. I don't want to risk it. The good phrase I have heard time and time again "to each their own"...or just plainly you do what you want. Hmm... maybe you guys might think this...I might be "crapping" in this thread (I have heard this in another thread. But what do you think of drinking caffeine? I have heard that it makes your child hyper and hard to deal with when born...I haven't tried this out, but what do you think, or have you heard the same thing?!?

Sapphire - posted on 08/02/2009

I personally did not drink during my pregnancy. After previous miscarriages, I wanted to do anything possible to avoid another loss. I will admit that I down an entire pitcher of sangria on our anniversary June 27th. I found out I was pregnant on July 6th or 7th. I was so worried! In any event, different cultures have different practices. I decided that it was in my baby's best interest not to expose any alcohol. It was interesting first trimester because I hid my pregnancy from my co-workers. Every single happy hour I discreetly ordered an iced tead or Coke, which gave bizarre looks as all my co-workers were taking shots! I only confided in one co-worker that I was pregnant again.

Sharon - posted on 08/02/2009

My OBGYN 7 years ago said an occasional glass of red wine was fine. Or in my case a winecooler. I would have indulged if I could have stomached the smell.

& I'm loving Marabeths comparisons, lol. NICE!

ME - posted on 07/29/2009

I'm a vegetarian...I haven't touched any meat (other than fish, which I didn't eat for ten years) in 15 years. I NEVER try to make people feel bad for eating red meat, which is not good for anyone's health (on any kind of regular basis). I will not fix red meat for my son, because I know that it is unnecessary, and most likely bad...Interesting, point Marabeth...I never would have thought of putting it this way! There was an article in my local paper today discussing the dangers of drinking while preg. The (only) doctor interviewed, said that there is clearly no way of knowing what the safe level of alc. consumption is while pregnant, but that women who binge drink are the ONLY ones who are absolutely putting their pregnancies in danger. To be clear tho, I've still had nothing to drink since finding out that I'm pregnant this time...

Marabeth - posted on 07/29/2009

i decided it was okay for me. i had three glasses of wine throughout my whole pregnancy and i'd have a sip or two of my husbands beer when it smelled really good. my whole pregnancy was about smells and everything either smelled REALLY good or REALLY bad. so when beer smelled REALLY good i interpreted that as it being what i needed. sure, its 'risky' but what isn't? is eating red meat safe while pregnant? is driving safe while pregnant? is arguing/fighting safe while pregnant? i'm sure we all (minus the vegetarians, kudos to you!) did those things regularly while pregnant.. the argument against drinking while pregnant that 'its not necessary for survival and its only nine months!' would apply to any of those things but they are still practiced regularly with not a second thought..



Conservative estimates suggest that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome affects about 1 in 1,000 babies born in the U.S. year. There may be as many as 12,000 babies born with FAS every year. Up to three times as many babies have alcohol-related problems that aren't strictly diagnosed as FAS. On average, lifetime care costs for a person with FAS add up to $2 million. And nationwide, in the U.S., the cost of alcohol-related birth defects is about $4 billion.



Car Crash Stats: There were nearly 6,420,000 auto accidents in the United States in 2005. The financial cost of these crashes is more than 230 Billion dollars. 2.9 million people were injured and 42,636 people killed. About 115 people die every day in vehicle crashes in the United States -- one death every 13 minutes.





i'm not saying we should all stop driving and get drunk when we're pregnant lol. even though statistically we'd be less likely to hurt our children/ourselves. my point is that there is risk in everything. as mothers we constantly make choices that we think are the best for us/our children. some mothers take risks that others wouldnt DREAM of! it doesn't make them bad mothers, just different. i'd drink a glass of wine while pregnant or breastfeeding even, but wouldn't DREAM of letting my baby cry it out, for example. both very hot topics. i'm sure plenty of moms are just the opposite!

ME - posted on 07/26/2009

Just for the record, my doctor was fresh out of her internship and had just passed her boards and become a "real" doctor a couple of weeks before she took me on as a patient...

Cathy - posted on 07/26/2009

I think its the 'old school' doctors that recommend having a drink once a week when you're pregnant...their newer, younger counterparts usually say 'no alcohol while pregnant', at least that's what I've been told...just a case of when you know better you do better, I guess. I had an older, seme-retired doctor when I was pregnant with my first child, and she 'prescribed' a nice cold beer on a Friday night, to relax (I was a worried first mom-to-be and full of anxiety). It didn't hurt, and it did help me to relax a bit. With my second child (5 years later) my newer, younger doctor was vigilant in reminding me not to have any alcohol. My thoughts now on the subect, are to do what feels right to you. One beer or glass of wine seems harmless, as long as it stops there.

Alison - posted on 07/24/2009

When this debate last came up on here I felt bad so I asked around my friends in the UK. Specifically in the Midlands where I'm from. They all agreed with me about having the odd glass of stout or ale was good in the 3rd trimester because they are high in good nutrients. I think it must be a Midlands thing because my mum said that too and I've not heard of the practice anywhere else. I know doctors in the region don't reccomend it anymore, but loads of people I know still advocate it. I don't recall doing it religiously, but some moms to be have 2 or 3 units every week to keep them healthy even if they don't like the taste of it.

ME - posted on 07/24/2009

Rachel- I was pointing out that I was following what I thought to be the expert advice of my doctor, which agreed with all of the other (5-6) women who I knew who had recently finished 1 or more pregnancies. I have since heard other women who's docs have not agreed with what I was told. I was just trying to get a sense of the PREVAILING medical opinion, since individual medical professionals obviously do not agree with one another. Accusing me of risking my child's life is just nasty, I am a wonderful mom, you don't know me, and you have no right to accuse me of this. If you have said all you have to say on this topic, well, no one forced you to respond. I would appreciate it if you don't respond to me anymore if you cannot be civil, but you are right, you do have freedom of speech, and I have the freedom to ignore you from now on. I enjoy this COM group because it is a CIVIL place to DEBATE...I would love it if it would stay that way.

Mel - posted on 07/23/2009

Rachel - there is little to no risk of drinking a glass or two in the last trimester. the baby is pretty much all developed. i think when you state your opinion you shoudl do it in a way that is not accusing, and telling people what they should and shouldnt do. its not anyones place to jdudge someone for whether they decide to drink in moderation during pregnancy. as ive said i drank in my first pregnancy in moderation the next i wont be, but whether someone does or doesnt it is there choice and at the end of the day it is very unlikely your child is going to develop FAS from a mother having a drink every now and again, if doctors recommend it then they would be at risk of getting sued when someone gave birth to a disabled child due to alcohol. so its not a big risk at all like someone else mentioned and most pregnant mums if not having a drink or two at the end, alot do drink before they knew and thier babies are all born healthy

?? - posted on 07/23/2009

Rachel - It's not that hard to state your opinion without the judgmental undermining tone. Debating Mums is where we get to go to have a debate without the belittling undermining and accusatory remarks. If you have such an issue wording your opinion in a way that doesn't come off like that, you have no right to get pissy cause someone takes your remarks as they come off to be. As Joy said, chastising and judging, is not an opinion - its just being rude for the sake of it. And you certainly shouldn't be stating "what debating mums is about" if you are completely unable/unwilling to soften your tone (which in no way means you should lessen the strength of your opinion) and take into consideration that we are all here for the same thing - not just you.



She never said anything about wanting people who agree with her to respond - WE ALL simply want people to present their opinions in a respectful manner. We deserve the right to state our opinion without anyone looking down on us, just as you deserve the right to state your opinion without anyone looking down on you - we all have to present our opinions in such a manner that doesn't radiate judgment and being critical.



As far as drinking alcohol while pregnant - I don't think it's necessary and there is a risk - but there is also a risk walking out to cross the road, and to get into a car and drive on the freeway, or to eat 10 chilli dogs. The risk is there but it certainly is not a LIFE OR DEATH choice.



The risks only become a serious factor if/when the alcohol becomes excessive. The majority of Fetal Alcohol Syndrom babies are born to women who have previous drinking problems. There are only a very few cases of FAS in babies where a woman only had 1 drink during her pregnancy and that risk is about the save average as getting hit by a car walking down the street and now, recently with more carelessness on the part of human beings - there is more of a risk of getting stabbed, shot or hit by a car than giving birth to a baby with FAS from having 1 drink during her pregnancy.



That being said - a risk is a risk. A study is a study. I find it hard to rely on studies like that and I also find it believable considering my neice was born with a heart condition that only affects 2 in ever 10,000 babies. So to me the risk isn't worth it, but only because I've seen those very small risks, be a reality with my neice.

Rachel - posted on 07/23/2009

Well I NEVER said anything about you, and like I already stated, this is DEBATING MUMS..we are all here to debate. In general, IMO, since you know this whole COM thing is about opinions, your (as a general statement) risking your childs life. ITS PROVEN, its possible, so Im not being rude in any sense, Im simply stating facts. And if you wanted more of, "what your MD's said"..state that, dont ask for our feelings. Is no one else completely irritated of how many times this subject comes up, now thats not your fault at all since you just joined i was just simply using my 1st admentment right to freedom of speach to state that "Oh my god not this again." Im allowed to do that right? And just to throw in something else..babys in the womb are still developing in the 3rd trimester.

Deanne - posted on 07/23/2009

I had my 21st cocktail party & the week later, found out I was pregnant!!! I still feel bad for the amount of shots I had that night!

Emma - posted on 07/23/2009

i didnt drink at all as i knew the dangers.. it was a very hard 43 weeks. lol!! i actually craved lager so i think my body was being extremely cruel to me!! xx

Mel - posted on 07/23/2009

most doctors will tell you its ok to drink in moderation. latest research shows no amount of alcohol is safe and it should be avoided altogether. i have heard last trimester is not so bad, first is the worst because baby is developing. I had some one tell me on here though that I was wrong and that the first trimester did not matter and the last did. The fact is you can have one drink and have an FAS baby or you can drink your whole pregnancy and even get drunk and have a healthy child. nothing is guaranteed. its best to stay away from alcohol full stop. im not lecturing you though, i drank in moderation in my pregnancy, before i found out, i was doing shots at the pub, as i didnt even suspect i was pregnant because my periods were always late and i had been off contraceptives for 2 years. i drank maybe a quarter to half of a premixed drink every month or so because i felt guilty drinking anymore then that. one time i had a baileys and milk at the pub. it didnt do any harm to my daughter.

ME - posted on 07/23/2009

Thanks Joy...I did feel accused, and while I did ask how people felt about the subject, I did NOT ask how people felt about me. Several women stated their opinion that drinking while pregnant was not for them without being judgemental or nasty. I CERTAINLY wasn't advocating being a raging drunk while pregnant, and I WAS following the advice of my physician, whom I trusted implicitly. She told me to quit drinking coffee and soda, and to stay as far away from smokers as possible (including my husband), but she was unconcerned about a couple glasses of wine, SO I didn't take her as someone who was either overly-causious or overly lax with the guidelines for a healthy pregnancy. I had read studies from European medical journals stating that drinking MORE than 1 glass a week wouldn't hurt, so my doctors reccommendation didn't seem that crazy (after I looked into it on my own). Still...as I've said, I didn't drink nearly as often as she claimed I could...but in any case, I was looking for more of a survey of MD opinions from all of these women...I had not been attacked personally on this particular forum before, and I do hope this sort of thing won't be happening here again.

Traci - posted on 07/22/2009

This is interesting to me. We've had a conversation on here about people smoking around kids before and it seems to me that everyone is more bothered by someone smoking a cigarette in the vicinity of their child than they are a mother having a drink while she is pregnant. I wonder why that is.

JL - posted on 07/22/2009

I can see why Mary may have taken offense to the way Rachel stated her comments. When I read the first sentence.."Oh god, not this subject again..I cringe everytime and my blood starts boiling" I took it as sounding very accusatory and as I am ready to attack anyone who dare have a glass of wine while pregnant....which is why I avoided even getting involved in this discussion.



There is a clear difference between simply stating you personally do not agree with and think that moms should not drink and flat out telling someone who is going by the advice of medial professionals that she should not be selfish and risk her childs life for doing something that is based on sound judgment from a medical professional who is following the latest studies and statistics.



That is not giving an opinion but chastising and judging someone who is clearly not a advocating being a raving drunken loon while pregnant. She asked for others opinions not to be judged.



New studies conducted by doctors that followed children who were born to mothers who had the occassional glass of wine when pregnant have clearly shown that there are not negative side effects to the child or the mother.



http://www.momlogic.com/2008/10/new_stud...

Rachel - posted on 07/22/2009

Mary, in case you forgot on your main question you also asked and I quote, "How do you feel about it?" I simply answered how I feel about it. As parents in the 60's and 70's they were also told to put your baby to sleep on there stomach, but we know different now. Im sorry if take offense to my opinion but this debating mums and I just dont think that a "special occasion" as you call it is worth even the POSSIBLE risk to your baby. It may not have happened to you but it has happened and that should be enough. And it would be nice if you stated that you only wanted people who agreed with you to respond.

ME - posted on 07/22/2009

"Oh god, not this subject again..I cringe everytime and my blood starts boiling. Resveratrol is the "good stuff" in red wine that everyone raves about. What most dont know is that in order to get an amount that would actually affect you in a good way you would need to drink 12, yes 12 bottles a day! So drinking wine while pregnant isn't going to do you or your child any good. And the essence of them not being able to do tests on pregnant women is the proof of why in itself its bad and you shouldnt do it. If they were willing to test it then what would matter but there not because its so dangerous. Just dont be selfish..9 MONTHS thats it. Your risking your childs life so you can not even get a buzz, juice and water in a wine glass taste great!"



I never suggested that it was good for me...my question was what doctors said about any harm. I was told, by my OBGYN that there was absolutely no reason why I couldn't drink a glass of wine once a week. I didn't ask her if I could drink, it never would have occurred to me that I could. I was shocked when she brought it up. She didn't tell me it was good for me, and she didn't tell me it was good for the pregnancy, she said it wouldn't hurt...As I said, I didn't do it that often...but there were a few special occasions during my pregnancy...a friends wedding, my anniversary, my birthday, and new years eve...I believe that was it...where I had one glass of wine with a dinner. Most of my close friends in Denver had been told very similar things by their OBGYN's...but then after my pregnancy was over, and my son was born perfectly healthy, I heard different things from other friends. I was wondering how many women got the same info I did, and how many did not. My mom was told with all five of her pregnancies that "booze and snooze" was a great way to get some rest...4 out of five of us graduated from college, two have MA's...I didn't ask for judgements, I asked what others had been told...I am pregnant again, and have a different OB (I loved my OB in Denver, but I moved to IL in Nov.) I haven't had a drink since I found out I was pregnant almost two months ago...and I have no "special occassions" coming any time soon, I was just curious...I'm not selfish...and I drink wine because I love the taste of it, particularly with food, not to get a buzz. I think drinking to get a buzz is pretty juvenile any time!

Deanne - posted on 07/21/2009

By the way, if I could do it again, I wouldn't drink a drop!!

Deanne - posted on 07/21/2009

I come from an European back ground & nearly all mothers drank in the 'olden days' & it is weird that all the babies born were not effected by it.
I don't believe you are 'risking your babies life' by having a rare couple of drinks

Rachel - posted on 07/21/2009

Oh god, not this subject again..I cringe everytime and my blood starts boiling. Resveratrol is the "good stuff" in red wine that everyone raves about. What most dont know is that in order to get an amount that would actually affect you in a good way you would need to drink 12, yes 12 bottles a day! So drinking wine while pregnant isn't going to do you or your child any good. And the essence of them not being able to do tests on pregnant women is the proof of why in itself its bad and you shouldnt do it. If they were willing to test it then what would matter but there not because its so dangerous. Just dont be selfish..9 MONTHS thats it. Your risking your childs life so you can not even get a buzz, juice and water in a wine glass taste great!

Deanne - posted on 07/21/2009

Well I'll be honest, I'm a drinker & drank a few times whilst pregnant. I'd have a max of 2 or 3 on a special occasion & my doctors said although no alcohol is the best that the amount I was drinking shouldn't effect bub at all... but they can't say what amount is safe & that's why they say NO alcohol.
I do not recommend drinking at all whilst pregnant.
If I did drink it would be wine or beer not the hard stuff!

ME - posted on 07/16/2009

I appreciate everyones input. I got to wondering because so many of my girlfriends were told very conflicting things, and the doc I had in Denver for my first pregnancy is no longer my doctor, because we moved to IL right before I got preg. again. I am going to a family wedding this weekend, and I haven't had any special reasons to share a drink with friends since finding out a month ago that I as preg...but with this one coming up, I was interested in what others had been told. I don't think i will have anything to drink...well maybe a sip of champaign at the toast...lol...I think I will save my drink for my 3rd anniversary in October...;)

Michelle - posted on 07/16/2009

I know a few years ago when my friend was pregnant she was told she could have a small glass of wine once a week but when i was pregnant last year i was told no alcohol at all but i did have a cheeky glass of wine at my baby shower. One glass on a special occasion wont do any harm.

Charlie - posted on 07/15/2009

in Australia they recommend you do not drink at all.

Sara - posted on 07/15/2009

Personally, I did not drink when pregnant at all. My doctor, who was pretty strict, did not condone but even if he did, I wouldn't have. They can't exactly do studies on pregnant women and say without a doubt that you can drink X amount of alcohol while pregnant and it will do no harm to the baby. I felt it was my job to give my child the best start possible in life. To me, that meant among other things no drinking while pregnant. I have friends that had a glass of wine here or there, and I'm not going to put any body down for that. It's a personal choice. But I wouldn't even take tylenol while pregnant, I just didn't want to take ANY chances!

Tracy - posted on 07/14/2009

I am from Australia and my doctor said there is no safe amount of alcohol you should drink during pregnancy. I went without and did'nt find it hard. I even had christmas, new year and easter and never touched a drop :)

Traci - posted on 07/14/2009

I don't think it's a good idea, nine months isn't that long...

Erin - posted on 07/14/2009

I didn't touch a drop while pregnant, but I doubt a few glasses of wine throughout the course of the pregnant would do any harm. I just chose to be cautious :)

I'm Australian but am a Medical Receptionist for what we affectionately term the United Nations of doctors (a West Indian, Chinese, Indonesian, Slovakian and one Australian) and they all have differing opinions on this. The first three believe there is no safe level of alcohol during pregnancy as there is no way to make that conclusion. The Australian doctor says a handful of drinks over the course of an entire pregnancy won't do any harm. The Slovakian (who did her training in Europe) is much more relaxed and even tried to get me to have a cocktail (just ONE and very small) at our staff Christmas party when I was 35 weeks. I declined and she just laughed, assuring me it would be fine and that when she had her babies in Slovakia 30 years ago it was normal for pregnant women to enjoy a drink.

Mary - posted on 07/14/2009

Quoting Joy:

I had a few glasses of red wine on doctor's advice when I was pregnant. I was in my third trimester. Before that, I never even considered drinking while pregnant. Then one day I showed up to a doctor's appointment crying and upset (hormonal and feeling fat and also dealing with family issues) and my doctor actually wrote it on a prescription pad that I was to go home and have a glass of wine and put my feet up. I've seen this topic several times on CoM and people always say they don't believe a doctor would say it's ok. I'm here to say again, my doctor did.

oh, the midwives I work with tell women all the time who come in contracting, but not laboring, after 36 weeks to dring a glass of wine and take a warm bath.  Often times it is just the thing to help themrelax enough to knock those  useless, but uncomfortable  contactions out, and allow them to get some MUCH needed sleep! :)

ME - posted on 07/14/2009

I'm wondering what some of the European moms have to say about this...I read somewhere awhile ago that docs there are even less restrictive than one glass a week...Not that I want to drink more than that...just curious. As I said above...I certainly never drank to excess, and I was surprised by my doc telling me that it was safe to drink wine occasionally...I didn't ask, she brought it up. I had friends who drank hard alcohol during their pregnancies...I was a little shocked by this...but their babies are fine. I got some pretty dirty looks on New Years Eve when I was 1 month from my due date, and very obviously pregnant. I only had one glass, and I ate a big meal with it...anyway, I was just curious what other peoples docs had said to them...if anything...I appreciate the responses... i thought I might get some angry ones...This is a great group.

Krista - posted on 07/14/2009

I don't think I even discussed it with my doctor. I've always been under the impression that no alcohol is safe during pregnancy. I actually quit drinking altogether when we started trying to get pregnant, which was five months before I conceived. The only time that I would allow myself to have a drink was when I had just gotten a negative result from a preg test, or when I had my period. I actually ended up having a drink when I thought I had my period, only to find out that I was pregnant at the time. I felt so guilty about that drink my whole pregnancy! I'm sure I'm taking it to the extreme, and small doses of alcohol may be fine during the 2nd or 3rd trimester, but I just wanted to do everything possible for a healthy pregnancy and didn't want to chance it.