I am annoyed after reading this article at babble.com today.
First, I want to say this, “AHHH! Life is so tough for some people –> no sushi, peanuts, cat poop or booze for a whole nine months!”
I could go on and on about the inaccuracies and generalizations, but I won’t, I just want to focus on one!
Myth # 6 – Alcohol exposure leads to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and mental retardation.
According to the author:
Oh, relax! All of the children described in the original paper on FAS were born to severe, chronic alcoholics. While some researchers argue that any alcohol is bad, others (including Britain’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) say that an infrequent glass of wine with dinner is nothing to worry about. Believe it or not, there’s even some severe, chronic alkies whose pregnancies come out fine (although being a severe, chronic alkie is never advisable). Do the research and come to your own personal decision.
GIVE-ME-A-BREAK!
She also quotes a doctor that states:
The research simply hasn’t proven harm from less than two drinks per day.
The Doctor obviously hasn’t done all of his research, recent Danish studies show that drinking in moderation can be harmful.
Anyone who goes through this much trouble to justify drinking while pregnant, or finds the whole idea of not drinking while pregnant a such a terrible inconvenience, may want to hold-off on the whole pregnancy gig for a while — you just might not be ready!
You may also want to try this 12 Step Program, it’s very near the front of the phone book.
I do get it –> all things in moderation, do the research, and that social pressures have pregnant women living in fear! While I agree that the 3 sushi dinners you ate (or the 1/2 dozen cat litters you changed) before you found out you were pregnant shouldn’t be a reason to keep you laying awake at night (hemorrhoids, heart burn, back ache can do that for you), the danger of alcohol to your unborn baby is not a myth. Fetal alcohol syndrome can not be cured!
I am not writing this to beat up on those of you that had one glass of wine on your 10th anniversary when you were pregnant, or those of you that had a few too many before you found out. If this applies to you … don’t beat up on me!
***
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{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
Ditto to the idiot part. Ditto to all of it. Well, not the part in pink.
glittersmama’s last blog post..Public Service Announcement
Funny story: I wasn’t expecting to get pregnant with the third — I went on a “Wine Country Weekend” with some moms from my son’s preschool. Surprise! We drank some wine. Then I figured out I was pregnant. When filling out all of the pre-natal visit paperwork, I checked the “had a drink” box and promptly got a call from the counselor. We had a laugh over the two glasses of wine that I drank after 4+ years of not drinking while pregnant + nursing + pregnant + nursing and the one weekend of dinner + wine. Ha!
eek. That is scary. I guess, I say it’s not going to hurt me to lay off the boozin’ for 9mo, but it *could* hurt my developing baby and leave them with life long disablilties. Hmmm. Tough choice there.
Not to mention that I was a teacher for students with special needs and I saw first hand what FAS looks like. A completely preventable disability like that should not even exsist anymore!
All that being said, I had the rare sip while preggo and a drink here or there while breast feeding (when baby was older and not nursing as much). So I don’t think that a smidge is horrible, but 2 drinks a day!? Is she for real?
mama k’s last blog post..NoMeatPoWeek
yep…I agree – how hard can it be to just STAY AWAY from alcohol for 9 months? I don’t drink at all…but yeah, I think it is CRAZY and scary when people risk the well-being of their baby for something they want…not need.
Andrea’s last blog post..Our Helper…
Wow! 2 drinks/day! I had maybe 2 glasses of wine my entire pregnancy! I had enough trouble drinking enough water during the day – I couldnt’ imagine drinking alcohol instead.
Deb’s last blog post..Princess Kazia
That is just crazy! It is only 9 stinking months!! How hard is it to give up anything for 9 months that may potentially harm your child for the rest of their life… Uggghh. And to think – I would be upset with myself if I forgot my prenatal vitamin one day. It is very obvious that the person who wrote that is not ready to be a parent – not ready to put the NEEDS of their child before their own WANTS.
ok so um if you are not an alchoholic, why cant you give up drinking for a mere 9 months? I mean come on, do you need it that bad? if you answered yes, than something is seriously wrong with you and you shouldnt be pregnant in the first place, sorry but just MHO! that article angers me, seriously. and why are they putting this into womens heads that it MAY be ok to drink? is that drink more important than a healthy and sound baby? I think not!
Thanks for this, Kim.
I did not have a DROP of wine, etc. while I was pregnant.
It was not worth it.
That article makes me want to smack someone upside the head.
Angella’s last blog post..On Her Behalf
Hello, What a nightmare! I know women who smoke throughout their entire pregnancies! I want to shake them and ask them what they are thinking?
I just don’t understand…..Cindi
Generalizations like that made in the article give people free reign to loosely interpret that statement to justify their habits. If a person can’t give up alcohol for 9 months (one of the many sacrifices a woman will make for her child) perhaps they should rethink whether or not having a baby is right for her at that time. I am a NICU RN and I think statements like “Oh, relax! All of the children described in the original paper on FAS were born to severe, chronic alcoholics…” are reckless.
Caryn B’s last blog post..Cool Contests of the Week!
I agree; my goodness, YOUR baby’s health is at stake when YOU ARE pregnant. I don’t understand what’s so difficult about sacrificing a few things during pregnancy. After all, it’s only the beginning, I felt like I sacrificed a whole lot more (sleep, pride, sanity, …) AFTER the baby was born!!
I don’t agree with drinking while pregnant at all. You owe it to your child to do everything to ensure that they have the best chances in life. There are so many conditions that are not controllable, why give them one that you could have prevented?
I rarely drink but before we even thought of kids I started prenatal vitamin and stopped all drinking. Nine months without a drink really is worth a healthier kid. Why take the risk?
Noreen’s last blog post..Winner!!
wow.some people.*wide open eyes* thats all I have to say about that. :)
I totally agree with this “the danger of alcohol to your unborn baby is NOT A MYTH. Fetal alcohol syndrome can not be cured!” Wish every pregnants know it. I do not drink while TTC, pregnant and breastfeeding. Even I crave a little cocktail sometime, but my baby is the first priority.
I wouldn’t even have a sip of alcohol while pregnant. Why risk it?
If you know you can do something to help your baby be healthier, why wouldn’t you?
Just what the world needs is more articles like this one. Not. I can just see certain people following that ‘advice’. Ugh.
I agree; it just doesn’t make sense to put your baby at risk!
it is such a hard, personal choice though…some moms are just totally clueless and this type of article just confuses the (idiot) moms even more…then there are moms (like moi) who are total control freaks who worry about everything and are freaked out about even being near something potetially toxic. i wish that people just all agreed that it is a completly irresponsible choice to drink when pregnant AND if you can’t quit something as easy as that you’re going to have a HARD ass time being a parent!!!!! ENOUGH…don’t drink and drive OR drink while a babe is on board!
I definitely will NOT be rushing out to buy that….ugh…some people can just be so “ignorant” in their ways of thinking, cant they….sheesh. Thanks for the post, though!!!
That is so far beyond ridiclous that I’m almost at a loss for words, almost…once I found out I was pregnant I completely avoided all alcohol, to the extreme: no drinks, vodka pasta sauce, not even desserts with alcohol. I completely agree, if your not an alcoholic how hard is that really? Come on, you might as well practice selflessness, if your having a baby you’ll be giving up a lot more important things than alcohol-but the pay off is so much better. I would NEVER take a drink while pregnant, the risk is not worth that one moment. And don’t get me started on people who smoke during pregnancy…
Kristian’s last blog post..The 1st 3 Months of Cade
I cannot believe anyone would publish an article promoting drinking while pregnant. Idiots united I guess. Taking care of a handicapped child is way harder than giving up drinking for 9 months.
Here in our world today do we try to justify all the things that are harmful in someway to us or another – but drinking during a pregnancy is not ok no matter which way you come at it. I only have one child right now and she is one of the most precious things to me – when I was breast feeding her I was surprised to find that certian foods bothered her (things you learn!) and i felt so bad thinking that this is bothering her this much now it had to have had the same effect on her in my tummy – I know that i’ll be eating a lot healthier next time around. And if food can have such a dramatic effect on a little infant what kind of effect is alchol going to have on that tiny babe – consider the effect it has on a 120 lb adult!
oh my sometimes people say the dumbest things but to publish and have proof that you’re an idiot is really dumb!
Yikes- 2 drinks a day! Sheesh- I highly doubt the author has experienced FAS- Man how scary! Also, smoking too is something as well to avoid.
Sheesh- Would you ever tell a crack addict that 2 hits a day is okay? NO- you’d tell them to stop completely- should be the same during pregnancy!
I totally agree. An acquaintance I knew who was pregnant at the same time I was kept making excuses for her “bad” pregnancy habits and kept trying to get my approval for her behaviour. All I kept thinking was: “NINE MONTHS”! Nine months of healthy living and abstinence–not the sex part–out of your long life will make the difference FOR THE REST of your unborn child’s life. Seems simple enough to me! We shouldn’t need science to figure that one out.
what an idiot!
I too am frustrated with the overly generalized and vague articles that can be so easily miss interpreted. My midwife strongly recommends avoiding alcohol especially during the first trimester because all of the baby’s vital organs are being formed. I am expecting my fourth child.
For me it wasn’t too hard to give up alcohol. The holidays make it difficult, I like to have a glass of wine. Darn. But, for me it is worth giving up anything with caffeine in it, wine, fast food and so on for the health of my baby and my own health. I want to give this little bundle of joy the best shot at life that I can.
Thanks for taking the time to write about this.
Sara Connor’s last blog post..What Is A Normal Weight Gain In Pregnancy?
Once the due date has passed and there’s still no baby, people just can’t resist asking this inane question. Answer with humor: “I guess he’s happy where he is,” or “I love being pregnant so much I decided to put off delivering for another month.”
ufjJmD mmmm sandwitch