Drinking while pregnant--- child abuse?

[DisneyFreak72]

There is a thread below about a woman's friend who is drinking 2-3 times a week.

Is this simply irresponsible, or abusive?

What about smoking during pregnancy?

 

[poohandwendy]

There is a thread below about a woman's friend who is drinking 2-3 times a week.

Is this simply irresponsible, or abusive?

What about smoking during pregnancy?

Until their is a law against it, it's between a woman and her doctor.
In some European countries, people drink wine with almost every meal and have done so for years.

 

[Virgo10]

Good grief. I hardly think either is cause for the dreaded child abuse label. Back in the dark ages of the 70's, I had an occasional drink, smoked and even cleaned litter boxes. I had two normal babies, one that weighed 7 lbs 12oz and the other weighed 9 1/2 pounds.

I'm not advocated drinking or smoking if you're pregnant but honestly, we can't live in a bubble. Flame away.

 

[yasmina]

Good grief. I hardly think either is cause for the dreaded child abuse label. Back in the dark ages of the 70's, I had an occasional drink, smoked and even cleaned litter boxes. I had two normal babies, one that weighed 7 lbs 12oz and the other weighed 9 1/2 pounds.

I'm not advocated drinking or smoking if you're pregnant but honestly, we can't live in a bubble. Flame away.

No flame here - ITA!

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

Although I didn't drink any alcohol after I found out I was pregnant, I don't think a small amount of alcohol would have caused any damage to the babies. When i was pregnant I didn't want to take any chances though. It didn't hurt to go without alcohol, caffeine, and artificial sweeteners for a little while. I do think that any of these things in moderation would not have been harmful.

I do think that smoking while pregnant is the same as putting a cigarette in a baby's mouth. It is disgusting to me. When I see a pregnant person smoking it makes me think she is very selfish. I feel sorry for the babies.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I think it's reprehensible for someone to smoke and drink while they're pregnant (except for a glass of wine a few times a week - but I didn't even want to risk doing that), but I don't think it's child abuse.

 

[helenabear]

Until their is a law against it, it's between a woman and her doctor.
In some European countries, people drink wine with almost every meal and have done so for years.

ITA! While I haven't had any alcohol to drink while pregnant (the smell of most alcohol right now makes me gaggy) I see nothing wrong with an occasional drink. A drink or two a week is more than I think I could do, but it is a heck of a lot less than some I know who are used to having a drink with their dinner every night. I can't judge those people as I think they are probably fine.

A lot of the thoughts about drinking are due to a lot of CYA mentalities IMO.

Actaully the kitty litter box is most likely over rated as well. THe chances of a woman getting sick off of that if she's had cats that are all indoor are slim to none. If the cat already passed it on, it would have happened already and therefore no big deal. You can also get your cats checked to see if they carry or not if you are really worried. Also if you wash your hands immediately after you probably aren't at risk either. It's amazing what you find out about kitty litter and pregnancy when you really take the time to research. Now my DH does it, but heck, I don't think I'd want to bend over like that now!

Smoking is one I get a bit more upset about, but I also know from a friend that slowly quitting is better than quitting all together at once. I hope at worst for anyone who smokes to try to at least cut down on how much they do smoke.

So I can't flame anyone who has done any of the mentioned above. I also don't care if you eat certain fishes that are considered bad or even *gasp* cold cuts and the like I trust that most people pregnant actaully know what is good and bad and have discussed it with their doctors.

 

[maddiemouse]

I think that with what we know now, it's probably not a good idea to drink while pregnant, however my mom, NOT an alcoholic, had a martini every night, pregnant or not, and gave birth to five healthy children, all of whom are still alive, I'm the eldest, I'm 60. None of us has ever had any significant medical problems.
Oh, BTW, she smoked too.

 

[kpm76]

I never had a drop of alcohol while pregnant (and still refrain while breastfeeding) because the risk was just not worth it to me. Smoking is a health risk for anyone, especially a pregnant woman, so I think every effort should be made to quit.

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

Less than 10 years ago, my doctor actually recommended a glass of red wine a couple times a week. He felt it was far less invasive than some of the meds out there.

 

[binny]

Less than 10 years ago, my doctor actually recommended a glass of red wine a couple times a week. He felt it was far less invasive than some of the meds out there.

mine too.

 

[poohandwendy]

Good grief. I hardly think either is cause for the dreaded child abuse label.

I agree. It's alarming to me, how quickly people are to jump to the 'they should be reported/investigated for abuse' conclusion.

 

[freckles and boo]

I don't think moderate drinking, meaning a couple of glasses of wine a week, is really going to be damaging. However, FAS is very damaging and women who are alcoholics need to get under a physicians care as soon as they realize they are pregnant. Unfortunately most alcoholics deny they have a problem to themselves so they aren't likely to fess up to a doctor.

Smoking is an addiction but I have a couple of friends who have quit cold turkey when they knew they were pregnant. Others cut back to a couple smokes a day. On the other hand I know a woman who drank and smoked as part of her regular routine and she had a 1lb 3oz baby who was born 10 weeks premature. I just don't think it is worth the risk.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Well since you asked for opinions here's mine. I think women who smoke and drink while they are pregnant are selfish. If you can't give up smoking and drinking for 10 short months so your child will not be at risk then I seriously question why you even want a child in the first place. My Mother would never have drank while pregnant and she was never a smoker. I really don't get why you can't live without liquor. I also think that if you are trying to have a baby then you should already be quitting smoking. Of course things happen and not everybody plans when they want to have their baby but I still think you should not be smoking or drinking while pregnant. Flame away but I feel very strongly about this.

 

[minnieandmickeymouse]

I had a couple of drinks with my first pregnacy, took cold medicine in each 4 pregnancies, cleaned litter boxes in each pregnancy, and had 4 normal healthy babies!

 

[DMickey28]

I didn't drink any alcohol when I was pregnant but my doctor told me I could have 1/2 glass of red wine at night to help me sleep. He couldn't give me sleeping pills and said the wine would be fine. I never did it mostly because DH was uncomfortable with it.

I cleaned the litter when I was PG. I used gloves and the litter was in a bag so it was very minimal exposure. I scrubbed up like a doctor going into surgery afterwards. DS was born healthy 4 days late at 8lbs 13oz.

 

[HelenePA]

What bothers me is those people who do smoke and drink and keep saying oh but I had a healthy baby.. ya know it gets to me because I didn't do any of thsoe things and I DIDN'T have a perfect healthy baby! Dd#1 born was a pretty darn sever congenital heart defect. Open Heart Surgery at 6months. Would you all blame yourself if your child did have some sort of defect? I can't believe some people are willing to take that chance.. And by drinking I mean everyday NOT a once and a while glass of wine or sip of beer.

My grandmother (god rest her soul) drank and smoke with my mother. She was a born at 30wks and way back when chances of her making it weren't good.. She did make it but is now dead it will be 3yrs on the 21st she was 49. I miss them both dearly everday

 

[tigercat]

HelendPA what was the heart defect? That is if you don't mind me asking. My 3rd child a son was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. I think that is how you spell it. He was born in 1979 and unfortunetly died from it as they didn't know how to fix it at the time. They do now.
tigercat

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I find this thread a bit ironic as it is running parallel to a thread about abortion. The concensus seems to be that we don't have a problem with killing the unborn, just don't expose them to alcohol or nicotine.

We really are warped as a society!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Everything is child abuse these days. "Take her children away" seems to be everyone's favorite phrase.

Once I knew I was pregant, I didn't touch a drop. Not even Nyquil. I also ate as healthy as I could, took the vitamins, visited the doctor, etc.

The best thing for the child is to not drink, because they just aren't sure how much alcohol you need to damage a baby. Kind of hard to those tests.

But, I'm not about to start going after moms who drank while pregnant as child abusers.