To drink or not to drink
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Category: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Name: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Description: Trying to get pregnant? Going through fertility treatment? Just planning your first or second child? There are many people out there in the same boat to help and listen and share with
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14069
Printed Date: 19 August 2025 at 9:59am
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Topic: To drink or not to drink
Posted By: FionaO
Subject: To drink or not to drink
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 6:47pm
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hi,
I've read lots about this but nothing conclusive. When TTC should you avoid alcohol all together, or is the occasional drink ok? And what about the DH, not that i'm sure I could convince him to go without but would it help? |
Replies:
Posted By: linda
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 7:39pm
| I'm TTC and have the occasional drink. It can take a while to get pregnant and sometimes having the occasional drink with DH can make your life seem all that more 'normal'....maybe normal is not the right word but it is a nice way to relax with DH and take some time out from all the baby talk! |
Posted By: emachan
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 8:25pm
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Its a decision that you and only you can really make. It probably depends on how much drinking you're talking about as well.
I cut out all coffee/caffiene and just had a cup of tea in the morning and water for everything else from when I was ovulating this past month and got my BFP after almost a year since I got my first one! I want to do everything 'by the book' with this pregnancy and be healthy. Good luck with your TTC - remember a drink or two before conception shouldnt do much harm, (think de-stress!) ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  DD#1 Sept 08 DD#2 Oct 09 |
Posted By: Vanillabean
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 8:30pm
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I've just stopped drinking altogether mostly because I'm trying to lose weight for fertility reasons but I used to sometimes drink up until about day 21 of my cycle. I figured that the alcohol can't affect pass over until the egg implants. However, it is possible that alcohol can interfere with implantation so its probably better to avoid it after you have ovulated.
My DH has not given up alcohol but he doesn't drink all that much. |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 8:57pm
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I don't drink much in general, but I would just be completely tea total in the 2WW. DH didn't stop drinking but he very rarely drinks anyway. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: JadeC
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 8:59pm
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I hear that you shouldn't cut too much out too strictly, in case TTC does take a long time. I think I'd be ok with a couple of drinks leading up to ovulation, but probably none after it. ------------- http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 9:28pm
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I used to have the occassional drink leading up to ovulation but chose to avoid drinking during the 2WW. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: almostthere
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 10:58am
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I have cut alcohol down to a minimum for diabetes reasons, but when we actively TTC ill be off completely as the affect on my sugars is really not worth it..
Plus, i would hate to have a few drinks to discover that I was in fact Pg.. i dont know, that just really scares me!! ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6"> 
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6 - chart |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 11:11am
I second that almostthere... I had about 3 drinks when I was about 4 weeks pg after having bloods done and 2 HPT's saying BFN, so you can never be too safe. I worried myself sick about it all pregnancy but sometimes these things happen and at least next time I'll know that I've got such low hormone levels that they don't even show up on bloods till 5 weeks!  But then again, I didn't have cycles, so at least you would probably know if there was a chance you were pg!
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Posted By: almostthere
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 12:14pm
Well here's hoping I do start to cycle when i come off the pill next month..  I sure hope so!!!------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6">
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6 - chart |
Posted By: Parki
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 1:14pm
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I think its better to cut down but not cut out. Well in my case anyway.
DH and I generally go out every weekend and I used to drink most weekends (a few anyway) but now I limit myself and try to avoid drinking after O. However this time of year we have SO much stuff on that I have not been too strict on myself. As of February DH and I are starting a healthy lifestyle plan, wonder how long that will last! 
Im sure its not ideal to drink when your pregnant (and don't know) but think of all the woman who do it without knowing they are pregnant and their babies are fine. My Mum didn't know she was pregnant with my little sister until she was about 5.5 months and after one well of a girls weekend she thought she had alcohol poisoning and after a trip to the docs found out she was in fact over half way through a pregnancy, my sister turned out fine.... looks nothing like my brother or I but fine! Ha! 
Each person has an individual opinon on it and its up to everyone what suits them and their lifestyle best. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: almostthere
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 1:21pm
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I guess ti does come down to personal choice really, so i would never be all high and mighty about a woman who chose to drink during her pg because thats why its a persol choice!!
My own opionin is i have so many other issues with my own body that i woudlnt want to add to it during a pg. also, with the higher then usual incidence of neural tube defects etc for a diabetic i could never live with my self if i chose to have a drink and i did have a child born with spina bifida or worse, anencephaly... I worry too much but again, thats my choice. I dont think its an unhealthy worry, just that i know the incidences are higher, so would rather not make the risk worse IYKWIM?? ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6">
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6 - chart |
Posted By: catie
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 1:49pm
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As a researcher who has done work on this topic, I have a really strong opinion on this, based on the latest sicentific studies. I don't want to offend anyone, but there is no guaranteed safe time to drink during pregnancy, and there is no guaranteed safe amount. Sure, many of us will know people who drank during pregnancy and everything turned out fine; there are other factors that determine the overall likelihood of fetal alcohol syndrome, such as genetics. The trouble is, none of us know what level of risk we (or our babies) have. There have been cases documented in the research literature of babies born with FAS following very small maternal alcohol intake, and at all stages of pregnancy. So, yeah, your mum, your sister, and everyone else you know might have drunk during pregnancy without a problem - but that doesn't mean it'll be ok for you. Why take the risk of ccausing your baby severe, irreparable harm?
That said, moderate drinking before conception seems to be fine, especially if the mother is healthy and well-nourished. |
Posted By: The_Stuarts
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 2:05pm
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I drank while TTC. I never got drunk but still enjoyed a wine in the evening.
They say to relax when TTC and a glass or two or red wine is the best thing to help me do that but the minute I found out I was pregnant I stopped drinking and didn't touch another drop until after Michaela had joined the outside world. p.s. I was 5 weeks pregnant when I found out so Michaela had been concieved 3 weeks earlier. ------------- http://lilypie.com">   http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Parki
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 2:11pm
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I think you misunderstood me.
I WOULD NEVER DRINK IF I KNEW I WAS PREGNANT. EVER. What I'm saying is, a gazillion woman have had a glass of wine without realising they were pregnant and of course when they foud out, felt bad about it but and their babies are fine. There are so many things you are 'not allowed' to do while pregnant and drinking is one of them which I totally agree with, but if you don't know your pregnant how can that be avoided unless your a non drinker altogether? I'm talking more in terms of people who aren't actively TTC and don't even consider they may be pregnant. Its hard to explain what I mean here but like I said, I am not saying drinking WHILE pregnant is ok, but its up to an individual (in this case fifi101) if they wish to drink alcohol while TTC. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Parki
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 2:12pm
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The Stuarts - you are a perfect example of what I mean.
------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: almostthere
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 2:28pm
I aggree with this... To be honest i think that luck has alot to do with wheterh the child will be born with foetal alcohol, luck and genetics ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6">
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6 - chart |
catie wrote:Posted By: Parki
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 2:31pm
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So do I.
Thats why... I WON'T DRINK IF I KNOW IM PREGNANT! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: almostthere
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 2:41pm
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Aww, hey, i wasnt talking just to you hun ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6">
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6 - chart |
Posted By: kobec
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 3:58pm
DH and I really liked our wine so we still had wine (in moderation) for the 1st year that we were ttc but since Jan this year when we started clomiphene we have cut it out altogether along with caffeine just cause. We really want to do everything we can for this 6 mths ahead that we are on clomiphene. And since DH has a really low sperm count I have found out that alcohol and caffeine can affect this so that was our main reason. But I totally agree with no drinking anything when I know that I am pg. I often wonder how drinking afftects if at all the ability to get pg. In saying this after 18mths ttc with our daughter we got pg on our holiday when we were drinking wine and stuff everyday so you just never know I guess.
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Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 6:19pm
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Everyons comments have really helped. DH and I are not big drinkers but we do enjoy a glass of wine or two especially at the weekend as a wind down.
Over xmas we stopped ttc for one month as we had so much going on and I had lots of overseas visitors and everyone was celebrating something. So I didn't think it was a good idea.I just wondered if it impacted your ability to get pg. I like the idea of cutting down or out after ov (tricky since its the wellington sevens tomorrow) but hopefully this month it'll be worth it. Plus its always good for the waist line Drinking when pregnant never even crossed my mind. |
Posted By: kobec
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 8:01pm
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Yeah fifi101 there is just nothing like sitting down on a thursday or friday with a glass of red aye. I still miss it heaps. There is just something in it that just makes you feel so relaxed about everything (even after only half a glass). All the best for the sevens tomorrow
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Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 9:53pm
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I did get the occasional drink when we were TTC with Gina and when I first got pregnant - before we found out. For us it was mostly because I thought it would take at least 6 months or so to get pregnant and we did it in the first month of TTC
With this one, I never did drink but then I fell pregnant as soon as I stopped bf so there wasn't really time to drink. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Bayley
Date Posted: 01 February 2008 at 1:14am
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I would drink up till ovulation (if you know when that is!) but not during the TWW. At the end of the day, its only 2 weeks out of your life, and when you do get pregnant its good practice for the following 8 months! ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: alexbabe
Date Posted: 01 February 2008 at 9:27am
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I enjoy a glass of wine now and then, but if since i have ben TTC, I have not had any wine or anything, expect on a few special occasions. Im trying to get rid of all bad habits.
It is entirely up to the individual to drink or not, but that being said every action has its consequences. |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 01 February 2008 at 10:09am
| I understand what you mean parki, like me if you didn't know you were pg and had a couple of drinks, yeah it happens. But not to knowingly drink when you are pg. Like someone said, its 9 months out of your life, no biggy really. Although that first glass of red once Jackson was born tasted oh so nice! |
Posted By: The_Stuarts
Date Posted: 01 February 2008 at 10:17am
I know plenty of woman who got pregnant after a big night out. All unplanned though - LOL. I am a big coffee drinker and have been since a teenager but like kobec I actually cut this out while TTC because I heard that it can affect chances but as I said previously with wine I decided to continue drinking until I knew I was pregnant because I didn't want to change my lifestyle too much as I was pretty sure I'd then start stressing out which would then affect my ability to conceive. As it was it took me 3 months from going off the pill to concieve don't know if that was due to luck, age, health whatever but it worked for me and I'll do the same next time too. Good luck with the TTC. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Aprilfools
Date Posted: 01 February 2008 at 11:19am
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I drink sparkling grapejuice during my TWW. The evidence for and against alcohol during pregnancy is inconclusive and therefore I'd personally rather stay away from it. In saying that I also know several people who drank an odd drink while pregnant and everything turned out fine.
Better to be safe than sorry though I guess. |
Posted By: catie
Date Posted: 01 February 2008 at 2:04pm
Actually, Aprilfools, its not inconclusive; no offence intended but...
So the recomendation from most health authoritites internationally is to minimise alcohol intake while TTC, and completely abstain during the TWW and pregnancy. I completely agree with you - better safe than sorry. |
Posted By: Aprilfools
Date Posted: 01 February 2008 at 2:23pm
| No offence taken Catie. What I am trying to say is that while it is strongly recommended that you don't drink during pregnancy because it can cause fetal alcohol syndrome they haven't been able to pin point why it has affected some people and not others. |
Posted By: almostthere
Date Posted: 01 February 2008 at 3:29pm
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Most definately.. I have a frined (well actually a frined of DH's) that im sure hi maother drank during the pg.. he finds it hard to focus, has difficulty learning,m over excitable more oftne than not.. Has a bit of a dependancy on alcohol and caffiene as well.. ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6">
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6 - chart |
Posted By: alexbabe
Date Posted: 01 February 2008 at 3:42pm
| i find it rather sad, when parents continue bad habits while being pregnant & a helpless child has to pay the price for its parents actions. |
Posted By: emachan
Date Posted: 02 February 2008 at 2:44pm
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Found this on http://www.3dpregnancy.com/calendar/7-weeks-pregnant.html - 3d Pregnancy.com on the 7 weeks pregnant bit about drinking:
Before you knew you were pregnant, you might have been drinking a glass of wine or eating a tuna fish sandwich on a daily basis. Is that bad? No, because during the first two weeks after the impregnation there's no contact yet between the fertilized egg cell and your bloodstream. Only in the third week will the exchange of blood between you and the embryo start. That recalculates into week 5 and by that time you're usually already well aware that you're pregnant. makes sense with the whole 'connected with the bloodstream bit', but still, if you want to be in your peak condition for conception, take a break from heavy drinking! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> DD#1 Sept 08 DD#2 Oct 09 |
Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 02 February 2008 at 7:15pm
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emachan - that's really useful info.
Although not having Tuna when you are pregant came as a news flash - did not know that. i love tuna |
Posted By: alexbabe
Date Posted: 02 February 2008 at 7:25pm
| no tuna? i never heard of that, what does tuna affect? |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 02 February 2008 at 8:46pm
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Tuna is fine if it's canned and freshly opened. It's a listeria risk if it's been stored once it's opened. You shouldn't eat fresh tuna more than 3 times a week as it contains high levels of mercury.
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