DRINKING ALCOHOL DURING PREGNANCY BENEFICIAL?

Melissa - posted on 05/04/2009

keep repeating yourself have fun with that we are not listening,

Jaime - posted on 05/04/2009

Why is it so difficult for you to accept that there are benefits to drinking, and also drinking while pregnant. I don't need to go to my doctor to get a list of these benefits because the point is not to argue all the benefits or to argue all the risks, the point is to say that there is merit to both sides of this discussion, which leads me back to the point that just because you believe it is wrong, does not make it wrong.

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Jaime:

You ladies are missing the point by a long shot...all you are interested in discussing is that drinking during pregnancy is wrong and anyone that goes against this belief must be an idiot. I am very well educated and would never suggest that either of you need to educate yourselves so that you can have a more acceptable opinion on this matter. I respect your choice to abstain from alcohol while you were pregnant. What I have trouble with is your denial of the fact that there are known benefits to drinking during pregnancy...there have been plenty of examples to support this fact by other posters...and not based on their opinions, based on their doctor's professional advice and knowledge of the human body. And furthermore, wine is good for your kidneys and your liver---alcohol abuse is not!...there is a difference.

if you are so down pat with your opinion then go to your DR and get a print out of all the benefits to this with a signature of the dr and then come on here with a copy..and argue some more.. no one has yet to get anything written...there is e mail and attaching so no excuses..carry on with getting written proof of your benefits..and then continue..because you can to any drs simply and get what harm it will do....nothing u see at the drs is just sitting there with the benefits

Melissa - posted on 05/04/2009

Get over your self!! Educate myself because I didnt drink not even once. The possibility of it harming my baby was enough to make me not drink

Jaime - posted on 05/04/2009

You ladies are missing the point by a long shot...all you are interested in discussing is that drinking during pregnancy is wrong and anyone that goes against this belief must be an idiot. I am very well educated and would never suggest that either of you need to educate yourselves so that you can have a more acceptable opinion on this matter. I respect your choice to abstain from alcohol while you were pregnant. What I have trouble with is your denial of the fact that there are known benefits to drinking during pregnancy...there have been plenty of examples to support this fact by other posters...and not based on their opinions, based on their doctor's professional advice and knowledge of the human body. And furthermore, wine is good for your kidneys and your liver---alcohol abuse is not!...there is a difference.

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Melissa:

Call me old fashioned or what you will when I was pregnant and got stressed out and I did alot of the time I took a walk, had a bath did something I enjoyed, I didnt grab a bottle

100% agree with you there....goodness walking is awesome relaxation and as well as a bath...or hey even sitting down and watching a movie or eating a yummy meal..anything is better than drinking alcohol

Melissa - posted on 05/04/2009

You know what it should b e 100% illegal to drink while pregnant its illegal for minors to drink so why not I wish every mom who gave there child FASD and other problems spent some time behind the bars they would look so good behind then maybe theyd understand alcohol isnt everything

Jaime - posted on 05/04/2009

I am not arguing fact. I have not disagreed with the known facts about the risks involved with drinking during pregnancy. I have simply advocated for the belief that it is a personal choice and that it is not wrong to drink during pregnancy because there are known benefits to drinking during pregnancy.

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Melissa:

Quoting Lindsey:

Quoting Melissa:

it may be good for your heart but it does nothing for your liver for every benefit of alchol there is one down fall

yeah yeah i know u were saying it wasn't good i was agreeing with you by saying that obviously it isn't good when it causes liver disease..:)

Good just didnt want you to think I was okay with pregnant people feeding there unborn babies booze infact it disgusts me.

i also think it is pretty sad if people need to resort to alcohol to "relax" it is rather upsetting that people do do that just gimme a break..how is drinking alcohol GOOD..in any way...there are so many down falls to drinking it when ur not pregnant let alone putting someone elses little undeveloped body in danger too...drinking is just not a good resort to relaxation or whatever everyone keeps fighting for and the second i have to turn to alcohol to save my heart is the day i say pull the plug and let me die..im not letting alcohol save my life when it did nothing but kill me through someone else....emotionally

Melissa - posted on 05/04/2009

Call me old fashioned or what you will when I was pregnant and got stressed out and I did alot of the time I took a walk, had a bath did something I enjoyed, I didnt grab a bottle

Melissa - posted on 05/04/2009

Call me old fashioned or what you will when I was pregnant and got stressed out and I did alot of the time I took a walk, had a bath did something I enjoyed, I didnt grab a bottle

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Melissa:

Why are we arguing fact WHY ARE YOU ARGUING FACT??? You are so self involved and obsessed with being right why dont you go educate yourself and possibly grow from this.

shes too stuck on the facts that she thinks say alcohol is good for you...when clearly...alcohol isn't good for u to begin with..like i said before what ur getting from wine..u can get from grape juice..so why drink the alcohol wine = alcoholic grape juice...hmmm

Sarah - posted on 05/04/2009

wow i shouldve read the previous posts before i responded. i don't want to get caught up in stupid drama. everyone's entitled to their own opinion ladies. why be so angry about it? people are gonna listen to who they want, and do what they wanna do. getting yourself all upset about it doesn't help any situation... especially your own.

Melissa - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Lindsey:

Quoting Melissa:

it may be good for your heart but it does nothing for your liver for every benefit of alchol there is one down fall

yeah yeah i know u were saying it wasn't good i was agreeing with you by saying that obviously it isn't good when it causes liver disease..:)

Good just didnt want you to think I was okay with pregnant people feeding there unborn babies booze infact it disgusts me.

Melissa - posted on 05/04/2009

Why are we arguing fact WHY ARE YOU ARGUING FACT??? You are so self involved and obsessed with being right why dont you go educate yourself and possibly grow from this.

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Melissa:

it may be good for your heart but it does nothing for your liver for every benefit of alchol there is one down fall

yeah yeah i know u were saying it wasn't good i was agreeing with you by saying that obviously it isn't good when it causes liver disease..:)

Sarah - posted on 05/04/2009

i had the occasional glass of red wine. my doctor told me that it increases the circulation between you and the baby thru the umbilical cord. my baby was perfect in every way, shape, and form. as long as it's not on a normal basis or you're getting drunk i think it's perfectly fine to sip some red wine on special occasions or when you're feeling a little pregnancy stress.

Jaime - posted on 05/04/2009

The question asked 'are there benefits'?...and the fact remains that there are. Why are we arguing fact?

Melissa - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Lindsey:

haha isn't alcohol how u get liver disease..lol WHAT A GREAT benefit and awesome advise..lets drink bc it helps out livers..when thats one of the leading causes of preventable death is alcohol induced liver disease..NICE



The truth is that any amount of alcohol may harm your baby. The Surgeon General's press release indicates that there is actually a range of problems that affects babies exposed to alcohol, otherwise known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. These effects can range from subtle learning disabilities to central nervous system disorders and facial anomalies.

In some cases, alcohol effects may not be seen for years. Researchers from the UK in a 2001 study saw more behavioral problems with children ages 6-7 if their mothers consumed even small amounts of alcohol during their pregnancies in comparison to women who did not consume any alcohol.

It is best to avoid any alcohol and contrary to a growing public opinion, there is no safe level of alcohol during pregnancy.

I was actually saying it isnt good for your liver, not good.

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

haha isn't alcohol how u get liver disease..lol WHAT A GREAT benefit and awesome advise..lets drink bc it helps out livers..when thats one of the leading causes of preventable death is alcohol induced liver disease..NICE







The truth is that any amount of alcohol may harm your baby. The Surgeon General's press release indicates that there is actually a range of problems that affects babies exposed to alcohol, otherwise known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. These effects can range from subtle learning disabilities to central nervous system disorders and facial anomalies.



In some cases, alcohol effects may not be seen for years. Researchers from the UK in a 2001 study saw more behavioral problems with children ages 6-7 if their mothers consumed even small amounts of alcohol during their pregnancies in comparison to women who did not consume any alcohol.



It is best to avoid any alcohol and contrary to a growing public opinion, there is no safe level of alcohol during pregnancy.

Melissa - posted on 05/04/2009

it may be good for your heart but it does nothing for your liver for every benefit of alchol there is one down fall

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Amy:

I didn't drink at all while I was pregnant - there are lots of things in life that are ok to risk, but my babies health was not one of them I wanted to add to that list. In the grand scheme of life what is 9 months?

exactly...is 9 months..really that long that u can't go without a drink..!!!!

Jaime - posted on 05/04/2009

I have also not told anyone that I am right either. I'm not sure where this is coming across. My approach is open-minded because there is merit to both sides of the argument. And Lindsey, there are benefits....it's good for your heart, some doctors have said it's good for the baby's heart. How are these not benefits? And, furthermore, how are these not benefits to the baby? If it's good for your heart and perhaps helps to lower stress and promote healthy kidney and liver function, then these are definitely benefits to your baby because your body is functioning well and is more equipped to fight off illnesses and infections that are not pleasant during pregnancy as there are lots of medications that are off limits during this time. Perhaps if you stopped disregarding the facts being brought about on both sides of the debate, you might actually have something valuable to say in this discussion.

Amy - posted on 05/04/2009

I didn't drink at all while I was pregnant - there are lots of things in life that are ok to risk, but my babies health was not one of them I wanted to add to that list. In the grand scheme of life what is 9 months?

Jaime - posted on 05/04/2009

Debbie I have not told anyone that their viewpoint is wrong---ever! I respect everyone's viewpoint, but it is okay for me to disagree with 95% of the other posters if I have a different opinion. I am not trying to hammer anything into anyone's head. I have always talked about personal choice. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is not selfish, it's a personal choice. It is, and I'm sorry if you have difficulty accepting that it comes down to choice, but that's what it is about. Alcohol is can be toxic to your body if it is abused, yes I agree...but that doesn't mean that having one drink renders a toxic amount and will surely produce a child with FAS. Knowing one's limit and understanding all the facts---on both sides---is the best way to make an informed decision on this matter.

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Debbie:

Seriously girls I swore I wouldn't post again about this. However , as I sit her and read others posts and she knows who she is. I can't help but wonder if she is trying to convince herself that she is right about drinking in moderation while pregnant and 95% of us on this post are all wrong. It is about choice! I choice not to drink during pregnancy because there is concrete evidence that it is harmful to the fetus. This person keeps reiterating about the amount of alcohol consumed by the mother varies on her tolerance level. It is not about the mothers tolerance level it's about the babys tolerance level. As I said in my previous post. If you drink, your baby drinks. Your are much larger then your fetus and your organs are fully developed. Your babys organs are just developing and alcohol is toxic. Drinking causes problems to your fetus, maybe not at birth but later in life you may start to see the effects it has on them. THESE ARE FACTS PEOPLE! However, it is your choice and I am not judging. I just don't think that drinking while pregnant is beneficial and I stick by it. Certain people on here are trying to hammer into one's head that cultural and circumstances should be taken into consideration when chosing to drink while pregnant. THAT IS PLAIN OLD BULLSHIT. You are blessed with children by the good Grace of God. Don't drink when your pregnant it is selfish.

AMEN!

Melissa - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Debbie:

Seriously girls I swore I wouldn't post again about this. However , as I sit her and read others posts and she knows who she is. I can't help but wonder if she is trying to convince herself that she is right about drinking in moderation while pregnant and 95% of us on this post are all wrong. It is about choice! I choice not to drink during pregnancy because there is concrete evidence that it is harmful to the fetus. This person keeps reiterating about the amount of alcohol consumed by the mother varies on her tolerance level. It is not about the mothers tolerance level it's about the babys tolerance level. As I said in my previous post. If you drink, your baby drinks. Your are much larger then your fetus and your organs are fully developed. Your babys organs are just developing and alcohol is toxic. Drinking causes problems to your fetus, maybe not at birth but later in life you may start to see the effects it has on them. THESE ARE FACTS PEOPLE! However, it is your choice and I am not judging. I just don't think that drinking while pregnant is beneficial and I stick by it. Certain people on here are trying to hammer into one's head that cultural and circumstances should be taken into consideration when chosing to drink while pregnant. THAT IS PLAIN OLD BULLSHIT. You are blessed with children by the good Grace of God. Don't drink when your pregnant it is selfish.

Oh my gosh someone finally with some smarts, good for you and thanks for posting, after all this is a very important topic maybe if people spent so much time teaching moms to be about the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy instead of condoning the drinking maybe we could get farther, but then again some people are more concerned with people thinking they are right then actually being right I am sorry if I drank during my pregnancy I would not be able to sleep at night and everything that happens afterward I would always wonder if it was what I did that caused this. Would you not think the same?

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Jaime:

It's interesting to me that each time there is the suggestion of possible benefits to drinking alcohol during pregnancy, everyone discredits the study or the doctor in favour of their own belief that it is wrong. So what if it's the 'pigment' in red wine and the 'barley and hops' in the beer that contribute to the health of an individual...I still stand by my opinion that drinking during pregnancy is not wrong. I have also talked about culture and lifestyle. It is not a selfish act to enjoy a drink everyday, nor is it an excessive act (depending on your tolerance level of course)...and given the possibility that drinking in moderation won't harm the baby, then people like Joy are not wrong for having a drink during pregnancy to help relax and destress---and why you ask? Because it is a personal choice that Joy made after taking into consideration the risks and the benefits....whether they be to her or to the baby.

People need to take a culturally relativistic approach to their discussions, rather than an ethno-centric view. I did not say that all doctors were God, I did not say that all doctors were right, I did not say that all women should drink during pregnancy, I did not say that there were not risks....all I keep saying is that there ARE known BENEFITS.... I don't really understand why there is so much disregard for this fact. I can't control that there are benefits---why is it so difficult to accept?

THERE AREN'T BENEFITS TO THE BABY YOU CAN'T SEEM TO GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL THEY MIGHT BENEFIT THE MOTHER.. while not pregnant  BUT THEY DON'T BENEFIT THE BABY WHILE PREGNANT...that is seriously no different than saying lets give a baby some wine because its good for them to have...and good for their health

Jaime - posted on 05/04/2009

It's interesting to me that each time there is the suggestion of possible benefits to drinking alcohol during pregnancy, everyone discredits the study or the doctor in favour of their own belief that it is wrong. So what if it's the 'pigment' in red wine and the 'barley and hops' in the beer that contribute to the health of an individual...I still stand by my opinion that drinking during pregnancy is not wrong. I have also talked about culture and lifestyle. It is not a selfish act to enjoy a drink everyday, nor is it an excessive act (depending on your tolerance level of course)...and given the possibility that drinking in moderation won't harm the baby, then people like Joy are not wrong for having a drink during pregnancy to help relax and destress---and why you ask? Because it is a personal choice that Joy made after taking into consideration the risks and the benefits....whether they be to her or to the baby.

People need to take a culturally relativistic approach to their discussions, rather than an ethno-centric view. I did not say that all doctors were God, I did not say that all doctors were right, I did not say that all women should drink during pregnancy, I did not say that there were not risks....all I keep saying is that there ARE known BENEFITS.... I don't really understand why there is so much disregard for this fact. I can't control that there are benefits---why is it so difficult to accept?

Debbie - posted on 05/04/2009

Seriously girls I swore I wouldn't post again about this. However , as I sit her and read others posts and she knows who she is. I can't help but wonder if she is trying to convince herself that she is right about drinking in moderation while pregnant and 95% of us on this post are all wrong. It is about choice! I choice not to drink during pregnancy because there is concrete evidence that it is harmful to the fetus. This person keeps reiterating about the amount of alcohol consumed by the mother varies on her tolerance level. It is not about the mothers tolerance level it's about the babys tolerance level. As I said in my previous post. If you drink, your baby drinks. Your are much larger then your fetus and your organs are fully developed. Your babys organs are just developing and alcohol is toxic. Drinking causes problems to your fetus, maybe not at birth but later in life you may start to see the effects it has on them. THESE ARE FACTS PEOPLE! However, it is your choice and I am not judging. I just don't think that drinking while pregnant is beneficial and I stick by it. Certain people on here are trying to hammer into one's head that cultural and circumstances should be taken into consideration when chosing to drink while pregnant. THAT IS PLAIN OLD BULLSHIT. You are blessed with children by the good Grace of God. Don't drink when your pregnant it is selfish.

Melissa - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Lindsey:

Quoting Melissa:

Quoting Kylie:

Drinking in moderation 2-3 time per week while pregnant is a really bad idea and I cannot believe any doctor in any country would recommend this to a mum to be. There is a lot of research being done into the affect of alcohol on an unborn baby and the results are frightening. Being a mum is about giving up a lot and putting someone else first before your wants. If you cant even abstain from alcohol for 9 months then your not off to a good start. I didn't even have a sip of champagne at my own wedding when i was 5 and a half months pregnant.

And as for rum on baby's gum's being a tried and true remedy .Jaimie your off the hizzle mate!

I like this because my great friend and even better mom  found out she was pregnant and quit smoking and drinking as soon as she thought she may be pregnant., she also got married and had not a drop of alcohol during her own wedding .These people are great examples which I really hope people follow.

tell your friend i praise her for taking the leap of even quitting smoking for herself and mostly the baby shes awesome tell her that i give all the credit in the world to the people who do this for their babies!!! tell her congrats for being awesome!

Thanks!!!!! I will definately tell her she is awesome  and the perfect mommy ever.

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Melissa:

Quoting Kylie:

Drinking in moderation 2-3 time per week while pregnant is a really bad idea and I cannot believe any doctor in any country would recommend this to a mum to be. There is a lot of research being done into the affect of alcohol on an unborn baby and the results are frightening. Being a mum is about giving up a lot and putting someone else first before your wants. If you cant even abstain from alcohol for 9 months then your not off to a good start. I didn't even have a sip of champagne at my own wedding when i was 5 and a half months pregnant.

And as for rum on baby's gum's being a tried and true remedy .Jaimie your off the hizzle mate!

I like this because my great friend and even better mom  found out she was pregnant and quit smoking and drinking as soon as she thought she may be pregnant., she also got married and had not a drop of alcohol during her own wedding .These people are great examples which I really hope people follow.

tell your friend i praise her for taking the leap of even quitting smoking for herself and mostly the baby shes awesome tell her that i give all the credit in the world to the people who do this for their babies!!! tell her congrats for being awesome!

Melissa - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Kylie:

Drinking in moderation 2-3 time per week while pregnant is a really bad idea and I cannot believe any doctor in any country would recommend this to a mum to be. There is a lot of research being done into the affect of alcohol on an unborn baby and the results are frightening. Being a mum is about giving up a lot and putting someone else first before your wants. If you cant even abstain from alcohol for 9 months then your not off to a good start. I didn't even have a sip of champagne at my own wedding when i was 5 and a half months pregnant.

And as for rum on baby's gum's being a tried and true remedy .Jaimie your off the hizzle mate!

I like this because my great friend and even better mom  found out she was pregnant and quit smoking and drinking as soon as she thought she may be pregnant., she also got married and had not a drop of alcohol during her own wedding .These people are great examples which I really hope people follow.

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

oops wrong name there sorry jaime

Kylie - posted on 05/04/2009

Jaime has proven over and over again she cannot let anything go.

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Jaime:

(in response to Jessie): Show us your proof that there are "definitely no beneficial effects"...I hesitate to think that you will find any! And your argument falls short of making sense when you try to defend your points while leaving out crucial parts of the debate. 'Moderation' is perhaps the key word to understanding the 'benefits' side vs. the abstinance side. IF one drink might intoxicate a woman of small build, it is then her responsibility to be informed about what her limits are regardless of being pregnant or not. I feel that any woman that knows she can't tolerate alcohol, likely would choose not to partake during pregnancy. However, if she did abuse alcohol (as would be the case if one drink intoxicates her) then she could be faced with some possible consequences...this much we all know. A decision like this has to be made as an informed decision, where people understand the possible consequences but also consider the possible benefits. How can you make a confident decision without knowing all the facts?!

well jaime..if you think its so beneficial..then why don't you play Guinea Pig..and walk into a clinic..and say you are willing to be a test subject to the benefits to alcohol to an unborn baby and see what happens...

Kate CP - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Jaime:
...
And furthermore, there is one woman that posted (here I go with the quotes again) "I use to drink a glass of wine a week when i was pregnant! My OBGYN and delivery Dr. told me it was good for the babies heart!" Are you going to tell me that these doctors are quacks and shouldn't be allowed to practice medicine? And correct me if I'm wrong--no really, I dare you to correct me-- but are these doctors not giving advice to support the benefits of drinking alcohol during pregnancy?! I doubt that this advice will work for every woman....again, you have to consider culture and education. Each woman needs to be informed about the risks and benefits so that she can make an educated decision, and not just decide to abstain because she believes it is wrong based on the fact that some children are born with FAS. And also, she should not decide to drink based on the fact that some doctors say it is good for a baby's heart. Everything comes down to circumstance because there are women that will not know their limit and will likely abuse alcohol during pregnancy, increasing the further likelihood of giving birth to a child with FAS....but not ALL women will do this and that is why I believe it is a PERSONAL choice--albeit an informed choice.

If I were a blind person, I might argue that the sky is not blue...everyone sees things differently.

As for my stance on abortion...yes, I am pro-choice...but trying to suggest that my 'pro-choice' perspective is unfounded only convinces me further that you are only interested in the information that supports your belief of 'right' vs. 'wrong'. You asked the question "drinking during pregnancy beneficial" but you are not interested in knowing if anyone believes it to be beneficial, you are interested in knowing how many people agree that drinking during pregnancy is wrong. Just to recap...your belief that it is wrong, does not make it wrong, and voicing the opinion (and I use the word opinion lightly as your posts are more from a lecture standpoint) that women that choose to drink during pregnancy should not have children, is absolutely unfounded!

Yes, those doctors are quacks. No, that woman shouldn't have listened to them and she should have found a new doctor when they told her alcohol was good for the baby's heart. Alcohol is actually bad for your heart. The pigment found in red wines and the hops and barley found in beers is what is beneficial to the body. NOT ALCOHOL. Alcohol is a known toxin. Does it have it's uses and benefits? Sure, as does any recreational drug; but that doesn't mean it's GOOD for you. And yes, alcohol is a drug. It alters perception, personality, mood, inhibitions, and can be highly addictive. It is a drug.

Doctors used to (and some still do) use Cytotec to induce labor. It even says on the drug's packaging: DO NOT USE ON PREGNANT WOMEN OR TO INDUCE LABOR. Doctors still do it. Doctors are not gods. However, a majority opinion has more weight in any scientific community than one or two people.

Second... (and this is for everyone involved in this thread) let it go. Seriously. This has gone beyond the original topic. We've gone from drinking while pregnant: beneficial? To pot while pregnant to drugs during delivery to abortion. WTF? Try to stay on topic. Please. 

Kylie - posted on 05/04/2009

Drinking in moderation 2-3 time per week while pregnant is a really bad idea and I cannot believe any doctor in any country would recommend this to a mum to be. There is a lot of research being done into the affect of alcohol on an unborn baby and the results are frightening. Being a mum is about giving up a lot and putting someone else first before your wants. If you cant even abstain from alcohol for 9 months then your not off to a good start. I didn't even have a sip of champagne at my own wedding when i was 5 and a half months pregnant.

And as for rum on baby's gum's being a tried and true remedy .Jaimie your off the hizzle mate!

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Jessie:

these babies don't even have formed organs, how on earth is it going to help their function? and one drink may not hurt an adult, but just like one drink may not effect a 200lb man, but that same drink will completely incapacitate a 110lb woman , there is absolutely no way we can know what the effects are on the baby and definitely not beneficial effects!

exactly seems like some people aren't using their brains or common sense in here..

YES alcohol (red wine) is good for a NOT PREGNANT person for heart health and other what evers...(that ya know u can get from REGUALR grape juice..but whos going there)  and if you look at every bottle of alcohol u will ever pick up it tells you right there for pregnant woman not to drink because it causes problems like jessie said...their organs aren't even completely developed..especially their lungs...which is the last thing to develop which every person should know..so how the heck is drinking going to benefit a baby who is roughing oh i dunno 5 to 8 lbs...gimme a break

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Jaime:

Quoting Jessie:

I think that anyone who tries to say that it is beneficial is very ignorant and is just searching for an excuse to justify their drinking, if you can't stop drinking for 9 months for the benefit of your child you shouldn't be a mother, I am sorry, but really what benefit does alcohol have on an adult? none, so why would anyone think that it would be beneficial to a child, let alone an unborn child!? It is not safe to drink while being pregnant plain and simple!

 

The root word of ignorance is 'ignore'...that being said, YOU are ignoring the fact that there ARE proven benefits to drinking alcohol--in moderation.  The tanins in red wine are very good for the body and help to promote healthy organ function (specifically kidneys and liver).  Excessive drinking, however; can have very damaging effects on the body...as does most things that are done to excess.  Beer also contains a bunch of really healthy ingredients and can be beneficial to the body as well...but again, drinking a 2-4 of budweiser is not going to yeild healthy results--this is where the question of excess comes into play.  It's not going to do much good to hold the belief that 'Mothers that can't stop drinking for nine months shouldn't be parents' because that is a cop out...really you are just trying to hammer your point into the social ground of acceptability vs. unacceptability but you are not very convincing about it.

...wow looks like we are justifying our reason for drinking...no one said drinking that wine while pregnant was BENEFITTING THE BABY they say its beneficial for heart health do u see in teh small print..(also for pregant mother to enjoy and help her heart..) yeah fucking right...i don't think so...there is even warning on every bottle of alcohol you will ever pick up for pregnant woman not to drink..so WHY DO IT...

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Jaime:

Quoting Jessie:

I think that anyone who tries to say that it is beneficial is very ignorant and is just searching for an excuse to justify their drinking, if you can't stop drinking for 9 months for the benefit of your child you shouldn't be a mother, I am sorry, but really what benefit does alcohol have on an adult? none, so why would anyone think that it would be beneficial to a child, let alone an unborn child!? It is not safe to drink while being pregnant plain and simple!

 

The root word of ignorance is 'ignore'...that being said, YOU are ignoring the fact that there ARE proven benefits to drinking alcohol--in moderation.  The tanins in red wine are very good for the body and help to promote healthy organ function (specifically kidneys and liver).  Excessive drinking, however; can have very damaging effects on the body...as does most things that are done to excess.  Beer also contains a bunch of really healthy ingredients and can be beneficial to the body as well...but again, drinking a 2-4 of budweiser is not going to yeild healthy results--this is where the question of excess comes into play.  It's not going to do much good to hold the belief that 'Mothers that can't stop drinking for nine months shouldn't be parents' because that is a cop out...really you are just trying to hammer your point into the social ground of acceptability vs. unacceptability but you are not very convincing about it.

...wow looks like we are justifying our reason for drinking...no one said drinking that wine while pregnant was BENEFITTING THE BABY they say its beneficial for heart health do u see in teh small print..(also for pregant mother to enjoy and help her heart..) yeah fucking right...i don't think so...there is even warning on every bottle of alcohol you will ever pick up for pregnant woman not to drink..so WHY DO IT...

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Giselle:

I'm sorry but I think that's absurd to think drinking could be even a little bit beneficial while pregnant. My doctor told me stay away from just a glass of wine, because there is no known safe amount. Why risk anything? To me it's just not worth it.

exaclty.....why can't everyone think this way..why bother taking the chance..

this is your baby we are talking about here..everyone..YOURS you are going to have to make choices for this kid for the rest of your life..why start by making ones like this before its even born...if youre making these choices before its born what the heck kind of choices are you going to make after the baby is here..

it isn't worth it think about your baby and if there was anything wrong with it...and for all u people who...drank and "got lucky" ur just lucky...doesn't mean it didn't do anything..(as an infant) they aren't older yet..just wait..to me its not worth the ONE FREAKING DRINK to possibly change someone elses life forever..its not worth it

Jaime - posted on 05/04/2009

(in response to Mary): I don't have access to any studies that discuss the risks or the benefits of drinking alcohol during pregnancy...I was referring to the links that have been posted on this site by others as well as Amanda's own admittance of finding an article that talks about the benefits. I will gladly do some research if it will make you feel better about my viewpoint. I am an educated person and I would never enter into a discussion without having at least some base knowledge of the subject if I am determined to debate the issue.

Jaime - posted on 05/04/2009

(in response to Amanda): Beginning with your quote (yes, I dared go there again)... "there is plenty of eveidence to support FASD and almost no evidence to support any benifits"...the fact remains that there is evidence to support both! There might be a wealth of information to support the findings with regard to FASD, however; there is one common denominator among those studies and that is 'abuse'. The term "no known safe amount" is used because doctors cannot possibly know the limitations and tolerance levels of every woman on this planet, but that does not mean that they don't exist and that they can't be determined. The question is not whether or not there are risks or benefits, it has to do with moderation. Perhaps it is possible--just possible that there is an acceptable level of moderation that can be understood by each woman (individually) that chooses to drink while she is pregnant. The key, once again, is finding that level of moderation that is specific to each person. My tolerance level for alcohol will drastically differ from someone else that enjoys an alcoholic beverage each day because I don't have a glass everyday, so moderation for me would be about one to three a month while not pregnant (so, should I choose to drink during pregnancy I would take this limit into consideration and not exceed 1-3 per month). Being aware of one's limit is important when making the decision to have a drink during pregnancy. Not all doctors will recommend drinking to their patients, but perhaps not for the reasons you may think. If a doctor does not know the personal habits of a patient they might not suggest drinking during pregnancy because maybe the woman doesn't enjoy drinking alcoholic beverages. But, if a doctor was privy to a patient's personal habits and knew that she enjoyed a glass of wine each day with her meal or a beer a few times a week on the porch while watching the sunset, then they might---just might suggest that it is okay for her to have a few drinks a week (or whatever they deem to be moderate consumption for her). Have you considered this possibility?

And furthermore, there is one woman that posted (here I go with the quotes again) "I use to drink a glass of wine a week when i was pregnant! My OBGYN and delivery Dr. told me it was good for the babies heart!" Are you going to tell me that these doctors are quacks and shouldn't be allowed to practice medicine? And correct me if I'm wrong--no really, I dare you to correct me-- but are these doctors not giving advice to support the benefits of drinking alcohol during pregnancy?! I doubt that this advice will work for every woman....again, you have to consider culture and education. Each woman needs to be informed about the risks and benefits so that she can make an educated decision, and not just decide to abstain because she believes it is wrong based on the fact that some children are born with FAS. And also, she should not decide to drink based on the fact that some doctors say it is good for a baby's heart. Everything comes down to circumstance because there are women that will not know their limit and will likely abuse alcohol during pregnancy, increasing the further likelihood of giving birth to a child with FAS....but not ALL women will do this and that is why I believe it is a PERSONAL choice--albeit an informed choice.

If I were a blind person, I might argue that the sky is not blue...everyone sees things differently.

As for my stance on abortion...yes, I am pro-choice...but trying to suggest that my 'pro-choice' perspective is unfounded only convinces me further that you are only interested in the information that supports your belief of 'right' vs. 'wrong'. You asked the question "drinking during pregnancy beneficial" but you are not interested in knowing if anyone believes it to be beneficial, you are interested in knowing how many people agree that drinking during pregnancy is wrong. Just to recap...your belief that it is wrong, does not make it wrong, and voicing the opinion (and I use the word opinion lightly as your posts are more from a lecture standpoint) that women that choose to drink during pregnancy should not have children, is absolutely unfounded!

Giselle - posted on 05/04/2009

I'm sorry but I think that's absurd to think drinking could be even a little bit beneficial while pregnant. My doctor told me stay away from just a glass of wine, because there is no known safe amount. Why risk anything? To me it's just not worth it.

Mary - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Jaime:

Amanda there is plenty for me to debate on this issue because it does come down to choice. And for those that keep saying that drinking is not beneficial for the baby---prove that it's not, and if you can't prove it then you need to consider the possibility of benefits to moderate alcohol consumption. Also, just because you only found one study conducted and just because there is only one comment that provides links to articles discussing potential benefits, doesn't mean that more do not exist. I doubt that you have access to medical journals...so it is reasonable for me to argue that alcohol during pregnancy is not wrong. I have discussed the fact that drinking during pregnancy is not something that every mother should or could do. There are cultural factors to consider here. You really do need to look at the whole picture. It's okay that you choose to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy...but it's also okay for someone else to drink in moderation during pregnancy if they choose to.

I can't prove that is not beneficial. But I have seen many lives destroyed by alcohol and I decided not to introduce my daughter to something that has been proven to be so damaging for a large amount of adults. I chose not to drink because I think is better safe than sorry, specially when it comes to my child, I rather not risk my baby's life, and like somebody else said if something had happened to my baby because I was unable to abstain from drinking for NINE ONLY NINE months, I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself.

However, I agree with you completely. It is a choice.  You and only you choose how to raise you children. You and only you choose what kind of a parent you want to be and you and only you decide what you are willing or unwilling to do to make sure your kids are safe. Since you apparently have so much access to medical research I would love for you to guide me and tell me where you find all this information, so I can do research of my own not just in this issue but many other. Thanks. 

Megan - posted on 05/04/2009

Has any dr ever told you it's okay to drink. I don't think that I would trust that my kid would turn out okay, just because someone else's did. My dr said no drinking at all because we don't know how much alcohol is a safe amount and especially early in pregnancy any chemical change in your body will have an effect on the baby.

Jenifer - posted on 05/04/2009

And this is why pregnant women are advised not to drink at all during pregnancy. Obviously, we all have different ideas of what "excessive" is. Actually, Amanda and I already had this discussion about 80 posts ago. Drinking one drink in a month is normal for me when I'm not pregnant or breastfeeding. Not everyone needs to drink the way you describe in your post. For me, I had a small glass of champagne when I was near the end of my pregnancy to celebrate a colleague defending his thesis. It wasn't because I needed to get drunk or unwind. To say that a single drink is going to be damaging to a fetus is simply not supported by research. However, I do not think that women should drink regularly during pregnancy, even the 2nd and 3rd trimester.

Joy - posted on 05/04/2009

Lindsey one drink is not excessive but it can be relaxing. I had a drink at the end of my pregnancy and my son was not born drunk by any means. In fact, he was bright eyed and alert.

Lindsey - posted on 05/04/2009

Quoting Jenifer:

Lindsey, I'm not sure where you got the 'drink 'til the baby gets drunk' idea from. I haven't seen a post yet advocating excessive drinking while pregnant. Please feel free to enlighten me if I've missed something. However, all of the evidence on drinking during pregnancy comes from self-reporting by pregnant women. The evidence from that research indicates there is no harm to a few drinks during pregnancy. No doctor will tell a pregnant woman to drink heavily however, because we already know that excessive alcohol is damaging. The dose size is important.

ok yeah "excessive" if you are drinking ONE DRINK whats the point...people are saying they drink that one drink to relax or take the edge off...what is the npoint of what drink if u are drinking enough in that one drink to relax or take the edge off then u put too in to the drink..drinking just one isn't gonna do anything to a normal average sized person unless there is far too much alcohol in it..and i did not say drink til the baby is drunk...i said drinking right before the baby is born...since people say in this "question area" that drinking 2nd and 3rd trimester is ok) ...so we jus drink before the baby is born and then comes out drunk... is what i said..