Alcohol pre baby...
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Category: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Name: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Description: Trying to get pregnant? Going through fertility treatment? Just planning your first or second child? There are many people out there in the same boat to help and listen and share with
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16867
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Topic: Alcohol pre baby...
Posted By: surfergirl
Subject: Alcohol pre baby...
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 10:59am
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Hiya
Well I’ve done a search and couldn’t find anything so was hoping someone here would have the answer. I’m a keen drinker and would prob have a glass with a meal each night and tend to get ‘on it’ one a weekend. 
I’m (obviously) aware that this will have to stop when I get pregnant, however last night, over a few drinks with friends, there was varying opinions on how soon before TTC that people thought you should stop drinking. My plan was that I would stop after AF and be ‘sober’ for the month that we were going to start trying. But others seemed to think I should stop 3 months before hand – and spooked me with foetal alcohol syndrome stories… 
So, what’s your take on this? |
Replies:
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 11:02am
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stopping before you get pregnant is fine.. in a perfect world maybe three months but just the month before is fine:) ! where did they get their stories from?:) best to do research and get proper info on it..:) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 11:27am
I don't see that there is any harm to drinking in moderation probably up until ovulation or just before, but I'd cut the binge drinking out simply because it's bad for your body and you want your body to be in top shape  ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: surfergirl
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 11:30am
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LOL Ginger - once a week is a cut down for me!
I'm a REAL lush...but I'm sure I can manage to be better behaved for a good reason! (And good luck for tomorrow Ginger...I'll be thinking of you and your full bladder - never thought I'd say that to someone  )
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 11:33am
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Michaela was a planned pregnancy and I drank until I found out I was pregnant. I'll be doing the same next time too.
I know it's often recommended that you stop drinking alcohol, caffeine etc while TTC but that's because it can prevent conception. They also recommend that you try and relax, don't stress about it - what better way than with a glass of red. Once pregnant it takes 5-6 weeks before the blood supplies are joined which is when the baby starts absorbing good and bad stuff from your diet. If you're consciously TTC you'll know before then that you're pregnant. If you are concerned that having a glass of wine when you're potentially pregnant would be harmful but you would like a drink every now and then why not drink when you have your AF and in the week following prior to ovulation. I think the key is don't drink to excess and if you suspect you're pregnant do a test before opening your bottle of wine. -------------  
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 11:58am
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Ha!
You know what I mean though aye? Everything in moderation and all that. One thing I've found with years of TTC is that it's just as valuable not to obssess 
------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: surfergirl
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 12:08pm
| Totally agree...I'm lucky that all my other addictions are well and truely kicked to the curb - including caffine. I've been free of that for 3 years now...Only the bottle to go! But, as they say, I'm worth it! |
Posted By: kabe
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 12:40pm
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I'd say to stop once you're TTC, but the odd glass is fine. I had a few drinks at a wedding the night before I found out I was pregga's. Only tested because I thought my hangover had gone on for abit too long . Not ideal, but babies turned out fine, as far as I can tell. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: almostthere
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 12:51pm
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Im having one last blowout of alcohol before i finish my last month of pills. after that i wont be drinking at all.. ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6"> 
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6 - chart |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 1:08pm
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p.s. I said in my post that "I know it's often recommended that you stop drinking alcohol, caffeine etc while TTC but that's because it can prevent conception" I just want to add that doesn't mean it will prevent conception.
I didn't stop or even cut down drinking (although I don't binge drink anyway). I stopped taking the pill in early april, found out I was pregnant in July and had my DD the next april so it didn't seem to make much of a difference to me. -------------
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 1:10pm
I agree completely!! What a wise lady you are -------------
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ginger wrote:Posted By: linda
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 2:13pm
| I agree with Mrs Mojo....we were TTC for nearly a year and after a while I keep my lifestyle how it was pre TTC and that meant the occasional wine right through...until I got my BFP. |
Posted By: almostthere
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 2:33pm
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Ah ha, but we save money if we dont buy alcohol AND it keeps my diabetes in check if i dont drink.. So there are three reasons not to drink, for me.
But hey, i never said the occaisional drink was not gonna happen just that my occaisional 'bottle' of wine will stop... ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6">
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6 - chart |
Posted By: AngieBabe
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 2:36pm
Yep, been TTC for about 17 months now and while I'm not a big drinker anyways, I did start out this journey not drinking at all, but now, ahhh, I'll have a wee wine if I feel like it - do try to keep it pre OV but every now and then, it's post OV (like today over lunch with an old friend)... just helps keep a bit of normality to my life and not obsess too much!  ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  
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Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 2:41pm
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My wee man was also a planned bubba and I drank until I got my BFP. It was only ever one or two wines in a session and I had no probs conceiving.
Its a matter of doing what you feel comfortable with! -------------  
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Posted By: almostthere
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 2:53pm
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Gotta keep things normal huh... ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6">
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6 - chart |
Posted By: surfergirl
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 3:09pm
I'm never 'normal'!
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Posted By: almostthere
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 3:48pm
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Hahahaha.. Hm on furthur thought neither am I ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6">
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6 - chart |
Posted By: Nefertiti
Date Posted: 02 May 2008 at 11:25pm
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Its a personal preference. I don't drink much so it hasn't been an issue for me. But I do have the occassional and if I do, its no more than a couple.
I am just surprised you 'couldn't find anything' online about it, as there is heaps of information out there on this topic. Infact, there are a few good nz sites around this. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: surfergirl
Date Posted: 03 May 2008 at 4:44pm
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Sorry, to clarify (above)...
I'd done a search on this forum. I am aware of the resources available on line and in print. |
Posted By: Nefertiti
Date Posted: 03 May 2008 at 11:14pm
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oh ok...just your first post said you couldnt find anything.
Another place you may be able to contact is family planning..they may have some info they could post out to you. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 04 May 2008 at 8:38pm
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The reason I found out I was pregnant was because I couldn't stomach my normal rum and cokes while on honeymoon!! Just the smell made me hurl, thats when I realised, o.k something is not quite right with me.
Didn't plan on already being pregnant while on honeymoon so I hadn't even thought about avoiding alcohol up until I got a big BFP and then I got the shock of my life! We had actually planned to get pregnant while on honeymoon, not prior ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Treen
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 6:52pm
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Just found this topic so I thought I'd push it up to the front again. DH wants me to cut my alcohol intake right out, as he's super worried about fetal alcohol syndrome. Hence tonight, I'm drinking alcohol free wine. I've always been a big drinker and it's not unusual for me to drink a bottle of wine and then some on a night out.
I've since cut down, but I am still concerned about FAS... what if I do over indulge one night and then get a BFP? I read one of the posts in this topic that said baby doesn't connect to your blood stream until 5-6 weeks. Is this true? |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 8:00pm
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Hi Treen, it was me that posted that and yes it is true. It takes that long for the fertilised egg to implant and the placenta to connect to your bloodstream. It is a good idea not to drink in excess (because it is better for our bodies) but it is not necessary to abstain completely. If you test as soon as your period is missed you're only 2 weeks pregnant (although officially you're known as 4 weeks pregnant.... just to confuse you) and at that stage there are just a couple of cells that have just made their way down your fallopian tubes and are looking to set up a cosy home in your womb for the next 8.5 months. -------------
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 02 August 2008 at 10:06pm
| Yep that's true Treen. Gave me comfort when, at 6 weeks pg I went on a bus trip and had a 'few' drinks. Don't get me wrong, we were TTC but were waiting to go on fertility drugs and I had done a HPT 2 days beforehand. Turns out I'm one of the lucky few who has very low levels of HcG (from low progesterone caused by PCOS) so I really thought I wasn't pg. I freaked out for ages but all the medical professionals said it was fine. |
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 03 August 2008 at 12:25am
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Not really the same thing cos Caitlyn definetly wasnt planned (just a nice surprise) but i was drinking at about 5 weeks before i knew i was pregnant, and six years later as far as i can see , shes fine , but i know its different for everybody,and not all women are so lucky
This time round i'll be stopping alcohol a month prior, more to get my body into the best shape possible (as Mrs Mojo or Ginger said ) But as i drink once in a blue moon anyway , this wont be too much of a burden |
Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 03 August 2008 at 2:55pm
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I'm a bit of a binge drinker, naughty I know but I just try to keep the binging from AF to ovulation and then only a couple of drinks at a time in the time after that.
I know ideally I shouldn't drink at all but who knows how long it's going to take to get pregnant so I'm just trying to enjoy my life in the meantime. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">  
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 03 August 2008 at 4:25pm
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I dont drink much at all .. however on the one weekend I did have some bubbles I find out later I was pregnant at the time (only just pregnant but ykwim) ...being a first time mum i was uber worried ... but she is fine (well as far as i can see).
------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: almostthere
Date Posted: 04 August 2008 at 8:43am
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Yea, I only drink when i know I( am not pg but have totally gone off binge drinking completely nowadays.. The odd glas of wine every now and then tho.. ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6">
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6 - chart |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 04 August 2008 at 10:12am
| I used to have the theory that drinking during AF and right up to Ovulation was ok before I started experiencing fertility problems (in the past I averaged 2-3 bottles of wine per week).... Alcohol can truly feck up your cycle and in fact it may stop you from Ovulating. |
Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 04 August 2008 at 8:09pm
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wow really? Stink... maybe I should cut back after all... my chances are reduced as it is with endo so probably shouldn't be doing stuff that reduces them even further! ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 11:03am
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Chelle - I found drinking that much may have contributed to non-ovulation for me! (it may be different for you) I stil hope to enjoy 1-2 GLASSES per week (emphasis on the word glasses) |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 11:06am
| One of my friends asked me about this recently. I told her to cut right back just because it's better to try and be as healthy as possible and plus she can put the money for alcohol towards other more useful things. |
Posted By: GuestGuest
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 1:07pm
Oh come on! I just have to say that it is unsubstantiative comments like that which has stopped me from frequenting this forum. That is purely your opinion and is in no way linked to fact. Perhaps it would be better to word it in such a way to make it clear that this only a point of view. I think it is wrong to worry people unnecessarily by making broad sweeping statements like that. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 2:19pm
| Righto SallyBelly perhaps you should take a CHILL PILL. I am not the best writer in these forums and should have worded it differently. Thanks to your sarcastic comment, I will not be frequenting this site again even though I have been enjoying the support in the infertitlity threads. Take your PMS out on someone else.. |
Posted By: nellybelly
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 2:24pm
| oh sunny please don't leave us! or at least stay on some of the threads! |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 2:36pm
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One parting comment SallyBelly, if you cared to read all of the posts I did later comment that it was MY experience. |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 4:11pm
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sunny - I think that comment was fair enough due to the fact that you were referring to 2-3 bottles per week. IMO (yes, I'm not quoting fact here), that is fecking up more than ovulation!!
But I don't think there's any need to go further. Back to the original topic? |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 4:35pm
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So are we analysing people's drinking habits now |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 4:38pm
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Gah. There was a wink there.
I give up. |
Posted By: Treen
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 5:34pm
| http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=28642 |
Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 7:37pm
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Thanks Treen, great article!!
I think I might take some advice and cut back 'just in case'. I don't think I'll cut it out completely though as I think a glass or two should be fine - until I'm pregnant and then obviously I'll cut it completely!! Please don't leave the forum girls!! It's great having you all here and everyone's varying opinions. I think most people are offering their advice to help rather than to upset anyone so please stick around  ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">
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Posted By: nellybelly
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 10:18pm
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If I had cut alcohol out completely while TTC I probably wouldn't have had a drink for the last couple of years!
For ages I didn't drink if I thought there was ANY possible chance that we might have a BFP on a cycle. But after a couple of MC and some screwy cycles I am happy to have the odd drink, and then it'd be a complete stop if I saw that BFP. |
Posted By: surfergirl
Date Posted: 06 August 2008 at 9:35am
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OMG! What have I started...??? As the orginal poster I am blown out of the water as to the heated nature of some of these comments, esp. as first time round it didn't get so controversial!
Perhaps this should be on the list of topics 'polite people' don't discuss, along with religion and politics. LOL. Surely everyone is entitled to their opinion... Back on topic I too have elected to go with the few drinks while TTC, as I too feel that if I don't it might be a long time between drinks. I suppose that I feel that I do loads of other things - take multi-vits, have no caffine, eat a balance diet, do moderate exercise, don't smoke etc that one or two wines is perhaps not the best for the TTC thing, but is best for me. (Does that make sense!) ------------- http://www.alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 06 August 2008 at 11:43am
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Makes perfect sense surfergirl and I'm with you! ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">
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Posted By: nellybelly
Date Posted: 06 August 2008 at 3:34pm
| Yea, I ccould handle a year off the vino but not 2 years without a lovely glass of red now and again lol! |
Posted By: Spirals
Date Posted: 10 August 2008 at 1:55pm
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I'm quite glad to have found this thread - as DH has told me this week how concerned he is our bub-to-be. We didn't imagine for one minute that I'd fall pregnant so quickly, and I hadn't taken any steps to 'prepare' my body at all.
I was still having a few glasses of wine here and there, and the weekend before I tested, I did have a bit of a session with my mate. My H is now super-worried that I've harmed our baby - he's very strssed about it. But after reading this thread and finding out the 5-6 week thing I might be able to reassure him a bit - as I think I was just 5 weeks when I had the binge, so hopefully no harm done. Treen - I'm looking into non-alcoholic wine at the moment - is there one that you'e recommend? |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 10 August 2008 at 3:28pm
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You should be fine Spirals. I had a big binge when I was 5 weeks pregnant (as in I was totally intoxicated enough to fall over a number of times) and I didn't know I was pregnant at the time. I did a huge panic but was reassured by my MW that the baby would be fine. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: nellybelly
Date Posted: 11 August 2008 at 1:45pm
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I tried a few alcohol-free wines earlier this year (was hard to track some of them down too) and sadly didn't really like any of them. They're ok I guess, just nothing I would buy unless I really had to.
The one I liked most was a bubbly (by Fre I think). And there's a non-alchoholic bubbly grape juice with ginger that I quite like - not as sickly sweet as the usual grape drinks and the ginger is nice for settling the tummy. Haven't tried all the alc-free options though, so when that BFP comes I will be taste testing again! |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 11 August 2008 at 3:21pm
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Spirals I went to a cocktail party on the friday night, had a few glasses of citrus liquer on the Saturday night and found out I was 5 weeks pregnant on the Sunday morning I was so freaked out about it, that's why I did a lot of research into it. I am pleased to say that I have a very beautiful, bright, vivacious 2 yo and the alcohol consumed in the early weeks before I knew I was pregnant has had no affect on her at all. -------------
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Posted By: Treen
Date Posted: 13 August 2008 at 7:24pm
| Hi Spirals! Fre is the one I've been drinking. I bought it from Foodtown. xx |
Posted By: nellybelly
Date Posted: 14 August 2008 at 12:46pm
| which one did you get? maybe there is a better one than the couple I tried (though the bubbly was ok) |
Posted By: kriss
Date Posted: 14 August 2008 at 3:36pm
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I don't drink myself, but have a couple of friends who enjoyed the occasional glass throughout their pregnancies and their babies have been fine when born. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
 Little Angel, April 10
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