il put my 2 cents in too

not pregnant- i love my alcohol and have it! to the point DH warned me that i better cut back-

pregnant- i would never! i too take a good long smell of DH's drink and that has to do....and if im really craving il pour some coke in a drinking glass and dream away-and that gives me some satisfaction......another time with DD i bought some sparkling grape juice and poured it into a wine glass- sometimes its just the ritual you crave......

then again im one that wont touch panadol and other medicines....even when they say its ok......it is a personal thing but alcohol for me at any stage of pregnancy is UNBELIEVABLE

I agree with the others when they say it's a very personal choice. 

For me I avoided alcohol while pregnant (although I am great wine lover and will be hitting up Charly for some freebies later). 

My dad, who was a medic, told me that things that things enter the placenta at certain times but noone can predict when.  Once they do pass the placenta it gets recycled and it goes around again and again and again.  For this reason I decided not to ingest anything that could potentially be harmful to my baby.

Hi guys - interesting branch going on here.  I'll put my two cents worth in but this is only my opinion and I'm not preaching to anyone else. 

I really love my drinks, especially a rum, bourbon or riesling in the evening, but now that I am pregnant I don't touch a drop.  I would really love to, and everytime DH has a rum I take a good smell of it and it smells delicious!   But I think if the experts aren't sure about the effects of alcohol, and how much is too much, then surely it isn't too much trouble to give it up for 9 months so that baby gets the best possible opportunity for a good start?

I have one vice - Coke - I used to drink it for most drinks every single day.  Since I got pregnant I couldn't handle any Coke for the first 12 weeks.  Now it tastes good again so I allow myself a diluted half glass about every second day.  I don't drink coffee so this is the only caffeine I have. 

Hey Dana, I was pregnant with Andrew and Josh at xmas and New Years. With Andrew was I was 20 odd weeks and Josh I was 28 odd weeks. Both times my MW told me it would be so ok to have a small glass of wine at xmas with lunch, as I had been saying how much I would love a wine. Both times I had poured the glass and took a couple of sips and that was it, the craving had gone.

I don't think you are bad, I know of a few people that have smoked heavily through their pregnancy and also drunk so their knew what they were doing and one of the children ended up being very sick as a newborn (spent a lot of time in NN) and they still didn't learn their lesson the second time around.

Don't feel bad, I think the odd dip is fine. I know a woman that also did the 6 week thing and after a few sips the wanting it had gone.

Your body does crazy thinks during pregnancy and wants crazy things and alcohol is bound to be one of them.

Hiya Danaj,

I guess the problem is no one really knows the answer to your question!

Danaj wrote: So, am I harming the baby? I know one glass tonight wont hurt but just curious about what you can and can't have.

If only there was a definite answer!!  For me personally it was just something I gave up for 9 months, not a big deal although I definelty craved at times (a rum and coke lol!!).  Its your body and your baby, but I think if you are concerned enough to ask then its probably not worth the risk IYKWIM?  I dont think anyone was implying that you were having big boozy benders!! 

Danaj wrote: I don't feel bad about having a wine.

I dont think you should (feel bad that is).  this is my theory...and I will probably be shot down for this.

A little wine with your dinner is not going to do any damage but because some people will interpret "a ltittle wine" differently and have a whole bottle in one sitting etc they have just done a blanket rule...no alcohol! 

I personally have no problem with having a glass every now and again....just make sure it is damn nice wine!  I havent had much this time (the odd sip of DHs) mainly because if I have one I will remember how yummy it is and want more.

With my first pregnancy I avoided it completely (after the first week we found out when we were in the Rhine...I sipped at the tastings and 1 glass of bubbly on my wedding night (39weeks preg)).  I also avoided caffeine.  This time round bubs is getting used to caffeine also.

be sensible...you dont see Europeans dropping their wine...maybe just cutting back but then again they dont binge.

Just my 2 cents.