Alcohol....

I would say that nothing is safe. There has not been any conclusive studies done to say that at any time, 1 or however many glasses is a safe amount.

Maybe a sip, here or there with a really good meal on special occasions if you really had to. but i'm sure that there are planty of other special things you can do in rarotonga that don't involve sipping an alchoholic cocktail. am sure they have great non-alchoholic ones too.

to be safe, i have never had any.

Why not the alcohol free cocktail version? Still tastes yummy but no risk?

I've known of some babies to develop FAS after their mum only had a couple of glasss of alcohol, whereas with others it doesn't appear to have any affect. It depends on lots of factors including the stage of pregnancy. I personally don't think it's worth the risk.

They do not know when/how or even fully why alcohol effects babies. I have seen a couple of FAS documentaries where ladies have had 1 glass throughout their entire pregnancy and have had FAS babies. Then we all know people who drank right through who haven't had FAS kids. I think it comes down to some sort of timing luck, in terms of fetal development. As noone knows the timing, I am not prepared to risk it.

That said, i have had tiny mouthfuls (as in nothing to swallow, just a tiny taste) of DH's wine at xmas and new year!

The earlier you are in the pregnancy, the higher the risk (as that is when bubs is doing most of his/her major organ and neurological development), but it's like a roulette wheel. The majority of women who have an occasional drink during pregnancy have fine, healthy children, then there are others that have FAS. (I've got an uncle with FAS - I decided it wasn't worth the risk - he's vile). However, it's just like anything - weigh up the risks and make your own decision. Have a great holiday though!!!

Personally, I'm not going to touch a drop of alcohol whilst I'm pregnant, its not worth the risk. Baby only gets this one chance to develope.

You've just got to do what you feel comfortable with.

Altho I didn't drink alcohol with Ethan... I seriously craved red wine... even tho before pg, hated the stuff...
Now cant get enuf!!!

With DD No1 I used to have 1 most weeks, but with this baby I have hardly had any. I did go to Oz when I was 14 weeks this time around and had about 3-4 glasses champers over 10 days, (went to 2 weddings and the Melbourne Cup).
I really think it is up to you, there is no proof that a small amount harms baby, but then there is no proof it doesn't either.
In the UK, they get more upset if you eat peanut butter than if you have a glass of wine!

It has to be as you feel comfortable. My general rule is no alcohol when pg, but ok in small amounts (no more than a glass per day, and we only get a bottle once every 3? months) when bf-ing, as I figure if there is some sort of reaction I'll be able to pick it up (which I wouldn't if the baby was still inside). That may be arguable but I have been pg or bf-ing for the last 4 years consecutively!

In saying all that, I was so convinced that I couldn't get pg for 3+ mos, when I was in fact a few weeks pg with Krystiana, that she actually had about 4 drinks over my first trimester . She has had no problems at all but I still would have preferred not to risk it because you never know. (Because I had had a m/c soon before her (nothing to do with alcohol), and then my period was really late and my Doctor speculated that I was not ovulating for a few weeks.)

I dont drink anyway so not having alcohol during pregnancy wont be a problem for me.
Even so I dont think it is worth the risk to drink while pregnant