I was reading an article that said that after the first trimester you can drink a glass of red wine. If this is true then why is it that if a pregnant woman ordered a glass of red wine in a restaurant or bar she would get evil glares,nasty comments or even refusal of service? I know lots of women who drank red wine whilst pregnant and their babies came out fine. I have even heard a little dark beer (a little now a whole glass maybe half) is OK onece a week after the first trimester.

What do you guys think? Did some of you parents drink a glass of wine whilst pregnant?What do you think when you see a woman pregnant drinking?

Let me put it this way. Is a glass or wine worth the risk to the fetus?

Yes, in all likelihood having a single glass of wine with a meal will not harm the fetus. But why take a chance. And if the woman needs to have a glass with a meal, then maybe she needs more when people aren't looking. So peoiple might be very critical of a woman who takes that risk.

What about those who are willing to take the risk? Don't they have a say so after all isn't the decision mainly up to the mother? What about if its just a glass celebrate her birthday or christmas. What about during the 8 or 9 th month? I learned in developmental psych that the 8 and 9th month is "just in case time" and that if a woman induced labor at 7 months with technology today they could make sure the baby was healthy(can you get induced labor after 7 months?? ).

There are some places that won't give a pregnant woman coffee because too much caffine is bad for the baby(I will fight anyone who tries to keep me from my starbucks lol) what do you guys think about that?

What about women who choose to risk the baby to have sushi? I mean there's a small risk of the fish having a parasite? Or Women who choose to have a fish that contains a high mercury content (like tuna)?

Im not being critical just throwing some questions out there from both sides. I have no clue as to what I plan on doing if I get pregnant.

One glass of red wine here and there during pregnancy is no big deal at all. Many OBs I know and have worked with across the country recommend a glass of red wine before bed time to help with sleep, particularly in the last trimester when sleep is hard to come by due to the large belly and problems getting comfortable.

Alcohol and caffeine are very debatable in different circles. Caffeine has little effect on baby. As a matter of fact, if a baby is not moving the way it should, an ice cold glass of pepsi or coke is recommended to help wake baby up. If this doesn't work, then tests are done to see if the baby is okay.

As far as alcohol. One would have to drink in excess to cause fetal alcohol syndrome. As an example, I was 4 months along when I found out that I was pregnant. I was living the good life in Alaska! Need I say more. LOL My daughter is now a straight A student, top cheerleader, and in all accelerated programs at school. Yes, I did cut down my partying when I found out I was pregnant, but the first 3 months are the most critical.

Sushi, luncheon meats, hot dogs, etc I would avoid like the plague during pregnancy. There is a higher risk for bacterial infections with these foods than the inherent dangers with an occasional glass of red wine.

I lived next door to a respected mid-wife years ago. She recommended 6 to 8 ozs. Of a dark ale beer at least 3 days a week starting in the second trimester. Red wine has been reported to have anti-oxidant goodies in it so it would make sense to me that it would be recommended, too.

A lot of people will give a knee-jerk negative reaction to a pregnant woman having a glass of wine but won't think twice to her swilling a 2 liter of diet cola - go figure!

Twinklet:

To answer your question, you can be induced at any time, though it is generally done if there are problems with the mother or baby, or if labor does not set in far beyond the due date. I (my mother) was induced because it was four days after the due date and I showed no signs of budging.

As far as your arguments, let me see what I can come up with...

While I'm not saying having a glass of wine will kill the baby or anything, I think there are just standard things that society expects a mother to be, which includes selfless. The issue I think is more social stigma than medical danger. As a mother, society wants a responsible woman willing to sacrifice simple pleasures, including alcohol, for the good of her child. I personally say why risk it? It's not something that you need, it doesn't even do any good, save the red wine for the heart and before bed as J_9 suggested, and to me, when I employ the whole cost-benefit analysis thing, the risk outweighs the benefits, which it what it pretty much boils down to. The mother has to decide if the risk outweighs the benefit.

As for the 2 month just in case time, no hospital I know of would induce a mother just so she could have alcohol sooner. Only when the mother or child is in danger, like low fetal heart rate or hypertension related to pregnancy that can't be controlled, etc. It's better for the baby to stay in longer because they are still growing and developing at nine months. The lungs are one of the last organs to mature, so doctors like keeping babies in there as long as possible. I understand you were just using the "just in case time" to make a point, but even though the baby could survive outside at 7 months, the baby is not outside, it is inside where is it susceptible to whatever the mother puts in her.

Thanks for reading my ramblings :-)

Oh, goodness, I missed the induction part. I'm a bad OB nurse. LOL

No doctor I have ever known will induce prior to 37 weeks unless it is a medical emergency. Why you ask? Surfactant is not produced in the baby until approximately 36 weeks of gestation. Surfactant is the chemical produced that helps the baby's lungs mature so that they will not collapse when baby tries to take its first breath.

I have induced as early as 32 weeks, but that is on a rare occasion and due only to the risk of the life of the mother and/or baby. Then the baby is immediately transported to the neonatal intensive care unit.

Lol. I thought you were a nurse, I just figured you'd overlooked the induction question, so I answered it best I could. Seems I didn't get too much wrong... ;-)

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Originally Posted by smokedetector

Lol. I thought you were a nurse, I just figured you'd overlooked the induction question, so I answered it best I could. Seems I didn't get too much wrong...;-)

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You did a very good job answering that particular portion of the question. I was just distracted by a 6 year old boy and 2 teenage girls while I was reading this. Yes, I am a nurse in the Labor and Delivery Department of my local hospital. I should know better than to overlook such things. LOL ;)

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I think there are just standard things that society expects a mother to be, which includes selfless. The issue I think is more social stigma than medical danger. As a mother, society wants a responsible woman willing to sacrifice simple pleasures, including alcohol, for the good of her child.

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I see a pregnant woman drinking and I just think eh none of my business...

The only thing I do have an opinon on when it comes to this subject is this : it seems to me when a woman becomes pregnant people seem to think that they should be the police on what the woman puts in her body and her daily activities. Not just doctors(who should stick their noses in because they are experts) but strangers on the street. Ive heard of people reprimanding pregnant women for eating sushi or some other "danger food".

Now most women when they get pregnant do want t do what is best for their unborn fetus BUT when other put in their two cents worth and they don't even know the woman is just rude. Its like when people think its OK to feel a pregnant woman's stomach w/o permission. I don't know anything about being pregnant but if I was and someone stuck their nose in my business about what I ate who isn't my doctor or touched my stomach w/o my permission would get told off (id use words mothers to be shouldn't use :o )

Hey j_9 if I get knocked up do I really have to avoid my fav food sushi?? What about the California roll or boston roll? If so I may never get pregnant lol..

I would def avoid sushi. I don't know what California or Boston rolls are, can you enlighten me?

Sure California roll has cooked imitation crab and boston roll does too except the boston roll has cream cheese in it mmmmm its soooo good. Are you sure you aren't thinking of suhami the actual raw fish. Most sushi is cooked just with lemon juice a natural antibacteriant.

If the foods are cooked to a temperature that kills bacteria, and it is different for every meat, then it should be okay to eat. However, certain fishes should be avoided due to the high bacteria content and the possibility of mercury poisoning.

So, the answer is yes, it is best to avoid sushi/suhami during pregnancy.

I agree a special occasion/rare glass of wine will not effect the baby.
I think the reason restaurants may say no to selling some things to pregnant women is they do not want the women to come back to them with a law suit if the baby has something wrong with it and it could be traced back to the food or drink AND them.

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Originally Posted by TwinkletOes26

I was reading an article that said that after the first trimester you can drink a glass of red wine. If this is true then why is it that if a pregnant woman ordered a glass of red wine in a resturaunt or bar she would get evil glares,nasty comments or even refusal of service? I know lots of women who drank red wine whilst pregnant and their babies came out fine. I have even heard a little dark beer (a little now a whole glass maybe half) is ok onece a week after the first trimester.

What do you guys think? Did some of you parents drink a glass of wine whilst pregnant?What do you think when you see a woman pregnant drinking?

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Drinking while pregnant is OK under certain curcumstances, drinking to party while pregnant is a NO NO, I had to drink red wine during my pregnancies due to anemia (6oz. Every other day for 3 months), if you're going to a special occasion and you rarely drink then I think it's OK, but it all depends on the person that's pregnant... Do you think it's OK to drink while you're pregnant??

Who me? Like I said I don't know where I stand. I don't have kids and at this point in my life I don't think I want a kid at least not till I'm in my 30s (start thinking seriously when I'm 34).

I know that if I was pregnant and chose to drink a glass of red wine with my dinner and someone tried to reprimand me for it id give them the what for. Ive heard that drinking a glass a night before bed is OK after three months . I don't know never thought aout it like I said I don't have kids so I can continue to enjoy my Guinness and wine lol

Ok.
Saying anything definite here is risky.
The fact is, fetal-alcohol-syndrome can occur as a result of drinking while pregnant. Usually it's a result of excessive drinking. BUT at certain stages of pregnancy, while certain parts of the fetus are developing, ANY alcohol can impede growth, which can have devastating effects on the baby. And unfortunately, these stages tend to vary from pregnancy to pregnancy, so it's hard to be sure when it's safe to drink.
A lot of women can drink a bit while pregnant (plenty continue drinking for months before they even find out that they're pregnant) and most of them have healthy babies. But there is still always a risk.
If you're on any kind of medication that might alter the way your body absorbs alcohol, this increases the chance of harming the baby.
So... while having occasional drinks probably won't harm the baby, it MIGHT. Is it worth the risk?
As a rule, I'd say if you know you're pregnant, stop drinking, smoking and eating fast food. Anything that's bad for you is WORSE for the baby. It's only 9 months of being good, it'll hardly kill you.

And by the way, it makes very little difference if it's red wine, dark beer or rum. It's the alcohol content that does the harm to the baby, not how high-brow the drink is.

Kal

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As a rule, I'd say if you know you're pregnant, stop drinking, smoking and eating fast food. Anything that's bad for you is WORSE for the baby. It's only 9 months of being good, it'll hardly kill you.

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I don't know going 9 months w/o a steak and shake meal is a LONNNNNNG time for me. This is exactly why I'm on the fence about having a baby until I'm much older lol... im way too selfish. People who want to continue to party and only be responsible to themselves don't need kids. I wonder why people don't think about the time involved with children starting with 9 months of being good. I like fast food and sushi and I know that if I got pregnant right now id seriously resent having to watch what I eat or do but again that's why at 26 I'm childless.

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And by the way, it makes very little difference if it's red wine, dark beer or rum. It's the alcohol content that does the harm to the baby, not how high-brow the drink is.

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Actually doctors say hard liquor is the worst and pregnant women should avoid it completely

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Originally Posted by TwinkletOes26

i dont know going 9 months w/o a steak n shake meal is a LONNNNNNG time for me. This is exactly why im on the fence about having a baby until im much older lol...im way too selfish. People who want to continue to party and only be responsible to themselves dont need kids. I wonder why people dont think about the time involved with children starting with 9 months of being good. I like fast food and sushi and i know that if i got pregnant right now id seriously resent having to watch what i eat or do but again thats why at 26 im childless.

actually doctors say hard liquor is the worst and pregnant women should avoid it completely

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Well fair enough. And like I said, failure to be *good* probably won't cause excessive long-term harm, it'll just increase the risk.

And while hard liquor is worse, I was under the impression that that is simply because of its higher alcohol content, so a single glass of wine will do less damage than a glass of whiskey... but an equal quantity of stanrard drinks will do equal damage. Could be wrong though.
Any doctors want to put their 2 cents in on this one?