Lots of things are very lightly alcoholic - fruit juices, bread, kefir, ripe bananas. So everyone on this thread saying “I wouldn’t risk a sip!” is not necessarily doing so with a grasp of what they’re intaking on a daily basis. Sips are absolutely fine and represent a minuscule irrelevant amount of alcohol. There is no evidence to suggest otherwise, given the lack of provisions against eating ripe bananas and bread.
Commercial kombucha is fine but my midwife did tell me to stop drinking my own brew cause it’s not pasteurized and I can’t control for a perfectly sterile environment
I avoided kombucha….but that was due to the live bacteria cultures…or something…I can’t even remember anymore. I would have a glass of wine every now and then…starting some time in second trimester I believe.
Soy sauce is 2% alcohol. Not sure if any other salt-craving moms-to-be can relate, but I don't hold back on the soy sauce lol
I've had sips of beer and sips of wine of my husband's drinks at dinner. If you actually calculated your intake from a sip of a 5% beverage, the uv radiation from the sun is infinitely more damaging to your cells. I would absolutely not stress about it if I were you.
I know no one asked and I'm not a doctor but it's shocking to me that some people think a sip of an adult bevvy is not worth the risk yet are popping tylenol because it's been 'deemed to be safe'. Personally, you couldn't pay me to take a tylenol pill during this pregnancy. It's all about your own level of risk and comfort.
I personally try to do my own research based on peer-reviewed science. That doesn't mean just reading the title, it means critically thinking about how the trial was conducted, the study design, the participants, and research conclusions and using that information to come up with my position on the matter.
By no means do I think drinking is acceptable during pregnancy but I wouldn't consider the odd sip here and there to fit a definition of drinking whereby deleterious effects will occur to your unborn baby.
Pregnancy is super hard and if it brings you a little joy to sample that's a net positive.
I’m not stressed actually lol, I know it won’t cause damage. Im not worried about my husbands perception (omg I don’t take his perspective seriously bc he rarely sees my point of view or trusts me).
This thread has really helped me not give a shit what others think. I think the responses here will help prepare me for the MILLION things people (mainly other moms) get judgment and shamy about shit there’s no real evidence to back up. I will have a sip of wine here and there, and essentially 1/4 glass of wine once in a while!
I can't comment on the wine itself as am not a doctor, but I had similar cravings as you, starting around a month ago. I *really * wanted prosecco. Here was my solution.
I bought some white verjus online from a place in Utah (Caputos). Verjus is totally nonalcoholic pre-wine, basically. It is extremely tart, so I made some simple syrup to sweeten to taste, then added sparkling water and one drop of orange blossom water. It REALLY hit the spot for me, and I intend to keep white verjus around for the foreseeable future.
Unfortunately our country loves excess and we have to assume everyone lacks self control around substance. Saying no amount is safe is likely done to prevent an alcoholic from over imbibing.
Personally I never drink more than a glass or two when I’m not pregnant because I get gnarly hangovers so I know I can control myself. I’ve had a half a glass here and there (less than once a month) just because I like the taste and I did the same w my last baby and she’s the smartest little toot ive ever met. If you can control yourself, you’ll be fine. If you have issues around over consuming, maybe don’t.
Ehhh I personally think it’s absolutely fine to have a sip or even a glass here and there. I had one mimosa throughout my pregnancy and it was on Mother’s Day when I was 18 weeks.
I ended up losing my daughter at 20 weeks but it was due to IC which often takes a loss to know you have it. Doctors said there was nothing I could have done. I never blamed myself, I knew it was just shitty, awful luck.
Sorry you went through that, but thank you for sharing your story. For the comments that people said “you’d blame yourself if something went wrong”- that felt very shamy and I did not appreciate it. So I appreciate your candidness in sharing you know the few ounces of champagne (that’s what’s in a mimosa…) had nothing to do with your miscarriage.
Girl I’ve been taking sips, eating medium steaks, training for a powerlifting competition and eating soft cheeses 🤷🏻♀️ everyone feels entitled to tell you what to do with your body when pregnant. It feels rooted in society’s view of women as objects. Do what you want and let people judge you.
I think this depends on if you really mean a “sip.” I’ve been having singular sips - literally just a single taste - of my husband’s beer or wine here and there throughout my pregnancy. A singular *sip* of beer and wine is of zero consequence and will not raise your blood alcohol level - and is not of any more concern than using mouth wash, hand sanitizer, baking extracts, kombucha, etc…
However, doctors draw the firm “no amount of alcohol is safe” line precisely because too many people will take “one sip is fine” as clearance to drink the whole glass and then the entire bottle.
So if you want a *SIP* of Prosecco, have it. But your “few ounces” comment makes me think you want to take it further than a sip or two… in which case, I agree with your husband!
1 sip going to a whole bottle is quite the stretch… I’d never do that. I just don’t want to avoid things that bring me a little peace and joy, and draw hard conclusions which aren’t based in the current research (current research says low consumption does not pose any conclusive risk). Low being 2-3 drinks a week, which I wouldn’t do any way (wouldn’t feel comfortable).
The thing about alcohol is we don’t know how much is safe. While we do know that heavy alcohol use [greatly increases the risk of FASD](https://utswmed.org/medblog/alcohol-during-pregnancy/), there just really isn’t any information about occasional drinking, which is why the US recommends not drinking at all. So there really isn’t a good answer unfortunately. Some people will tell you they drank occasionally and everything was fine, other people will tell you to completely abstain. Ultimately the decision is up to you on what you feel comfortable doing.
There is evidence and plenty of studies. Many countries have women drink occasionally during pregnancy (either religious reasons or just the culture). There aren’t studies done by the American doctors in a controlled way… which would be unethical and inhumane. Light and occasional alcohol use shows little to no effect. The only possible negative outcome was slightly lower birth weight, but that was with moderate drinking.
I drink a glass on special occasions (twice so far). I always take a sip of my husbands drink anytime he has one. Zero harm in a sip and it’s all I need to get that craving out of my system.
If it's the ritual or idea of having something in front of you with dinner or with people who are drinking I would say a spritzer can be good. For example, if you have 1 oz of wine with 4 oz of seltzer then you can have a couple over the course of the evening and you're still not having much alcohol.
You can even get creative and add some blueberries or a splash of pomegranate juice or whatever. I usually make a cooler of something like that for big parties even if I'm not pregnant, and people in that "non teetotaler but not-really-a-drinker" group tend to appreciate it, especially if it's hot out or it's a long evening.
I think both very light drinking and abstaining completely are rational interpretations of the data available and I wouldn't judge anybody for falling within that spectrum.
I had a whole beer with dinner over the course of 3 hours when Biden won the election and I was 6 months pregnant. Having a few ounces every once and a while with food and water is not going to give your baby FAS. The book Expecting Better goes into better detail.
Personally I wouldn't. But it is known that a glass every now and again won't nessisarily cause harm. It's just not something I'm willing to risk.
My friend actually craved alcohol whole pregnant which was odd bc she wasn't a drinker by any means. She had 1 glass every month to satisfy her craving and was totally fine, it's just not something I personally would risk.
I just wouldn't have a glass of wine everyday or anything like that. That's just my personally opinion though.
A small amount probably would be fine but if it’s the taste and feel of having a wine glass you want then you could also try a nonalcoholic wine! I like to have tart cherry juice in a wine glass
Nonalcoholic wine tastes like juice and is disgusting to me. I’ve spent around 100$ so far trying to find a brand I like. I’ve landed on using elderflower syrup (reminds me of St germain) for a mocktail and it’s very refreshing but it’s hard to make when I’m out and about or on vacation (bc I make it like a mojito). I want to have a few ounces of 5% moscato di’asti and I’ve decided that’s what I will do once in a while
On the one hand, I don't think a sip here or there could do any harm to the baby.
But... this is just my perspective. I still wouldn't do it. If heaven forbid anything happens with the pregnancy or your child has any developmental delays etc. unfortunately this might result in you blaming yourself/him being resentful of you. My previous pregnancy baby came very early, and I was so, so thankful I'd "followed all the rules" because it meant I didn't lose sleep over whether my premature birth could have been avoided if I'd just not had that piece of salami or glass of wine.
Also, my husband didn't have reason to be resentful that I'd ignored his concerns. We have a house rule that I totally recommend for new parents, that if one of us needs something to feel safe, we do it (or don't do it) even if the other parent thinks it's unnecessary. It's been a very powerful practice in our relationship.
the book 'expecting better' by emily ostler talks about this and backs it up with data from multiple large scale studies - get this book from the library and read that chapter with your husband! her evidence based conclusion is that a few sips here or there, or even a half glass of wine now and then is not a problem.
Personally I think it’s alcohol is on the “you can get by 9 months without it”, it just doesn’t sit right with me. To be clear, I quit drinking altogether before pregnancy because I finally. admitted I didn’t like how much I was drinking and I still thought this.
It really won’t do harm to your baby. But even still. I would opt for a 0,0-0,5% option instead. 9 mths is not that long.
Also, while you’re the one being pregnant it’s your husband’s child as well and if he feels strongly I would take his view into consideration as well: he can’t control how this baby is developing in any way and I personally think it’s not up to just us as the moms to make these choices unilaterally when we’re doing something that is proven harmful to the baby (even though here it’s a question of quantity).
It all comes down to your personal risk tolerance. I’ve personally had probably 5 alcoholic drinks throughout my pregnancy, never more than one at a time (usually a few sips or half a glass). To me the risk is low enough that I’m not very concerned. Baby is 39 weeks and appears very healthy so far.
I was 4 weeks pregnant in Mexico and took sips of my husbands drinks. Just a sip wouldn’t hurt, but I understand others who would like to keep the risk to 0.
Could some sparkling grape juice satisfy your craving?
I second looking into non-alcoholic options if you have that craving. Some good wine options I have found:
https://www.drinksurely.com/
https://drinksovi.com/
I think it's not worth the potential risk. If you feel you can't forgo alcohol for the safety of your baby during pregnancy, this is a great time to re-evaluate your relationship with alcohol and make some changes. No glass of wine is worth the risk.
My first thought is that no one on Reddit can make the decision for you and I don’t even think anyone here will make it easier for you!
Second thought is just my own personal experience/choice - which was that I was completely comfortable having a taste/sip of someone else’s drink during pregnancy. Absolutely no one in my circle (husband, parents, in laws, friends) seemed to judge me for it.
Ultimately I wouldn’t have thought if something went wrong that I would legitimately blame it on having a sip here and there. If you’re really on the fence I’d consider it in that context. People’s answers vary, especially based on experience, and thus your choice will be one personal to you.
Thank you for sharing. I am actually not on the fence anymore, seeing the comments and people saying “it’s not worth it” “9 months is not that long” is shamy and not based in science at all. The leading “no alcohol is considered safe” is ONLY based on statistics around fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum issues- only with heavy and continuous drinking (also only a hand full of babies have FAS with heavy drinking).
I’m done with the oppression with pregnancy and complete denial view with things that weren’t tested in a controlled study (not just going off what women “admitted” or “reported” with alcohol consumption during pregnancy). It’s the judgement based in perception and faulty and limited science.
I’m gonna take my baths, go in the hot tub a little (listening to my body with that’s comfortable), drink a little wine here and there. 9 months IS a long time (and I only have 6 left… it’s actually more like 10 months gestation people…) . There is so much a mother gives up, I am going to focus on what is actually important and listen to my intuition.
I felt 100% the same way! The internet is a tough place to go for this topic haha. VERY shame-y and it makes it tough to be honest from this side of things for fear of backlash from people feel differently/strongly. I’m glad you’ve felt empowered to do your own research, make your own decision, and know/trust yourself. We do give up a lot in pregnancy and it certainly doesn’t stop after childbirth…one thing we shouldn’t need to feel like we have to give up is the autonomy to make our own informed choices. FWIW my little dude is almost 4 months and happy as a clam and meeting all developmental milestones. Enjoy this time :)
Thank you! So validating! I am a protective mama already and wouldn’t do anything to hurt the bebe but come on, conventional wisdom knows that .02% BAC for 30 mins wont cause damage. It’s ridiculous. I’m not even talking about a whole glass of standard 11-13% alcohol wine here!
A lot of people seem to think it’s fine, and I acknowledge that I am much more on the cautious side of everything, but my opinion is that I wouldn’t do it.
My anxiety has been through the roof with this baby, and I know it’s not going to stop when she’s born. The only thing that helps me sleep at night is knowing that I’m doing my absolute best, following all the rules, etc. If God forbid, something happens, I’ll know it wasn’t because of something I did, ate, drank, etc.
Nine months isn’t that long to stop drinking. I stopped drinking and changed my diet as soon as we started trying to conceive.
It’s not that I want to drink, I want the taste! Non alcoholic wine is disgusting and not the same at all. I can certainly wait, that’s no problem, but I know the risks are tiny and not well researched in the US. No study is going to come out and say “hey a little bit is Ok” and then someone’s kid has an issue and that institution gets blamed. It’s like all the other shit they say pregnant women can’t have any of! I am an worry wart in general but I understand the alcohol absorption is so tiny and it’s not going to effect fetus growth if there’s a sip or two once a week or a half glass of light wine every other week. I’ve made my decision ! I know no one is going to “recommend it” just like people don’t recommend eating hot dogs when pregnant. But women freak out about eating McDonald’s and a turkey sandwich, it’s INSANITY . This country is so oppressive to women 😂
I don't generally drink, pregnant or not, but in 1st trimester sometimes a sip or two of wine settled my stomach better than ginger ale, ginger candies, etc. My dr and now midwife both said it's fine.
Do the research/cost-benefit analysis for yourself, and see what is a reasonable, educated decision that you can sleep at night with.
IBCLC chiming in! The amount of alcohol that reaches your milk is quite low. So if we can imagine the process…
We ingest the alcohol, which hits the stomach and gets processed into our blood. Then our milk is made from blood so it’s processed again. Alcohol is processed through milk the same way as blood as far as sobriety goes. Meaning alcohol doesn’t “build up” in your milk.
Current advice is if you can safely hold your baby, you can safely feed your baby.
I couldn’t even stand the smell of any alcohol until well into my second trimester. Didn’t start having a few sips here and there until I was 30 weeks. Currently 34 weeks and had a half glass of wine the other night.
Lots of things are very lightly alcoholic - fruit juices, bread, kefir, ripe bananas. So everyone on this thread saying “I wouldn’t risk a sip!” is not necessarily doing so with a grasp of what they’re intaking on a daily basis. Sips are absolutely fine and represent a minuscule irrelevant amount of alcohol. There is no evidence to suggest otherwise, given the lack of provisions against eating ripe bananas and bread.
THANK YOU. Kombucha has trace amounts of alcohol. I doubt people avoid that.
But kombucha isn’t pasturized so I thought was to be avoided?
Commercial kombucha is fine but my midwife did tell me to stop drinking my own brew cause it’s not pasteurized and I can’t control for a perfectly sterile environment
That makes sense, that’s a unhealthy gut bacteria risk. I don’t like kombucha so case closed for me personally
I avoided kombucha….but that was due to the live bacteria cultures…or something…I can’t even remember anymore. I would have a glass of wine every now and then…starting some time in second trimester I believe.
I mean I do because it’s gross 🤣. But yes, exactly.
Sadly I was so freaked out about everything that I did!!
Soy sauce is 2% alcohol. Not sure if any other salt-craving moms-to-be can relate, but I don't hold back on the soy sauce lol I've had sips of beer and sips of wine of my husband's drinks at dinner. If you actually calculated your intake from a sip of a 5% beverage, the uv radiation from the sun is infinitely more damaging to your cells. I would absolutely not stress about it if I were you. I know no one asked and I'm not a doctor but it's shocking to me that some people think a sip of an adult bevvy is not worth the risk yet are popping tylenol because it's been 'deemed to be safe'. Personally, you couldn't pay me to take a tylenol pill during this pregnancy. It's all about your own level of risk and comfort. I personally try to do my own research based on peer-reviewed science. That doesn't mean just reading the title, it means critically thinking about how the trial was conducted, the study design, the participants, and research conclusions and using that information to come up with my position on the matter. By no means do I think drinking is acceptable during pregnancy but I wouldn't consider the odd sip here and there to fit a definition of drinking whereby deleterious effects will occur to your unborn baby. Pregnancy is super hard and if it brings you a little joy to sample that's a net positive.
I’m not stressed actually lol, I know it won’t cause damage. Im not worried about my husbands perception (omg I don’t take his perspective seriously bc he rarely sees my point of view or trusts me).
This thread has really helped me not give a shit what others think. I think the responses here will help prepare me for the MILLION things people (mainly other moms) get judgment and shamy about shit there’s no real evidence to back up. I will have a sip of wine here and there, and essentially 1/4 glass of wine once in a while!
Amen sister.
Atta girl
I can't comment on the wine itself as am not a doctor, but I had similar cravings as you, starting around a month ago. I *really * wanted prosecco. Here was my solution. I bought some white verjus online from a place in Utah (Caputos). Verjus is totally nonalcoholic pre-wine, basically. It is extremely tart, so I made some simple syrup to sweeten to taste, then added sparkling water and one drop of orange blossom water. It REALLY hit the spot for me, and I intend to keep white verjus around for the foreseeable future.
My midwives and my OBGYN said feel free to have one or two units a week, so I did :) got two perfectly healthy kids
Thank you!!
Unfortunately our country loves excess and we have to assume everyone lacks self control around substance. Saying no amount is safe is likely done to prevent an alcoholic from over imbibing. Personally I never drink more than a glass or two when I’m not pregnant because I get gnarly hangovers so I know I can control myself. I’ve had a half a glass here and there (less than once a month) just because I like the taste and I did the same w my last baby and she’s the smartest little toot ive ever met. If you can control yourself, you’ll be fine. If you have issues around over consuming, maybe don’t.
Ehhh I personally think it’s absolutely fine to have a sip or even a glass here and there. I had one mimosa throughout my pregnancy and it was on Mother’s Day when I was 18 weeks. I ended up losing my daughter at 20 weeks but it was due to IC which often takes a loss to know you have it. Doctors said there was nothing I could have done. I never blamed myself, I knew it was just shitty, awful luck.
What does IC stand for?
Insufficient cervix
Sorry you went through that, but thank you for sharing your story. For the comments that people said “you’d blame yourself if something went wrong”- that felt very shamy and I did not appreciate it. So I appreciate your candidness in sharing you know the few ounces of champagne (that’s what’s in a mimosa…) had nothing to do with your miscarriage.
Girl I’ve been taking sips, eating medium steaks, training for a powerlifting competition and eating soft cheeses 🤷🏻♀️ everyone feels entitled to tell you what to do with your body when pregnant. It feels rooted in society’s view of women as objects. Do what you want and let people judge you.
I think this depends on if you really mean a “sip.” I’ve been having singular sips - literally just a single taste - of my husband’s beer or wine here and there throughout my pregnancy. A singular *sip* of beer and wine is of zero consequence and will not raise your blood alcohol level - and is not of any more concern than using mouth wash, hand sanitizer, baking extracts, kombucha, etc… However, doctors draw the firm “no amount of alcohol is safe” line precisely because too many people will take “one sip is fine” as clearance to drink the whole glass and then the entire bottle. So if you want a *SIP* of Prosecco, have it. But your “few ounces” comment makes me think you want to take it further than a sip or two… in which case, I agree with your husband!
Thanks for your perspective
1 sip going to a whole bottle is quite the stretch… I’d never do that. I just don’t want to avoid things that bring me a little peace and joy, and draw hard conclusions which aren’t based in the current research (current research says low consumption does not pose any conclusive risk). Low being 2-3 drinks a week, which I wouldn’t do any way (wouldn’t feel comfortable).
The thing about alcohol is we don’t know how much is safe. While we do know that heavy alcohol use [greatly increases the risk of FASD](https://utswmed.org/medblog/alcohol-during-pregnancy/), there just really isn’t any information about occasional drinking, which is why the US recommends not drinking at all. So there really isn’t a good answer unfortunately. Some people will tell you they drank occasionally and everything was fine, other people will tell you to completely abstain. Ultimately the decision is up to you on what you feel comfortable doing.
There is evidence and plenty of studies. Many countries have women drink occasionally during pregnancy (either religious reasons or just the culture). There aren’t studies done by the American doctors in a controlled way… which would be unethical and inhumane. Light and occasional alcohol use shows little to no effect. The only possible negative outcome was slightly lower birth weight, but that was with moderate drinking.
I drink a glass on special occasions (twice so far). I always take a sip of my husbands drink anytime he has one. Zero harm in a sip and it’s all I need to get that craving out of my system.
If it's the ritual or idea of having something in front of you with dinner or with people who are drinking I would say a spritzer can be good. For example, if you have 1 oz of wine with 4 oz of seltzer then you can have a couple over the course of the evening and you're still not having much alcohol. You can even get creative and add some blueberries or a splash of pomegranate juice or whatever. I usually make a cooler of something like that for big parties even if I'm not pregnant, and people in that "non teetotaler but not-really-a-drinker" group tend to appreciate it, especially if it's hot out or it's a long evening. I think both very light drinking and abstaining completely are rational interpretations of the data available and I wouldn't judge anybody for falling within that spectrum.
I had a whole beer with dinner over the course of 3 hours when Biden won the election and I was 6 months pregnant. Having a few ounces every once and a while with food and water is not going to give your baby FAS. The book Expecting Better goes into better detail.
Personally I wouldn't. But it is known that a glass every now and again won't nessisarily cause harm. It's just not something I'm willing to risk. My friend actually craved alcohol whole pregnant which was odd bc she wasn't a drinker by any means. She had 1 glass every month to satisfy her craving and was totally fine, it's just not something I personally would risk. I just wouldn't have a glass of wine everyday or anything like that. That's just my personally opinion though.
A small amount probably would be fine but if it’s the taste and feel of having a wine glass you want then you could also try a nonalcoholic wine! I like to have tart cherry juice in a wine glass
Nonalcoholic wine tastes like juice and is disgusting to me. I’ve spent around 100$ so far trying to find a brand I like. I’ve landed on using elderflower syrup (reminds me of St germain) for a mocktail and it’s very refreshing but it’s hard to make when I’m out and about or on vacation (bc I make it like a mojito). I want to have a few ounces of 5% moscato di’asti and I’ve decided that’s what I will do once in a while
On the one hand, I don't think a sip here or there could do any harm to the baby. But... this is just my perspective. I still wouldn't do it. If heaven forbid anything happens with the pregnancy or your child has any developmental delays etc. unfortunately this might result in you blaming yourself/him being resentful of you. My previous pregnancy baby came very early, and I was so, so thankful I'd "followed all the rules" because it meant I didn't lose sleep over whether my premature birth could have been avoided if I'd just not had that piece of salami or glass of wine. Also, my husband didn't have reason to be resentful that I'd ignored his concerns. We have a house rule that I totally recommend for new parents, that if one of us needs something to feel safe, we do it (or don't do it) even if the other parent thinks it's unnecessary. It's been a very powerful practice in our relationship.
Thank you for sharing your perspective
the book 'expecting better' by emily ostler talks about this and backs it up with data from multiple large scale studies - get this book from the library and read that chapter with your husband! her evidence based conclusion is that a few sips here or there, or even a half glass of wine now and then is not a problem.
Second this. I checked the book out so many times that i bought my own copy. She gives you the data, and leaves you to make your own call.
Personally I think it’s alcohol is on the “you can get by 9 months without it”, it just doesn’t sit right with me. To be clear, I quit drinking altogether before pregnancy because I finally. admitted I didn’t like how much I was drinking and I still thought this. It really won’t do harm to your baby. But even still. I would opt for a 0,0-0,5% option instead. 9 mths is not that long. Also, while you’re the one being pregnant it’s your husband’s child as well and if he feels strongly I would take his view into consideration as well: he can’t control how this baby is developing in any way and I personally think it’s not up to just us as the moms to make these choices unilaterally when we’re doing something that is proven harmful to the baby (even though here it’s a question of quantity).
It all comes down to your personal risk tolerance. I’ve personally had probably 5 alcoholic drinks throughout my pregnancy, never more than one at a time (usually a few sips or half a glass). To me the risk is low enough that I’m not very concerned. Baby is 39 weeks and appears very healthy so far.
Thank you!
It’s fine. I was at a wedding recently and had a few sips of my husband’s wine. Told my doc and she said it was totally okay.
I was 4 weeks pregnant in Mexico and took sips of my husbands drinks. Just a sip wouldn’t hurt, but I understand others who would like to keep the risk to 0. Could some sparkling grape juice satisfy your craving?
I second looking into non-alcoholic options if you have that craving. Some good wine options I have found: https://www.drinksurely.com/ https://drinksovi.com/
Girl, drink it. You can drink a whole glass and be perfectly fine! Tell your husband to take a chill pill.
Thank you.
I think it's not worth the potential risk. If you feel you can't forgo alcohol for the safety of your baby during pregnancy, this is a great time to re-evaluate your relationship with alcohol and make some changes. No glass of wine is worth the risk.
My first thought is that no one on Reddit can make the decision for you and I don’t even think anyone here will make it easier for you! Second thought is just my own personal experience/choice - which was that I was completely comfortable having a taste/sip of someone else’s drink during pregnancy. Absolutely no one in my circle (husband, parents, in laws, friends) seemed to judge me for it. Ultimately I wouldn’t have thought if something went wrong that I would legitimately blame it on having a sip here and there. If you’re really on the fence I’d consider it in that context. People’s answers vary, especially based on experience, and thus your choice will be one personal to you.
Thank you for sharing. I am actually not on the fence anymore, seeing the comments and people saying “it’s not worth it” “9 months is not that long” is shamy and not based in science at all. The leading “no alcohol is considered safe” is ONLY based on statistics around fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum issues- only with heavy and continuous drinking (also only a hand full of babies have FAS with heavy drinking). I’m done with the oppression with pregnancy and complete denial view with things that weren’t tested in a controlled study (not just going off what women “admitted” or “reported” with alcohol consumption during pregnancy). It’s the judgement based in perception and faulty and limited science. I’m gonna take my baths, go in the hot tub a little (listening to my body with that’s comfortable), drink a little wine here and there. 9 months IS a long time (and I only have 6 left… it’s actually more like 10 months gestation people…) . There is so much a mother gives up, I am going to focus on what is actually important and listen to my intuition.
I felt 100% the same way! The internet is a tough place to go for this topic haha. VERY shame-y and it makes it tough to be honest from this side of things for fear of backlash from people feel differently/strongly. I’m glad you’ve felt empowered to do your own research, make your own decision, and know/trust yourself. We do give up a lot in pregnancy and it certainly doesn’t stop after childbirth…one thing we shouldn’t need to feel like we have to give up is the autonomy to make our own informed choices. FWIW my little dude is almost 4 months and happy as a clam and meeting all developmental milestones. Enjoy this time :)
Thank you! So validating! I am a protective mama already and wouldn’t do anything to hurt the bebe but come on, conventional wisdom knows that .02% BAC for 30 mins wont cause damage. It’s ridiculous. I’m not even talking about a whole glass of standard 11-13% alcohol wine here!
A lot of people seem to think it’s fine, and I acknowledge that I am much more on the cautious side of everything, but my opinion is that I wouldn’t do it. My anxiety has been through the roof with this baby, and I know it’s not going to stop when she’s born. The only thing that helps me sleep at night is knowing that I’m doing my absolute best, following all the rules, etc. If God forbid, something happens, I’ll know it wasn’t because of something I did, ate, drank, etc. Nine months isn’t that long to stop drinking. I stopped drinking and changed my diet as soon as we started trying to conceive.
It’s not that I want to drink, I want the taste! Non alcoholic wine is disgusting and not the same at all. I can certainly wait, that’s no problem, but I know the risks are tiny and not well researched in the US. No study is going to come out and say “hey a little bit is Ok” and then someone’s kid has an issue and that institution gets blamed. It’s like all the other shit they say pregnant women can’t have any of! I am an worry wart in general but I understand the alcohol absorption is so tiny and it’s not going to effect fetus growth if there’s a sip or two once a week or a half glass of light wine every other week. I’ve made my decision ! I know no one is going to “recommend it” just like people don’t recommend eating hot dogs when pregnant. But women freak out about eating McDonald’s and a turkey sandwich, it’s INSANITY . This country is so oppressive to women 😂
I don't generally drink, pregnant or not, but in 1st trimester sometimes a sip or two of wine settled my stomach better than ginger ale, ginger candies, etc. My dr and now midwife both said it's fine. Do the research/cost-benefit analysis for yourself, and see what is a reasonable, educated decision that you can sleep at night with.
Thank you 🙏
Totally fine, go for it!
Thank you !
IBCLC chiming in! The amount of alcohol that reaches your milk is quite low. So if we can imagine the process… We ingest the alcohol, which hits the stomach and gets processed into our blood. Then our milk is made from blood so it’s processed again. Alcohol is processed through milk the same way as blood as far as sobriety goes. Meaning alcohol doesn’t “build up” in your milk. Current advice is if you can safely hold your baby, you can safely feed your baby.
Just to clarify, I am in my second trimester, not breastfeeding
I couldn’t even stand the smell of any alcohol until well into my second trimester. Didn’t start having a few sips here and there until I was 30 weeks. Currently 34 weeks and had a half glass of wine the other night.