Alcohol Consumption during the holidays and 2WW

[StephW]

This might seem like a silly question but I wanted to know if alcohol consumption between the time of conception and implantation is harmful to your baby?

I know you shouldn't be drinking period if you are TTC but I know I'll be having some drinks during the holidays.  I should be ovulating sometime this weekend (12/20-12/22) and IF I do conceive, would drinking between conception (12/21) and implantation (12/31) cause any serious damage? I'll be watching carefully for any signs of conception, so that if I feel pregnant in any way by new year's eve/day, I won't drink, but I'm concerned about those 10 days prior.

What do any of you girls think about this?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  -Thanks.

[momttc]

Here is my opinion:  until the baby begins to use your body, it won't hurt to drink?  before implantation the fertilized egg is just floating in there.  I drank A LOT with my son, because they told me i was having a chemical pregnancy.  Basically my doctor said that since i had 2 bfp at home and then a week later had a bfn at home, i would more than likely miscarry.  She said very, very rarely do you get a neg pg test at home after you receive a positive one.  So with that i was depressed and it was the middle of july... oh I drank alright!  My son is perfectly normal.  While on the 2ww we need some kind of normalcy to our lives!  I wouldn't, however, get so drunk that you pass out... that can't be good.  They do say that drinking and smoking can actually induce a miscarriage early on.  So I would be very careful!  But moderate drinking shouldn't hurt the baby.  momttc

[eshores23]

I guess everyone's opinion is different, but here goes:  I personally think that if you are trying to get pregnant or have any concerns at all that you might be, then you should think about that little baby and not drink!  Giving up drinking for a while is a little price to pay for a healthy baby, although I realize that there are many factors involved in a healthy pregnancy, many of which are out of our control.  God allows us the opportunity to carry our children for 9 months, and there is alot of responsibility that comes with that which is really hard to deal with at times--but the joy of the kids is so great!!!  But this is just my opinion so take it for what it is worth.

[kck]

I personally would not drink, but remember how many people are pregnant and don't know it.  They drink like crazy and end up with normal kids.  My friend did not know she was pregnant at the time she was on her honeymoon cruise.  She said she was drunk the entire cruise and thought that being tired was a result of sun and alcohol.  She later found out that she was pregnant.  Her son is healthy and smart.  Of course, she stopped drinking immediately when she found out.  Even still, like eshore 23 said, giving up alcohol is a small price to pay for a healthy baby.  Either way, if you decide to drink, be smart about it.  You don't want to regret it later.

[StephW]

Thanks for the advice.  And I agree that quiting drinking is worth having your precious little one come out healthy.

And I know many people drink and do other things before they even know they are pregnant and they turn out fine.  But with having a MC already, I/we don't want to take any more chances!  I know the very second I find out I'm pregnant, I will stop compeltelty though.  Thanks agian for posting.

[shelbert6]

Here is my opinion.  I don't drink at all, so I don't have a desire, until I get pregnant.  Then all of a sudden I want a beer, I guess because I no longer choose to not drink, but can't.  Just my own mental issue, but none the less, here goes my opinion.  Drinking alcohol can't be good for baby at any point in the pregnancy, however, for those who are TTC you have already made the conscious decision to concieve.  So to choose to drink during critical times during attempts to concieve, you are choosing to drink knowing you are possibly pregnant.  So, if you know that there is a good chance that you may desire to drink during the holidays, then I think it would be ok to put off attempts at TTC for that time period.  That way, your risk is low for harming baby, and you can feel free to enjoy the holidays the way you choose to.  The season is only 2 weeks long, give or take.  Otherwise, you might regret being put in the position to drink if you are actively making attempts at TTC, and then spend months worrying about the outcome if you did drink while you were pregnant.  Did all this rambling make any sense??  I know what I mean, but I'm not sure I wrote it like I meant it.  I've never had to TTC, so I can't say I know how it feels to be in that position, but I imagine it must be difficult sometimes.

Regards,
Shelly

[anamari]

EXACTLY!!!  The minute someone tells me I CAN'T have something... I inevitably am consumed with the desire to have it!!LOL  I'm not a drinker either(Well, except for coffee - now THAT was hard for me to give up!!!)... maybe one or two every 5 months, but for some darn reason, I wanted a drink SO badly when I was pg, it was a battle to not give in! LOL

I'm one of those people who reverse pshycology, probably works on! LOL

I think a drink or even two drinks, probably wouldn't harm anything, but that "probably" was enough guilt for me not to do it.  Especially if you've had problems concieving.

Well, good luck in whatever you decide!!
Anamri

[sunshine987]

I am an in the same boat as you with the drinking.  I ov'd last Wednesday and AF is due on Christmas Eve.  I have had a couple small glasses of wine since then and was wondering if that would harm the baby if I have conceived.  I don't plan on drinking anything until I either get AF or a BFN on Christmas Eve.  Luckily I don't have any big Christmas parites to attend between now and then, just lunches and breakfast get togethers.  Of course I would like to get a BFP on Christmas Eve and not drink for another year!!!!  Of course if I don't get pg this time ttc, I will do my best to not drink anything and also cut out caffeine entirely (never really drink much of it anyway).

Just as the other's said, we shouldn't drink at all, but if you only have a little bit, you should be fine during this time, until you know for sure.  I have seen many people drink while they were far into the pregnancy and smoke and still have healthy babies. Of course what we have been through, we want to take every precaution for it to not happen again.

Best of luck!!

Kim

[shelbert6]

I'm actually considering bringing a bottle of champagne to the hosp. with me so I can have a toast afterwards with my hubby.  I know after the first sip I wont want it anymore, but I'd get it out of my system.  We always bring the bottle of bubbly, but never have had a toast yet...never sounds good afterwards. LOL

Shelly

[SammysBaby7/04]

Okay... If you really want to drink during the holidays, why not concider <b>not</b> trying to conceive this month. Drink to your heart's content and then in January try and get pregnant. If drinking during the holidays is very important to you, you should not try and get pregnant this month. Just my opinion, but probably the smart thing to do. Or, just not drink at all. I wouldn't want to risk hurting my unborn child just to have a drink on New Years. Any way, hope all goes well and you do conceive.. give an update if you do get pregnant.

[heather2003]

Hi...

Just had to add my 2 cents here...

Some people drink during pregnancy and have healthy children... Some people drink during pregnancy and have a child with FAS (fetal alcohol syndrom (syndrome))- not pretty

You don't know what would happen in your case. If your child did have FAS, you would never forgive yourself.

Do both (all) of you a favor, if you must drink during the holidays- stop ttc. If you can avoid alcohol, go ahead and ttc.

I quit coffee when I went off birth control- I don't need it anyway, and why take any chances.

-Heather

[summerofedens]

Hello.........
I too went through a miscarriage a few months back........
I believe that you should not consume alcohol when trying to conceive....
My hubby and I did'nt plan on being pregnant at the time, and found out later that I was.
We used to go to the trailer alot, and would drink with friends every weekend by the fire and what not.
To make a long story short,,,,
I was drinking in the beginning of pregnancy,,,,and not knowing we were pregnant I continued to drink,,,,,it was in the early stages, and the min we found out, I stopped.....but I believe to this day, it had something to do with losing our baby.
My hubby refuses to believe that,,,,but in the back of my mind, I think, what if I did'nt have those drinks?
Would I still be pregnant.....?
You never know,,,and like everyone else is saying,,,,,Its something small to give up for such a precious little bundle......
I think about it everyday,,,and I blame myself,,,,,even though I believe that stress too had something to do with it.....but again why put yourself through it....I know I did, and I'm surely paying for it....it was the most devastating thing to go through,  and never did i imagine the feelings, and hurt that it caused.
Please, if  you do plan on drinking over the holidays,,,,,make it a non alsoholic ,,,,,
Or maybe try a spritzer or something.......
But I do know if it was me in your shoes,...I would refrain from all alcoholic beverages,,,it is hard over the holidays, I know,,,I love my wine,,but like eveyone is saying,,think of the little one and it will make you strong,,and help with your decision....thanks for listening....