Alcohol in very early pregnancy.

[expat]

I'm wondering a couple of things about my 'permission' to have a couple of glasses of red over the next couple of weekends.

We're attending 2 weddings for 4 of our very close friends on the next 2 weekends (12th and 19th of August) and I was wondering about the effects of moderate alcohol consumption in VERY early pregnancy.

On this coming saturday, if I have not gotten my period on friday, I will be at day 15 (DPO) and if there is a little futurefamily member in there, they won't be attatched to a placenta yet and won't be sharing my blood supply.

I want to know if it would be OK to toast the couple with a champagne, have a glass of red with the meal and perhaps have another wine or ****tail that evening? All the medical literature I can find tells me that alcohol passes through the placenta but I can't find anything about it infusing through the uterine wall in a very early pregnancy. Everything I find that's like 'help, I just found out I'm 5 weeks pregnant but I've been out drinking every weekend' -seems to be reasonably positive that no real harm is done until the placenta and associated shared bloodflow is in place.

I'm not a big drinker at all and I don't drink much nor often but I do like to have 3-4 drinks if it's an occasion like a wedding or a big party and get all festive!!

Of course, if I don't have my period by DPO18 (the tuesday between the weddings), I'll be peeing on a stick to find out what's going on and if I am 'up the duff' then I'll be drinking soda at the 2nd wedding!! -I'll have to tell them all I'm on antibiotics or something to diffuse suspicion!!

I'd like replies from anyone who can help, especially people who have real medical knowledge on the topic.

I don't want to take any excessive risks but I don't want to be overy cautious if it's not called for either.

Cheers and thanks in advance,

Adèle

[Melbo]

Adele - plenty of people have had a glass of wine before realising they were pregnant with no harm done. I think there is a big difference between having one or two drinks and going on a real bender. Both my fertility specialist and my obstetrician were of the same opinion on that one. =)

Yes the antibiotic ruse is a good one. And if you are pregnant you might not even feel like a drink anyway. It's funny how the body works ... sometimes you go off things you would normally enjoy as if the body already knows it has to protect someone else.

[expat]

Thanks Melbo, that was quick!

I''m so impressed with the speedy replies at this site!!

I've heard stories of salt lovers going off their salt and coffee addicts (like me!!) getting nauseous at the thought of a cuppa, so you never know!

I've not been a big drinker for quite a few years now...I think I'm getting old! A big night out will mean 4 pints and then I'm totally tipsy...5 and I'm queesy -so I think a 3 drink night is where my happy personal limit is anyway!

Well it's good to have some reasurance that I can toast the newlyweds with a bubbley and not feel bad!

Cheers again,
Adèle

[Tracey]

I consumed some alcohol during both pregnancies, ofcourse not in excess, although I didnt know I was preg with #1 til about 15wks & had been out on some benders!!!

I'd think a glass of wine or champagne to toast the wedding would be fine!!!

[*Rae*]

Lol - i'd only just posted the same thing in the Conception thread!!!!!!!! Supposedly it's ok as implantation wouldn't have occured...and a few glasses here and there wouldn't be harmful

[visitor2]

Adèle i drank wine when i was pregnant with Kimberley as i didn't know i was preagnant at the time. I don't think the odd glass will hurt just drinking too much is the problem. I think that's why they say no alcohol while pregnant.