Alcohol and pregnancy

It is my belief that mothers to be should abstain from alcohol during pregnancy. I have, but I am not a big drinker. I survived nearly two years on pain medication that couldn't mix with alcohol and the lack of alcohol was the least of my concerns. I find the horror some women express at nine months free of alcohol to be disappointing to say the least. When I was pregnant before, the advice was that moderation was the key. In the intervening years, the government advice is that pregnant ladies should avoid alcohol altogether.

Goodo.

Now all we need is a shift in public perception so that people can happily say they don't want a drink without having to say they are pregnant. One day...

Some facts:

One drink taken by mother - alcohol enters bloodstream - crosses placenta to baby - interferes with ability to get enough oxygen for normal cell development.

Research has shown that a foetus has very low tolerance for alcohol.

Heavy drinking during pregnancy can cause:

• birth defects, including damage to the developing organs and nervous system of the foetus
• miscarriage
• premature delivery
• stillbirth

Most people are aware of this. However, many people do not realise that moderate or even light drinking can also harm the foetus. No levels of alcohol have been proven  to be safe, which is why it is recommended to abstain.  

It is recommended that you avoid alcohol if you are trying for a baby, but if you didn't expect to be pregnant and had alcohol during the time before you found out, don't panic. Mention it to your GP or midwife and stop drinking when you do find out.

For more information click to find out about foetal alcohol syndrome.

Miss/don't miss

Yesterday one of the boys had a boiled egg and soldiers for his tea. How good did that look? I so want a runny boiled egg. I won't, I'll be good, but I want one BAD.

Soft cooked eggs = salmonella risk. Devil's advocate argues that our eggs are from vaccinated hens, but it's a bit risky for the sake of a meal.

I think the worst for me is the lack of cold remedies, although I have discovered new safe ones. Steam inhalation does work a bit. Skooshing saltwater up your nose (which is as gross as it sounds, but I am a vision of phlegm and ick anyway) loosens everything a bit as well, as does industrial nose blowing. And finally, I have been attempting to massage my sinuses to alleviate the pain, and the pain is a tad alleviated. Who'd have thunk it?

I would really like some sinusitis spray. They don't know if it's ok. I don't want to risk it. Paracetamol will suffice, although apparently that could affect the fertility of any male foetuses as adults. Logic there is that damage will undoubtedly have been done by now. Go easy on the paracetamol and hope for a girl.

I don't miss wine. I'm relieved to have a reason not to buy cigarettes, which is rather pathetic, but I neither need to fork out the cash or deal with the smell/inability to breathe properly. So I don't miss cigarettes. I don't miss having to take painkillers, I can't take them but my neck is ok, achy rather than sore and I can live with achy. I can take baths again so that makes pregnancy worth it alone. Hurrah for hormones!

I might have a bath now, not being at work and all. Noone would even know. Mmmm.

But first, some sustenance to keep the nausea at bay and then to watch a programme about parents with 3 sets of twins. Which may induce a panic attack, or may provide calming thoughts of just the 2 sets.

One baby would be such a cinch. It would.

Laters.

Sacrifices

When pregnant many, many things are unappealing, which makes it troublesome that some of the appealing things are banned.

Already I am thinking ice cold water is the most luxurious and delicious beverage on earth. Coffee has ceased to be attractive - which didn't happen at all last time - and fizz doesn't agree too well with the old nausea. So giving up caffeine just isn't a problem.

Normal consumption: several cups of coffee, several drinks of diet cola.

Alcohol: this seems to be a toughie for most women. Nine whole months without alcohol!! I didn't mind about abstaining when I was pregnant with the boys as I was only ever a sparodic drinker anyway. Sometimes it's nice to have an excuse not to drink: "I don't feel like drinking" doesn't seem to cut it. This time round I have been off drink for nearly two years due to painkillers so I really shan't notice, I've got used to saying "I don't drink" now. Which labels me as a freak but that lets me off all manner of social niceties as an added bonus.

Nicotine: well. In both pregnancies I have said "no more" and stopped immediately. Cravings: yes. Difficulty in ignoring cravings and being goodly for the sake of the baby/ies: no. My incredible intolerance and very short temper might be in part due to nicotine withdrawal, but is more likely due to raging hormones.

I'm positive a cigarette would be impossible to have with the nausea anyway, the smell is certainly vomit inducing from other people, but I'm not finding out. I have little time for women who smoke when pregnant. I am pathetically devoted to smoking (at least occasionally) any other time - any excuse - and I can quit cold turkey for the sake of my offspring. All it takes is a reason not to get the next packet, a healthy child is a damned good reason and I am very disdainful of the mother to be who overrules that instinct and smokes anyway.
And off the soapbox.

Cheeses: this is the biggest sacrifice of all.

Q. Do you have any idea of all the types of cheese you can't eat when pregnant?

A. Anything unpasteurised or mouldy, sorry "mould ripened", especially both. That means the mighty gorgonzola, the magnificent camembert and the wondrous dolcelatte are all out. Goat's cheese - nope. Feta - nope.

Cheese is lovely, cheese is the best.
Cheese is denied.
I miss cheese.
Luckily this can be sidelined a bit by eating copious wodges of cheddar.

Pate: you're not supposed to eat liver anyway - too much vitamin A for baby - and pate also carries a risk of listeria. So it's a no no. Even vegetarian pate supposedly - listeria again, and in some there's a risk of salmonella from raw eggs.
I don't eat regular pate, but now, obviously, I want some.

Medications: you're not supposed to have any. Certain antihistamines are ok, paracetamol is ok if you really must and that's about it. Except for gaviscon, which is every pregnant woman's best friend. Suffer colds and flu manfully, for there is nothing you can take.

I ignored the vague recommendation to avoid nuts when I was pregnant before and now it is official that there is no evidence to support the likelihood of your child developing a nut allergy if you consume nuts when you're pregnant. Oh really? There's a shock.

Obviously people who have nut allergies are recommended not to eat nuts when pregnant.

I'm not overly convinced by the bagged salad thing (listeria again) but as I can heroically cope with cutting up my own salad, I'll go with it.

I don't have a cat, but if I did I'd have to forgo changing the litter tray. Cat poo is v bad news, it can carry toxoplasmosis which is worse than listeria. Dog poo is ok.

You're also supposed to avoid certain essential oils. Citrus oils are ok and I don't care much about the others. Avoid being a hippy.

I don't personally colour my hair when pregnant. Just in case. Lots of other people do in the delusion that nicely touched up roots will detract from the rest.

There's other things one should avoid, they're mostly fairly obvious. If you do something daft, stop doing it for now.

It is worth it.