Did you drink when you were pregnant?

[bubhub]

The latest report into drinking whilst pregnant shows that women are still confused about whether it's safe to drink small amounts of alcohol whilst pregnant (we're talking small here, everyone knows that binge drinking is a no-no whilst preggers).

Here's a quote from an article in the Canberra Times today:

The 80 per cent of pregnant women who consume alcohol are in a ''no-person's land'' when making decisions about drinking, according to research to be published today.Prior to 2001, Australian health guidelines recommended that pregnant women abstain from alcohol.
In 2001, the guidelines were changed to recommend avoidance of a high maternal blood-alcohol level. Last year the National Health and Medical Medical Research Council changed its advice to say that women who were pregnant, planing a pregnancy or breastfeeding should not drink alcohol at all.
The change reflected a lack of scientific knowledge about possible safe levels of alcohol exposure for unborn and breastfed babies. Research published in the Medical Journal of Australia found 80 per cent of pregnant women aged 22-33 years consumed alcohol during pregnancy prior to the policy change in 2001.
The result was about the same for women who were pregnant after the 2001 policy change.
Study co-author Jennifer Powers, a statistician at the University of Newcastle, said high levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy could cause foetal alcohol syndrome which resulted in stunted growth and intellectual disability.
But it was not clear what impact low or moderate alcohol consumption could have on an unborn baby.
Ms Powers said many pregnant women and some of their health-care providers seemed unsure about how much, if any, alcohol it was safe to consume.
...
''But if you want to take any risk don't drink at all and you should certainly avoid high levels of alcohol consumption.''

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...y/1863560.aspx

Did you drink when you were / are pregnant?

[BigRedV]

I had a west coast on Christmas Day but felt too guilty and couldn't enjoy it.

I haven't touched a drop this pregnancy.

Best to avoid alcohol altogether during pregnancy IMO

[anewme]

I haven't had a drop since I found out I was pregnant with my first. So that was 17 years ago.

[IndigoJ]

I stopped drinking for the health of my baby, i found out really early too so didnt have anything to drink at all. Even if i did want to i had trouble keeping anything but boiled water down i doubt i would have been able to.

[Jensha]

I didn't drink at all while pregnant. By choice. In fact I've rarely drank now after having her because I don't like to get drunk whilst she is with me and thats all the time.

[Lemonhead]

I have the odd glass of vino one glass occasionally will not harm anyone.

[xkwzit]

I have deleted a few off topic posts. Please keep to the topic and post in a positive and supportive manner or not at all.

[Sheer Bliss]

When I was pregnant with DD, it was said that 'sometimes' was OK, so I think I had a west coast on christmas day. Non alc wine made me spew, so i stopped that quick smart! I will be the first to admit that I didn't question anything when pregnant with DD, I was very naieve.

With my next 2 pregnancies everything said there was NO safe level and that really made sense, so I drank nothing. Even if I had been going to drink, hyperemesis prevented me from feeling like one anyway.

In all honesty - once you actually think about it.....you know how alcohol makes you feel and you know the damage it does to your body - so why you would even consider doing it to your baby is just crazy. I know some people just don't think that far ahead though (like me with DD1 ) so I get (no offense, but esp with how some of the newer generations and some mums don't think ahead) how this is becoming such an issue. Please don't take offence to that - I was one of those mums who didn't think previously, it's not meant as an insult.

[nelle7250]

I have the occasional cider if I feel like it I did the same with my daughter sometimes I don't have a drink for weeks no great lose either way.

It's a decision you make for yourself with each pregnancy IMO

[jsma10]

i'm 24 weeks now with my 2nd. I didn't drink at all during pregnancy #1 and so far not this one either .....

I AM DYING FOR A BOURBON AND COKE!! hahahaha like seriously, If I could have just 1, I know I'd be so happy