Wine during labour

[Heatherm4]

I have a birth book that is actually amazing! There are a couple times through the book though that mention having a glass of wine during the first stage of labour in order to relax and sleep through contractions. I think it's put in our heads about alcohol and the effects on a pregnancy are sooo terrible. But would it really be that terrible to actually have a glass of wine in order to get a couple hours of shut eye?! Just wondering your thoughts ladies.....
Note: a GLASS of wine....they don't talk about a whole bottle...just had to add that!! LOL

[Ready_4_Baby_2]

I was just telling my friend after this baby I'm going to have a wine tasting and get drunk LOL.  At 16wks I had probably a Tablespoon of wine at a wine tasting and it was the best. I ended up buying it and can't wait to crack it open after the baby is here. Since I'm planning to nurse not sure when I'll do all of this but its in the plan. :D

[FreshLove]

The beer thing really does work. When my mom had my youngest brother she was hardly producing milk. My grandma told her to have a beer before bed that night and the next day she would be full. It worked really well. My mom said she was so full of milk she was leaking (sorry if tmi).

[MissmyAngel]

I agree, the pendulum swings both ways on this one. I know someone who "sipped" her husbands beer sometimes while pregnant, and my DSD's Mom drank heavily every weekend while pregnant (because she didn't find out she was pregnant until she was six months) and both kids turned out fine, though I know someone else who told me his wife had one drink in the first trimester, and his son ended up with FAS.

[cocacolapanda]

MissmyAngel - The beer thing is somewhat true, the truth behind it is alcohol relaxes people, so a drink helps you relax so you can have a let down.  If you drink while nursing they suggest to watch how much and drink while feeding.  I've had 2-3 drinks in one evening/day and found it didn't help me the least (I don't think I had issues relaxing when feeding/pumping).  It's safe to drink while breastfeeding, you just need to watch how much etc.  The alcohol in your milk is the same as your blood, so if you have one drink or wait long enough after drinking a lot you are fine to not dump it out (And they sell alcohol testing strips for those mom's who are worried).

Tasha505 - I agree, having a little bit later in pregnancy I don't think is nearly as bad as early.  But I also agree with you that I wouldn't risk it.  I've read research on both sides of the story and personally Drinking while pregnant is not something I want to do.

[Tasha505]

Honestly, I have heard that having a glass of wine with dinner every now and then after your first trimester is just fine, I have thought about having  glass of wine from time to time, but i know I just wouldn't feel right. You're right the idea of alcohol and pregnancy is drilled into our heads as HORRIBLE...(which isn't a bad thing) but in Europe having a glass of wine is supposed to provide a calm, stress-free environment for the baby... it's considered healthy!!

During labor, my mom drank a few beers (this was before the harmful effects of alcohol were known) and my older sister turned out just fine!!

[sameerab]

I for one loveee my wine however if I went this long without it I will just wait until my baby is well out the womb...I was able to go to sleep after the epidural but hey If that's whatu guys will do more power to u guys anything that will get us through the labor!

[Heatherm4]

Thanks ladies. I agree Alaysha....many of the rules are a little crazy and go a little far. I'm not much of a drinker in the first place so a glass of wine would give me that warm tingly feeling for sure! LOL I may just consider it for labour.

[alaysha]

I've also read in a couple different books to drink a glass of wine if you are having horrible braxton hicks contractions to help relax you and slow them down if you're worried you'll go into pre-term labor. I have also heard that in the 2nd (though more the 3rd) trimester that its ok to have a glass of wine every once in a while. I was kinda skeptical of this but when I looked at different researches there was a doctor that stuck out in my mind as saying that in 20 years of being an obgyn that they had never seen a case of fetel alcohol syndrome. Def dont think that anyone should go out and start pouring themselves shots and drinking vodka but my mom had a glass or wine with me every now and then and my sister had a glass or two in her third trimester so I'm not really sure what to think. In a way I think some of the rules of pregnancy are based on culture and how we are raised.

[MissmyAngel]

I was told by someone that one glass of beer is supposed to help the milk come in. IDK how true that is, because I don't have any personal experience. I most likely won't try it, mostly just because I'm not a drinker at all. I only had one drink last year (on new years eve) and it took me about four hours to drink it lol.

[cocacolapanda]

I'm not sure I'd have any during labor, mostly because when I was in labor with my first I really didn't feel like any.  That and a glass of wine wouldn't help me sleep through contractions, I would need a tranquilizer for that.

We even brought a bottle to the hospital, but things were so busy we just didn't get around to having any.  I think if we delivered early in the day it might have been a little different story.

I agree that during labor I wouldn't see it being an issue, if it was just a little bit like a glass of wine.  The issue of wine is more so in early pregnancy when the baby is doing most of the developments.