Phexia

I'm sorry but it's not true, small amounts can be harmful.

Linzi

I 100% agree with you.

I wont start ranting about it, because I wont be able to stop.

xxx

Linzi

How do you know? Our government and health agencies in the UK are telling us that there is no evidence whatsoever. Im sure if ANYONE anywhere in the world had proved otherwise that we would be told about it?

xxx

tinytoes

alcohol kills of adults brain cells...so why not baby ones!? I figure that if I dont need it then i'll avoid it.

Alcohol is a drug. I'm avoiding all drugs. Legal, prescription or otherwise. Just in case.

Phexia

There are years since our medical director of health warned about alcohol consumption during pregnancy, I think it was in 2002. Although we live in the middle of nowhere we're just a regular european country and I'm sure he has legitimate reasons and some proven research on the matter. I have no idea why the difference between countries.

In fact the medical director of health says that small amounts can harm the fetus because the alcohol travels through the placenta and the baby's organs arent developed enough to process it. He says that evidence point to the fact that although small amounts of alcohol won't cause significant damage like fetal alcohol syndrome there are some behavioural and learning problems associated with it.

I don't understand why anyone would risk that when you can just lay off the alcohol for 9 months, it shouldn't be that hard. I mean if you just google it you see that either it's not reccommended or "unknown effects" Why risk it?

goldlion

I'd rather just stay away from alcohol completely. I don't know what affect it will have on my child, whether it be good or bad, and I'd rather not compromise my baby because I needed a glass of wine. I can wait until she's born.

Karen23

I think that the government isnt really helping itself (or us) by making these new statements every few months or so.
I think it is a personal thing when it comes to very very moderate drinking, especially given the conflicting advice. I know in France for example drinking when pregnant is seen as dreadful - all the bottles of alcohol have a picture of a pregnant lady drinking with a cross through it.
I'm not drinking at all as i figure that i shouldnt risk it. if you have been drinking then i dont think you should beat yourself up about it as the chances are you'll be ok.
I think the key thing to understand (as far as i think anyway) is the terminology they use. "there is no evidence of harm" is very different to "there is evidence of no harm". As they cant do experiments on pregnant ladies, the former rather than the latter statement will always apply. it would be equally true to say that "there is no evidence of no harm". Even when they do collate data through surveys and the like, because the conditions cant be controlled and there may be other environmental or genetic factors influencing the results you could never say 100% what the effect of small amounts of alcohol (or any other toxin really) is.
I know lots of women who drank the odd glass of wine (as in about one a week) and lots who stayed teetotal and none of them have had any problems with their babies.
Anyway, just my ten pennies worth!!

toriaaaaTRASH

Why would you even want to drink when pregnant?
I feel the same about smoking.
If there's any chance you're going to harm your baby atall, why do it?
My opinion. No need to jump on me about it..

oOKayOo

I think its all out of porportion, drinking the odd glass of wine (a small glass) say when you go out for a nice meal or something through out the whole nine months wont do anything,

My mum , mums mum etc all said they have had the odd glass of wine with there meal when they were pregnant, and it so silly how the new times what you can and can not do are being put out. I had a couple of sips of champange on new years to celebrate. Nothing will happen.

Even people that are dependent on alcohol can have children with NOTHING wrong with them... sort of says something doesnt it?? It can happen of course but only when you continue drinking heavily and even then some people give birth to healthy children. A small glass of wine or two through out nine months wont do anything. Otherwise why do the guidelines change, one min its so many units a week then none then one glass i mean come on....

This is my opinion no jumping down my throat :P

anita665

I think it's up to the individual whether they drink a small amount & other people shouldn't make women feel bad for their choice. Some women avoid prescription drugs too and want a natural birth but not everyone is the same.

To me personally it seems really over the top to go cutting out completely every little thing which could possibly harm your baby with no proof that it really will. In fact it's very unlikely.

I'm not saying at all that I agree that women should drink a lot though. Obviously a lot of alcohol & regular drinking is very risky a glass of beer or wine every few weeks isn't likely to be a problem. Where is the proof that even a small amount of alcohol can be a problem?! A baby may be born with a problem but if the mother has had only a really small amount of alcohol how can you say that is for sure that is the cause?!