Poll: Drinking while pregnant?

[StBishop]

Ok, so I was just watching a TV show, a mini documentary it seems, about FAS (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome) which is essentially a child who was pickled in alcohol.

This is caused by a child being exposed to alcohol while in the womb and how it's essentially unheard of, or little known, in the UK.

I know about it because a kid in my school had it really badly and it's a pretty common problem in certain populations of the community here in Australia.

The crux of the show was a bunch of women who drink ridiculous amounts usually saying that they cut down (one woman said "the most I had at a time while pregnant was 3 glasses of vodka and half a bottle of wine") to less, but still more than many people I know.

This got me talking to my girlfriend and she said that if we lived near her mum still and went round for dinner (with which we normally would have had some wine) she'd probably have a glass a week. I was gob smacked.

I said that if she wanted to have my baby I wouldn't want her to have anything to drink and would also not drink to make it easier on her. Also more fair.

So, what do you lot think?

The poll is asking if you think it's ok to drink at all when pregnant. One drink would = a yes answer.

I also have a problem with people saying "it's worse for the baby to quit smoking than to keep going."
It's misleading and not quite correct but that's a discussion for another thread

EDIT: Can't remove the bold, italic, underline tags from the poll it seems.

 

[Marter]

I have heard that one drink a day will not harm the child.

Of course, it likely on a case-to-case basis, but one is probably okay.

Although, if I was female and pregnant, I wouldn't drink at all, just to be on the safe side.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

I'm male so not exactly the best judge but...

As far as the last research I actually paid attention to determined, it is safe to drink lightly (one small/medium glass of wine a week would be fine), but that research may already have been disputed.

Generally I take a better safe than sorry approach to my entire life, so as long as scientists can't determine whether or not it's safe, but do all agree that drinking doesn't help anything, I'd prefer the hypothetical mother of my child to not drink anything, just in case.

 

[similar.squirrel]

It's an incredibly selfish thing to do. Being conceived and having no say about coming into this world is bad enough, but to risk saddling your child with a complement of problems that could make his or her life even more unpleasant is unforgivable.
I feel strongly about this to the extent that I had frequent nightmares about my friend [who has recently given birth] smoking and drinking. Needless to say, she didn't do either of those things, or I wouldn't be on speaking terms with her.

When it's conclusively proven that a small amount has no effect on a developing baby, I'll be okay with the idea.

 

[Charli]

The thing is I'm not a heavy drinker and my opinion is swayed by the 'well I don't know so may as well just stop period' chain of thought. I'm also an advocate of all things in moderation, I don't think a few sips here and there, half a glass at a dinner, every few weeks are detrimental to the development of a child at all.

It's these lunatics who down entire bottles of Jack Daniels and vodka that scare me. Wine, lightly mixed drinks I feel are more acceptable. My mother was very strict at drinking barely anything when she had me and my siblings... but she did admit to having a few sips from a glass of white wine for someones wedding, and a birthday or two, I don't think it's so bad, but really space it out.

 

[Jamboxdotcom]

there was a recent study that an occasional glass of wine is actually beneficial for the developing child. can't remember if it was 1 a day or 1 every few days, but still. it was quite interesting, considering it flew in the face of long standing popular opinion.

 

[Penguinness]

English alcohol always has a label on with a pregnant woman crossed out, meaning "do not drink ". As OP said, it's essentially unheard of, and people are told not to drink when pregnant.

 

[dagens24]

My mom drank while I was in womb and I turd out justin fine.

 

[monstersquad]

FAS is a HUGE problem where I live, most predominantly amongst Native communities. This manifests itself in many ways, because a person with FASD has a diminished capacity to control their impulses and tell right from wrong, so it just starts an endless cycle. So yeah, smoking is bad, but not too terrible if it's kept under control, but drinking while pregnant: ALWAYS THE WRONG CHOICE, NO EXCEPTIONS

 

[Plurralbles]

Considering that way back in the day lightly alcoholic drinks were all that were safe, I do wonder if the occasional glass would hurt but it has been established that it is detrimental to the child for the most part so I dno.

 

[cWg | Konka]

I remember reading a case study that showed drinking up to 2 units of alcohol a day was not only harmless but in fact beneficial for a babe

 

[Gamblerjoe]

who cares what exact amount is harmful to a fetus. if you're not willing to go the extra mile to be certain that your child is healthy, there is something wrong with you. one of the biggest problems is the world is how self centered people are.

 

[Peter Langdijk]

Since i,m not a girl i cant really talk about this, but i,m going to anyway
My English teacher is a foster parent and has adopted a child from whos parents where drug addicts and was born as an addict dou to being used to have those chemicals in his body.
He had to start his live in rehab en still has perminend brain damage.
I know drugs arent alchohol, but i think this shows whose side i,m on in this argument.

 

[Marowit]

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a terrible thing, and I would never risk it if I were a woman. And, when I do have kids I'll probably take a 9mo. hiatus from Alcohol in the house since it would be fair to my significant other if I were kicking back with a beer every night.

 

[Marowit]

I remember reading a case study that showed drinking up to 2 units of alcohol a day was not only harmless but in fact beneficial for a babe

A case study? That would imply that it was a singular event that was tracked by a researcher. There are lots of case studies that are complete flukes, and are generally published as ways of making the scientific community aware of such things.

If you mistyped, which is certainly possible, and it was a study which actually controlled alcohol consumption by women I can't imagine getting that grant through the oversight boards at the University at which it took place.

It'd be great if you could find that link, because it'd be a pretty interesting paper regardless.

 

[Chased]

if I became pregnant I would definitely start drinking since I'm a dude.

 

[Cosplay Horatio]

The child will be poisoned and die or be born with abnormalities.

 

[Spacewolf]

like someone prvious has mentioned it can be good for the bab if you have 1 glass or so a day abit like with cancer, this is belived to be the reason for lower rates of birth defects in mediterainian countries like Italy and greece

 

[Conza]

Are you serious? 10% of people said yes? A. It's 9 months, only 9 fracken months, you have to not be having alcohol (or cigarettes, toughen up) B. If there was a 0.0001% chance of causing ANY damage, you'd be insane, to ever consider doing it. If you have an addiction to any substance, and can't quit, you're not fit to be a parent, case closed.

 

[MassiveGeek]

No, absolutely not!
Even if the complications/consequences are minimal for say, a glass of wine a day, they're still there, and I wouldn't jeopardize another life because I'm an idiot.
Now, alright, I don't drink anyway, I've only ever liked cider if anything, so it wouldn't be much of a problem for me personally, but really, anyone should feel responsible for their childs well being enough to not possibly give them issues because you had to abuse your liver.

My mother stopped smoking the second she found out she was pregnant, and took responsibility for me as her child, which I admire because that's something I think all people should want to do. But, of course, it's the mothers body, but she should at least realise what she's actually doing.