DISQUS

A Happy Hospitalist: http://thehappyhospitalist.blogspot.com/2009/05/should-pregnant-women-even-consider.html

  • IcedLatte · 7 months ago
    You bet! I looked at the literature and found nothing compellingly bad about one glass of wine a week, which I diluted with club soda. LUNCHMEAT on the other hand was associated with listeriosis in pregnant women. You don't see the "you should do this and not that" police running around grabbing ham sandwiches out of pregnant ladies' mouths.
  • Anonymous · 7 months ago
    Does it pass the French test?

    My shorthand for whether there is any greater likelihood of FAS in countries where wine and other alcoholic beverages are consumed with meals on a daily basis. I would like to be shown that the risk of alcohol consumption is as great for the children of mothers in those cultures as it is here or anywhere the risk of fetal injury is deemed so risky as to recommend no alcohol consumption at all in pregnancy. Show me.

    I doubt you can.
  • EE · 7 months ago
    I had a bit of wine every now and then while pregnant with Carter. Probably will with this kid too.

    Moderation is my friend.
  • Emily · 7 months ago
    I'm very pregnant right now and I avoid alcohol. I'm not excessively worried about it (my mother told me she had wine when pregnant with me), but I don't go for it much when I'm not pregnant so not much of a loss. I miss my Gorgonzola more!

    The problem with this as I see it is that if we are over-warned, then the really important warnings are stuck in with the not-so-important ones.

    Being pregnant is already worrying enough with warnings about deli meats, cheese, medicine labels, etc., etc., maybe a move to a more moderate view wouldn't be so bad here.
  • Basiorana · 7 months ago
    Eh, alcohol is hardly something hard to give up. It's nice, but it's not like giving up medications or all meats and cheeses. If studies come out that can tell me, personally, EXACTLY how much alcohol my pregnant body at any given point can take, considering my size and tolerance, sure, I'd drink. But FAS is not something you risk for no real gain.

    I mean, seriously. Let's say there was a great party going on and one of the kids there had recently been exposed to rubella, and you aren't immune. Chances are, you won't catch rubella-- chances are, the kid doesn't even have it. But is that tiny risk worth it? Same question.
  • Frank Drackman · 7 months ago
    I know you're an Internist, so you know as much about birthing babies as Butterfly McQueen, but Ethyl Alcohol is a recognized treatment for Premature Labor. Not as elegant as Magnesium or Ritodrine, but out in the boonies might be the only thing readily available...
    Anyway, my Mom drank and smoke, and look how I turned out!!!

    Frank
  • Frank Drackman · 7 months ago
    Forgot to answer your question...

    YES, if I was pregnant, I'd drink, in fact, I'd get falling down drunk.
    I'm a Man!, I'm 40!

    Frank
  • Anonymous · 7 months ago
    Back in the day, medical wisdom limited pregnant women to two drinks a day, so I cheerfully enjoyed a vodka tonic on the weekend. Since both kids were post-term (8+ and 10+ lbs ) and have high IQ's, I'd say no damage was done. I did go over the limit the day I hit 42 weeks with number 2, having three fingers of Chivas and a good cry at 2 am......I delivered 8 hours later.

    Pattie, RN