How much alcohol is too much during pregnancy?
I am 33 weeks pregnant and have drank on several occasions while I’ve been pregnant. Everything I’ve read basically states that drinking a small amount on occasion generally won’t have a negative effect on the baby, but I am feeling really guilty. I have drank maybe 10 times, no more than a small glass of wine, or one drink on each occasion. Any input?
April 18th, 2011 at 10:27 am
Well theres no hard fast evidence that says how much it too much, thats why alcohol altogether should be avoided period during pregnancy!
April 18th, 2011 at 10:53 am
well they say that a small glass of wine once every few days is OK, personally I say use your own judgment.
April 18th, 2011 at 11:40 am
I dont agree with drinking while pregnant at all…I havent touched a drop since before i found out i was pregnant! I dont see why anyone would NEED to drink alcohol…thats just my opinion
April 18th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
My doctor told me to completely avoid it. I know they say its fine to have a glass of red wine once a week, but I just can’t, I would feel to guilty!
If you HAVE to drink, just make sure you don’t have more than a small glass every week or so.
April 18th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
they say its okay to have a small glass of wine a few times a week but I don’t want to risk it. I’m not drinking at all. Although before I found out It was my birthday and I got really drunk two nights in a row and I was about 4 weeks so I’m kinda feeling guilty about that b/c I didn’t know I was preggers!
April 18th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
i had some wine with my pregnancy and my daughter is just perfect
April 18th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
How about none?
April 18th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
You should avoid alcohol at all cost while you are pregnant. Every pregnancy book tells you that. The baby gets everything that you put into your mouth. You should think about the baby, not your social life.
April 18th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
The honest answer is don’t drink alcohol while you are pregnant.
April 18th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
If you feel guilty then why would you continue to have a drink?? I LOVE having wine but, havent had a single drink my entire pregnancy because of guilt. It’s not that long too wait and you are gonna feel HORRIBLE if something is wrong. But, like you said, a small account on occasion may not have negative effects. If thats a chance your willing to take.
April 18th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
ANY ALCOHOL IS TOO MUCH DURING PREGNANCY, THERE IS PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO CANNOT HAVE KIDS AND SPEND THOUSANDS ON IVF ETC AND YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR UNBORN CHILDS LIFE AT RISK GET A GRIP OF YOURSELF AND STOP BEING SO SELFISH!!!!!!
DONT KNOW WHY SOME SICKOS HAVE GAVE ME A THUMBS DOWN FOR THIS ANSWER THIS WOMAN IS BEING WELL SELFISH AND MORE THINKING ABOUT HERSELF THAN THAT OF HER UNBORN BABY SHE WILL KNOW ALL ABOUT IT IF GOD FORBID SUMIT IS WRONG WITH THE CHILD SHE WILL HAVE NO ONE BUT HER SELFISH SELF TO BLAME
April 18th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
There is (so far as I’m aware) no evidence that an occassional drink of alcohol has any negative effects on the baby. Heavy drinking (either continuously or as infrequent binges) or regular moderate drinking (2-3 drinks or more every day) is, of course, connected with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects.
The advice in the U.S. is to avoid ALL alcohol, simply because they can’t be 100% certain — and because some women interpret “an occassional drink” or “light drinking” to mean “go out and get wasted every weekend.” Many other countries have less stringent rules — and no higher incident of FAS/FAE.
Here’s 2 interesting articles:
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/HealthIssues/1043239516.html
http://stats.org/stories/2007/what_risks_light_alco_preg_dec12_07.htm
April 18th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Honestly, I think you’ve been kind of selfish. Alcohol can have negative affects on an unborn baby. You should’ve considered that before you drank. I could see maybe one glass on one occasion, but 10 times! That’s overdoing it don’t you think?
April 18th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
Since they are not really sure how much alcohol causes fetal alcohol syndrome usually it’s best to not drink at all. I know a woman who drank heavily through her whole pregnancy and her child was fine, but I also know a woman who had a glass of wine now and then maybe 5 during pregnancy and baby had f.a.s. Obviously drinking is more important to you than your babies health so I don’t see why you care.
April 18th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
DONT EVER DRINK OR YOU MIGHT GET RILLY SICK WHEN U HAVE YOUR BABY AND U CAN DRINK WILE U R HAVING YOUR BABY
April 18th, 2011 at 6:10 pm
My Dr. Told me that no amount of Alcohol is OK. They have not really studied the effects of small amounts of alcohol on fetal development. I have had many friends who had a glass or 2 of wine while they were pregnant and their baby’s were fine. Try not to have any more from here on out it is a small price to pay for a healthy baby.
April 18th, 2011 at 6:28 pm
Your baby is likely going to be fine if you are completely honest with how much alcohol you have had. However, I would never recommend that anyone drink alcohol after they found out they were pregnant. It is too much of an avoidable risk to take. There are too many things that can go wrong in a pregnancy regardless of what you do, so I just don’t understand why anyone would take any risk with alcohol.
April 18th, 2011 at 7:23 pm
It’s a much debated issue.
Some people go down the route of ruling out any alcohol at all during pregnancy, just to be on the safe side.
Some will tell you that one glass of wine no more than once a week would be OK.
I tend to go on the advice of NICE (the advisers for the NHS) and not have any alcohol at all. They advise no alcohol at all in the first three months, but then if you must have some, limit it to one to two units per week thereafter.
I personally can’t see why anyone “must” have a drink, but there you go! the link’s below
April 18th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
well judging by common human pscology you’re probably hiding how much you actually drank. So it would be best if you saw your doctor.
April 18th, 2011 at 8:11 pm
They say that a very small glass of red wine on a rare occasion won’t harm the baby (but to make sure you’re eating a large meal while drinking the wine) However, I could never drink alcohol while pregnant — there are too many risks and NO benefits from it.
April 18th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
One drink occasionally is fine. It won’t hurt anything. Don’t feel guilty. Getting drunk or drinking on a regular basis (daily) can be a problem.
April 18th, 2011 at 8:35 pm
my doc said to avoid completely because the effects the booze has on you is multiplied in the fetus and can cause problems. I’ve attached an article I was referred to.
April 18th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
I think you are probably okay. Especially if you waited till after the first trimester to have anything.
I have also read, on many ocassions, that an ocassional drink is okay. By occasional, they probably mean less than once a week.
In Europe, most doctors prescribe to the above but the US doctors tend to not say that because they are afraid they may get sued if something happens to the baby.
I think 10 glasses throughout your whole pregnancy is probably okay. But if you are worried, I wouldn’t drink anymore.
I also have read that it is binge drinking (drinking more than 3 drinks in one setting) that is REALLY dangerous.
April 18th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
OK FIRST OFF THAT’S TO MUCH AND SECONDLY YOUR BABY IS PROBABLY GONNA COME OUT SICK ,COMMON SENCE WHY ARE YOU GONNA DRINK WELL YOUR PREGNANT DO’S YOUR BRAIN NOT WORK
April 18th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
What the heck? How about none AT ALL? Drank on several occasions? You should be feeling guilty!
April 18th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
Talk to your doctor, fast!
Some doctors think that a glass of wine a day is actually good for pregnancy, others, most in fact, disagree.
As someone who’s saw what fetal alcohol syndrome can do to a baby, I certainly wouldn’t want to risk it. And would ask you to stop drinking even that small amount now, before you have more to be feeling guilty for than you do now. Your doctor however, can give you more information, maybe can even do tests to be sure the baby hasn’t already been hurt. Either way, your child is more important than a drink, do what you feel is in the best interest of him or her.
April 18th, 2011 at 11:55 pm
Dont drink at all. I have gone to parties and been offered drinks but i never drink them not even on special occasions.
April 18th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
When i was pregnant the thought never crossed my mind, I guess common sense told me if they’re advising me to eat healthy, take prenatals, and stay fit and overall healthy and hydrated, alcohol wasn’t a good idea. It never even came to mind nor did it even appeal to me at the time knowing my body was a temporary home to nurish and pamper my unborn daughter, but i guess that was how i prioritized my life,
My health(which was ultimately the babies health)
the babies needs
then, my wants which was soda.. Although that also is something you’re advised to avoid… it certainly didn’t harm her liver or any other forming body parts.
April 19th, 2011 at 12:39 am
I think you should be fine from what I have read. There isn’t any hard evidence saying that a small amount will harm the baby. Personally the most that I have had was a couple of sips just to taste the wine!!! lol
I was too scared to have any more because I drank before I knew that I was prego and didn’t want to do any more damage.
April 19th, 2011 at 1:03 am
I think any amount of alcohol is too much during pregnancy however I have heard that on occasion a drink wont hurt. Some doctors even tell their patients that its okay to have a glass of red wine a few nights a week to relax. I have not tried it but I wouldn’t judge anyone who does. I know that a couple months back (I’m 6.5 months) I did have 1 beer because I was having horrible RLS and my body was so tense I was stressing out. So I drank the beer to relax my body and calm down. Honestly it didn’t work I think it only made the tingling worse so since then I have not had anything.
I know its hard believe me, I used to drink every night before I found out I was pregnant. I couldn’t imagine not having a drink but I had to stop for the baby. I now I don’t even miss it one bit. however I will resume drinking after but not nearly as often as i used too because I know know I don’t have to have it. I can save the drinking for special occasions.
April 19th, 2011 at 1:56 am
I’ve been craving a wine cooler throughout my whole pregnany…it may just be due to stress during pregnancy. But I have stayed away from it with great willpower. I don’t understand what all the fuss is about drinking alcohol in the US though. In Europe they drink wine during their whole pregnancy and they have a lower percentage of babies born with defects and abnormalities. I know some doctors to reccommend it and say its ok to drink 2-3 glasses of wine a week as long as you don’t abuse it.
April 19th, 2011 at 2:08 am
one glass of wine on occasion is not harmful- it’s common in most countries; people in the US aren’t so good at moderation so they go all the way 🙂
Example- in (observant) Jewish families, a small glass of wine on Friday night is part of shabbat. (note ‘small’- I tend toward about 2 ounces)- and we are not exactly known for alcoholism, FAS or low IQ 🙂
Also, at one point during my 2nd pregnancy and again with this one, my midwife (two different midwives BTW) AND their associate obstetricians recommended a small glass of wine when I had stress/fatigue induced contractions.