Drinking while pregnant

[nwdisgal]

Well at least the contx started before you uncorked the bottle. Would have been a shame to waste it.

Well put. As it was NY's Eve that year was spent walking off contractions around the neighborhood looking at peoples outdoor Christmas decorations.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I have no problem with you drinking while pregnant.

Hey, my kid has to be the boss of somebody, right?

Now it's time to break out the popcorn!

 

[U2_rocks]

To me, a healthy baby is far more important than a glass of wine. IMHO, if you can't go nine months without a drink, you might need to reevaluate your priorities.

Don't most women want a healthy baby?

Your priorities are only "wrong" if you are thinking "this isn't good for the baby, but I want it so I'll have it anyway"! In most cases that isn't the thought process at all - the thought process is "this small amount of X that I love won't hurt the baby, and the doc says it's OK anyhow". Why does a pregnant woman have to give up everything she loves that has the tiniest chance of maybe harming the fetus? What's next - are we going back to the days of pregnant women not being allowed to do anything except sit around in private? It's a personal decision how far each woman is willing to go to try to ensure she has the healthiest baby possible - and there are NO guarantees. I personally believe in the sum total of our environment - meaning that the food/drinks we consume are one small part of what will affect our unborn babies. There are many more lifestyle factors that come into play. And I think it's OK for different people to have different priorities where this issue is concerned. What would you all think if I started ranting about how the use of chemical cleaners was WRONG during pregnancy, and that all of you who used them were being irresponsible? After all, there are alternatives to chemical cleaners - why would you put your baby at risk? I'm not really ranting about this - but I could be, and I would be just as unreasonable as those who rant about alcohol use in pregnancy for anyone but themselves. It is a personal decision that only the pregnant woman herself has the right to make. That's what makes that waitress so wrong in the OP.

 

[nwdisgal]

Now it's time to break out the popcorn!

Yep. I looked at that post and thought that I'd love to hear testimonials from a whole generation of Baby Boomers and the generations before that who were carried in womb by people that drank/smoked and didn't know any better. People, who by the way, are probably her banker, her boss, her grandparents, the kid's minister, etc. They all seemed to survive mental retardation. I am not condoning drinking or smoking now that we know better, but I am just saying that there is are whole generations affected by this that didn't have a choice in the matter and they are functioning normally and not ********. So her point that her kids will be supervising the ones whose mothers drink, give me a break.

 

[U2_rocks]

Well put. As it was NY's Eve that year was spent walking off contractions around the neighborhood looking at peoples outdoor Christmas decorations.

OMG, I can relate to the walking and walking and walking off contractions ... I spent a flipping 3 days doing it! That youngest DD of mine was certainly in no hurry to come out!

 

[nwdisgal]

I can relate. Neither of mine were in a hurry. She was born as the clock turned to January 2.

 

[mommaU4]

I am not condoning drinking or smoking now that we know better, but I am just saying that there is are whole generations affected by this that didn't have a choice in the matter and they are functioning normally

Isn't it funny how things change over the years?

Things that used to be okay and normal are now so taboo and even deadly!
I remember when my first was about 6 or 7 months I had a conversation with my MIL about how he coudn't have any honey until he was at least a year old because it can cause infant botulism.

She was shocked because when DH was that age his grandmother used to give him tiny bits of pancake dipped in honey. Things are always changing I guess. Makes you wonder sometimes how we all survived our births and chilldhoods.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Gosh, I guess you can flame me if you want, but am I the only one here who things it's wrong to drink while pregnant? Even a glass?

Granted, i'm not a waitress in a restaurant serving a pregnant woman drinks, however i'm sure some restaurant down the line has been sued for serving liquor to a pregnant woman who has had a miscarriage or a child with brain damage.

Maybe it's the restaurant policy not to serve pregnant customers liquor?

I agree--with not any alcohol...though I've sipped champagne on NYE and have had a glass of wine at a celebration while pregnant with each of my girls. However I disagree with the logic in favor of the restuarant.

Most miscarriages happen in the first trimester--and when the women isn't visibly pregnant. Additionally--I've seen fat women who look pregnant and term women who where a smaller dress size than I do with a little noticable belly (who deliver a term healthy-sized baby).

So if they were worried about lawsuits for miscarriages---they should also be in worried about lawsuits for invasion of privacy. B/c except for intoxication--a bars liability over the health of a patron is pretty much nonexistant.

They do not have the legal right to inquire your health status--pregnancy or otherwise and to judge if you are pregnant or not--well, how exactly can they be certain?

The waitress was wrong--beliefs or otherwise. What if the OP was to only have one sip and chooses to not share a glass?

 

[FSUGrad97]

Don't most women want a healthy baby?

Your priorities are only "wrong" if you are thinking "this isn't good for the baby, but I want it so I'll have it anyway"! In most cases that isn't the thought process at all - the thought process is "this small amount of X that I love won't hurt the baby, and the doc says it's OK anyhow". Why does a pregnant woman have to give up everything she loves that has the tiniest chance of maybe harming the fetus? What's next - are we going back to the days of pregnant women not being allowed to do anything except sit around in private? It's a personal decision how far each woman is willing to go to try to ensure she has the healthiest baby possible - and there are NO guarantees. I personally believe in the sum total of our environment - meaning that the food/drinks we consume are one small part of what will affect our unborn babies. There are many more lifestyle factors that come into play. And I think it's OK for different people to have different priorities where this issue is concerned. What would you all think if I started ranting about how the use of chemical cleaners was WRONG during pregnancy, and that all of you who used them were being irresponsible? After all, there are alternatives to chemical cleaners - why would you put your baby at risk? I'm not really ranting about this - but I could be, and I would be just as unreasonable as those who rant about alcohol use in pregnancy for anyone but themselves. It is a personal decision that only the pregnant woman herself has the right to make. That's what makes that waitress so wrong in the OP.

Just to clarify, I did say this was MY OPINION, and the "tiniest chance" isn't worth the risk for me.

 

[KarenAylwood]

I agree--with not any alcohol...though I've sipped champagne on NYE and have had a glass of wine at a celebration while pregnant with each of my girls. However I disagree with the logic in favor of the restuarant.

Most miscarriages happen in the first trimester--and when the women isn't visibly pregnant. Additionally--I've seen fat women who look pregnant and term women who where a smaller dress size than I do with a little noticable belly (who deliver a term healthy-sized baby).

So if they were worried about lawsuits for miscarriages---they should also be in worried about lawsuits for invasion of privacy. B/c except for intoxication--a bars liability over the health of a patron is pretty much nonexistant.

They do not have the legal right to inquire your health status--pregnancy or otherwise and to judge if you are pregnant or not--well, how exactly can they be certain?

The waitress was wrong--beliefs or otherwise. What if the OP was to only have one sip and chooses to not share a glass?

Haven't totally been keeping up with this thread (obviously a hot one) but I totally agree with this.

And furthermore, it's only the first trimester that's the most important. One of the first things DBF learned in med school.

I haven't been pregnant, but I'm sure when I am, I too will be afraid to even have a glass of alcohol. However, DBF's grandmother had a Guinness a day for all NINE of her pregnancies and every one of them turned out just fine (was she Irish? Possibly ).

 

[Galahad]

And furthermore, it's only the first trimester that's the most important. One of the first things DBF learned in med school.
.

Most important to what, the pregnancy? That much is very much NOT correct.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Most important to what, the pregnancy? That much is very much NOT correct.

I think in reference to when alcholol could do the most damage perhaps in affecting fetal development.

In regards to FAS--any regular consumption can lead to this at any time.

Seeing as one or two glasses of wine intoxicates me when not pregnant while I can have 2 beers or 2 shots and not be affected....I don't tend to mess with alcholol while pregnant (save the 2 special ocassions--1 for each pregnancy in which I consumed one drink the entire pregnancy--and even those were limited to half servings).

 

[Galahad]

I think in reference to when alcholol could do the most damage perhaps in affecting fetal development.

Ah.....carry on.......

 

[katerkat]

I think the waitress was way out of line for the way she said it.

My OB was fine with an occasional glass of wine - in fact, she recommended it when I got PUPPPs. I also (*gasp*) scooped the cat box (with gloves and a mask) and drank Coke -- but not Diet Coke. I've also had drinks now, when I'm nursing.

But I've been known to tell the Pregnancy/Baby Police exactly what they can do with their advice.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I agree--with not any alcohol...though I've sipped champagne on NYE and have had a glass of wine at a celebration while pregnant with each of my girls.

So, your against any alcohol, but you had alcohol with each of your girls. I'm in total agreement. No I'm not.

 

[ZachnElli]

First, I think the waitress was completely out of line.

Now, we recently adopted. And during the process of adopting we had to take classes, one of them on drugs and alcohol during pregnancy. This was taught by a doctor. I learned that alcohol passes from mother to baby equally, in other words, mom has a glass of wine, so does the baby. Mom's blood alcohol level is .08, baby's alcohol level is .08. Drugs and cigarettes are filtered by the placenta and only a percentage is passed to the baby. Not the equal level that alcohol is. I thought that was pretty interesting.

Edited to add: If you adopt, you can have all the alcohol you want!

 

[froglady]

I have no problem with you drinking while pregnant.

Hey, my kid has to be the boss of somebody, right?

MIL drank and smoked through 4 pregnancies. She only produced one MD, one JD, and 3 PhDs. DM never smoked or drank, and I'm the only college educated one in the bunch; one brother does own his own business, but the rest of us always worked for someone else.

 

[vivilasvegas]

I said before, I don't agree with smoking or drinking moderately while being pregnant. But I don't see a problem with a glass of wine every now and then.

I'm 32 and the youngest of five. With the first four, my mom smoked and I'm sure drank some during her pregnancies. All four kids are very healthy and very successful. She quit smoking before me, and well I'm.....
Just kidding, but I was born premature.

And sorry, but I don't think because one mom drank some wine and one mom didn't will mean her kid will be more successful than the other.

The early 70's and before had a lot of moms who smoke and drank during their pregnancies. I don't think there were entire generations of unhealthy idiots raised then, do you?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

So, your against any alcohol, but you had alcohol with each of your girls. I'm in total agreement. No I'm not.

Oh give it a rest--I'm in total agreement..but I'm also not going to lie and preach as though I've never done it.

Both were with doctors permission--and were low dose. Heck--I don't even take the wine from communion with pregnant.


However--regardless of our opinions on the matter--one thing is clear, the waitress was out of line.

 

[gina2000]

With the high cost of medical malpractice insurance, I rather doubt that any oby/gyn is going to tell you that you can have a glass of wine without harming the fetus unless he/she is absolutely sure. Imagine the lawsuits if people felt that the oby/gyn's comments caused a miscarriage or a damaged child.

Personally, I had a glass, maybe two, of wine while I was pregnant. I didn't see the problem with it nor did my oby/gyn. So I suspect that while people should always err on the side of caution, those that don't and have a glass of wine during pregnancy are not harming their child. That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it!

The waitress was out of line. Unless it's a restaurant policy (and she owns the restaurant), available in full view to be read by the patrons, her opinion is not valid.