Drinking while TTC?

[NovemberBride]

Quick question for all you PS mommies, mommies-in-waiting and TTC''ers. Did you drink while TTC and if yes or no, was your decision based on something you heard from your doctor? DH and I are going away for our anniversary and I believe it is the week I will ovulate based on my very regular cycles (we are not charting or anything, just going to try it the old-fashioned way for a while). It will be the first cycle we will be trying. Anyways, we are going to a resort in Mexico and I normally would enjoy a few cocktails by the pool (daquiris, pina coladas and the like) and perhaps a glass of wine or beer with dinner while on vacation. On the very off chance that I was to get preggo on the first try, do you think it is safe to drink on vacation? Not like I''ll be going on a binge or anything, but probably a few drinks a day. I have lots of friends that drank fairly heavily until they actually found out they were preggo and their kids are fine, but I am not really sure what the prevailing advice is on this.

 

[somethingshiny]

Even if you were to get preggo immediately, the embryo doesn''t attach for several days, so you would be fine to have a few cocktails. (in my opinion)

Good Luck and have a great trip!

 

[curlygirl]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: both of my children were conceived under the influence of alcohol! And I drank throughout the "two week wait" and #1 turned out just fine. #2 is still cooking and was a big surprise but all signs point to her being pretty healthy so far as well. I wouldn't worry about it--I don't think the baby shares your blood supply till around 6 weeks. Do whatever makes you feel most comfortable but don't lose too much sleep over it. Good luck and have fun!!!!

 

[NYCsparkle]

i was at a party when i drank waaayyyy too much wine...turns out i was pregnant and didn''t know. i got a BFP 2 1/2 weeks later. i called my doc and he said the cells prob. weren''t developed into an embryo at that point and as long as i stayed sober for the next 9 months i''d be fine and so would my bean.

 

[neatfreak]

You don't share anything nutrient wise with the baby for awhile after conception. So as long as we aren't talking a 1 month trip, you are FINE. Don't worry about it.

 

[divergrrl]

Date: 8/26/2008 8:37:26 PM
Author: curlygirl
I''ve said it before and I''ll say it again: both of my children were conceived under the influence of alcohol! And I drank throughout the ''two week wait'' and #1 turned out just fine. #2 is still cooking and was a big surprise but all signs point to her being pretty healthy so far as well. I wouldn''t worry about it--I don''t think the baby shares your blood supply till around 6 weeks. Do whatever makes you feel most comfortable but don''t lose too much sleep over it. Good luck and have fun!!!!

YEAH...me too. I drank a pitcher of French 75s on new years eve & 2 weeks later found out I was pregnant.

 

[Rosebud8506]

I had this on the brain the last 2 weeks since I was a tad bit late and had the very same questions.... so thanks for posting this!!!!

 

[blushingbride]

What about caffine? How much is safe while TTC? I read that drinking and caffine affects fertility...any thoughts ladies?

 

[diamondfan]

If I were actively TTC, I would avoid alcohol and caffeine. I would also ask my doc for a good prenatal vitamin and start taking it.

If it really is not avoidable, I would just be moderate and have one glass, if it is really something you want to do. I would certainly limit things though. I recall that there are critical times during conception and implantation and early development so I would not really think it worth the risk. Caffeine can increase risk of miscarriage, but not sure how much you have to take in to increase your risks. I recall it not being very high amounts.

 

[swingirl]

It's easy for everyone who drank while pregnant and had a perfect baby to say so. Who is going to admit that their less than perfect child was conceived or carried while they drank?

 

[divergrrl]

Date: 8/27/2008 12:38:37 PM
Author: swingirl
It''s easy for everyone who drank while pregnant and had a perfect baby to say so. Who is going to admit that their less than perfect child was conceived or carried while they drank?

This is a really good point swinggirl. I say if you want to be absolutely certain that you aren''t putting anything in your body that might be harmful, just abstain.

This can go all the way to nail polish, haircolor, certain foods (soft unpasteurized cheeses like bleu, brie, goat, etc), etc. etc. etc.

as for caffeine, there have been a ton of research on it & it changes. When I was pg, my ob said 2 cups or two espresso shots (there is 1 shot in a tall latte--same caffeine as a cup of coffee) a day would be fine.

Of course, I limited it a little more, since I had a miscarriage before my first child (and I wasn''t ttc when I got pg the first time, so I was WAYYY late, but since we had gotten a new puppy, who wound up being sick when we got her home--I was exhausted from nursing her back to health that I never noticed my period was late and was drinking probably 10 cups of coffee a day...LORDY...I think I was 7.5 weeks along before my dh asked me if I had gotten a period)

I think with both kids, I laid off coffee that first trimester & really cut it back during ttc. And I think (but I could be wrong since I no longer have that kind of research on the brain) coffee is back to being on the not so hot for you while pg list.

But truly, as far as alcohol goes? I think a drink or two during your two week wait isn''t a big deal. But that''s just me. There is no placenta until what...8 weeks or so? So even if you conceive right away, you still have another 6 weeks of buffer time before things start crossing the placenta & harming the fetus. I knew something was up with me, because a week before my period was due, my sense of smell went all BIONIC on me, and then one night I poured a glass of wine & that first sip tasted like a rank sock. You could actually SEE the lightbulb go off above my head. So I was technically only in week 3 (week one starting on the first day of your period) and was probably just around implantation, so I figured...ummm...no coffee, no wine for me until that test comes back!

I think this was nature''s way of protecting the embryo back before we had calendars, pregnancy tests, and the book What to Expect when you are Expecting.

You should ask your doctor & definitely take a prenatal vitamin with folic acid NOW. (best to start that 3 months prior to TTC)

 

[Efe]

If I was ttc, I would not drink anything alcoholic. I also would want my husband/partner to abstain. I think that no one really thinks about/pays attention to what is going on with the other 50% of the equation.

 

[curlygirl]

Date: 8/27/2008 12:38:37 PM
Author: swingirl
It''s easy for everyone who drank while pregnant and had a perfect baby to say so. Who is going to admit that their less than perfect child was conceived or carried while they drank?

Yes, very true. I certainly hope I didn''t come across as flippant or that I was belittling the issue. I just wanted to make the point that a drink here and there is probably not the WORST thing you can do while TTC. I wouldn''t recommend doing shots every day or getting wasted to the point of passing out on a regular basis! But having a cocktail or two while on vacation most likely won''t affect anything that early on and it may actually help take the stress off the whole process so you can enjoy what you''re doing rather than looking at it strictly as babymaking--if you know what I mean!

Honestly, it can''t hurt to err on the side of caution but I just didn''t want the original poster to think that if she has a sip of a drink it will destroy her chances of getting pregnant.

I agree with everything Diver posted! Ditto on the prenatal vitamins. That extra folic acid is really important, even pre-conception.

Can''t tell you much about the caffeine issue because I''m not a coffee or soda drinker. They have done many studies on this with conflicting results but I think the latest research shows that a moderate amount of caffeine during pregnancy is ok. And chocolate (especially dark) is good for you and makes a happy baby!!

Good luck and keep us posted!!

 

[LuckyTexan]

I would never TELL someone to drink heavily while TTC, but having ONE drink even when pregnant isn''t going to hurt anything.

I got pretty drunk the Friday night before the Sunday I found out I was pregnant with DS #1. We weren''t actively TTC yet... I had JUST come off the pill!!!

He is a very healthy, smart, and happy baby!

I think habitual, heavy drinking is what causes problems!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 8/27/2008 12:31:09 PM
Author: blushingbride
What about caffine? How much is safe while TTC? I read that drinking and caffine affects fertility...any thoughts ladies?

Caffeine probably depends upon the person. With my first pregnancy, I didn't even do any "bad" things for months prior. The pregnancy was planned and I went off the pill and ended up pregnant six months later w/out having consumed even chocolate (out of fear of it having too much caffeine). With my second son, I had been drinking double espressos daily for months prior and got pregnant the first month of trying and then I kept that coffee habit up during my pregnancy. My son is okay, except he still sucks his thumb, but that is an entirely different issue! lol

I'm sure with my first son, I didn't drink while TTC, but with my second, I probably did, but I didn't drink while pregnant either time. I think about a week before giving birth w/my second, my midwife suggested I drink a bit of wine to calm myself down, but I don't even remember if I did so. Seems so long ago!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 8/27/2008 1:48:19 PM
Author: BizouMom
If I was ttc, I would not drink anything alcoholic. I also would want my husband/partner to abstain. I think that no one really thinks about/pays attention to what is going on with the other 50% of the equation.

For the guy, he''d have to wait a number of months. Isn''t sperm pre-made three months in advance?

 

[Independent Gal]

Date: 8/27/2008 12:31:09 PM
Author: blushingbride
What about caffine? How much is safe while TTC? I read that drinking and caffine affects fertility...any thoughts ladies?

There is absolutely NO evidence that any amount of caffeine is 'unsafe' while trying to conceive. Once you are actually pregnant and the blastocyst is embedded, if you drink more than 2 cups a day, you slightly increase your chance of miscarriage. If you drink 5 or more cups, you significantly increase your chance of miscarriage.

So, a week after you ovulate (the absolute earliest it could possibly by any scientific measure affect the balstocyst) you might want to cut your caffeine down to a cup or two, or quit, if that's your choice. Before that, no worries about actually harming a not-yet-existing-embryo.

Now, does caffeine affect fertility and your chances of conceiving in the first place? That's possible, I have no idea. But it seems to me that, since the overwhelming majority of people drink a cup or two of coffee in the morning, if it really had THAT much affect on your fertility, we'd be in serious trouble!

I would look it up if your concerned about the impact on your fertility, though.

It's just that sometimes headlines say "X has an impact on Y!!!" and if you look into it, you find that your chance of conceiving goes from 20% in a given month to 19%. So then you just have to decide whether you like your cup o' joe more than that 1%. Always pay attention to the details with these things.

 

[Independent Gal]

OK, now the booze question. There is no placenta for the booze to cross for quite some time. The little blastocyst has its own yolk sac, not made out of you, so you can''t get it drunk in the first weeks after conception. However, if you drink a LOT (which is defined as more than 2 drinks for a woman of ''average'' size), that might affect miscarriage rates. It may also affect fertility, although studies I''ve seen suggest that it affects male fertility much more than female fertility. Note to the boys!

My doctor said he couldn''t care less if I had a few drinks before I knew I was pregnant (I had a beer, and something like half an ounce of gin... on separate days). That it was completely irrelevant. But just to be cautious, I would stick to 2 or less drinks until you know you''re definitely not pregnant. While you can''t get the thing drunk yet, you can create a hostile environment for it.

It all depends on your risk tolerance. You have to look at the scientific evidence (not just anecdotes), talk to your doctor, and decide for yourself what you''re comfortable with.

 

[divergrrl]

IG that was the same thing my doc told me.

I was always in the "I''m not going to worry about it" and just took my prenatals & then lived my life like I normally did. I figured if I got pg, I got pg, but I wasn''t going to spend month after month acting differently because it would have made me obsess on that two week wait.

Of course, I knock up easily --- first try each kiddo --- so there never was much sacrifice.

You want to know the HARDEST THING I had to give up?

Cheese. Glorious, imported, decadent soft unpastuerized cheeses.

Next was SUSHI.

Oh god. That ladies, was hell. I missed my cheese. And my bff owns a wine shop & always has these amazing cheeses. I was fine with the wine, but the cheese..mmmm....but i was good. Listeria, while its rare (bacteria found in unpasteurized foods) can flat out KILL the fetus. So yeah, I was more worried about listeria than a glass of wine.

 

[Independent Gal]

Yes, you don''t want to be reckless, but, if you don''t want to, you don''t have to be overly vigilant either. For instance, I had a meeting yesterday and we were sitting outside. The guy I was meeting with asked if I was OK with the fact that someone 10 ft away was smoking and we could smell it a little. For me, being able to slightly smell someone''s smoke outside for 5 minutes is not going to make me panic that my kids are going to have low birth weight. Sorry, but that minute exposure is just not a sufficient risk. Would I sit in a smoky bar? Absolutely not! But you just have to gauge the actual risk and the quantity of whatever illicit substance and decide how vigilant you feel the need to be. Same thing after they are born. Will you let them travel in cars, knowing that''s the leading cause of death in kids (I think)? Will you let them go near water? Will you let them climb trees? Walk to school alone?

You have to decide for yourself how risk averse you are, and balance that with the joy of living.

Personally, I am still drinking 1/2 a cup of coffee every morning. If my new doctor thinks it''s even a slight pre-term labor risk, I''ll stop. But before that''s an issue (I think I have about 2-4 more weeks before it becomes a concern), I''m going to really ENJOY my half cup of joe. Oh yes. Really savour every last delicious sip.

Because I have to live too.

 

[divergrrl]

IG...that reminds me..dh''s company had a huge meeting in lake tahoe when I was pg with #1. We were put up at Cesar''s which I did not know was a smoking casino.

OMG....3 days of inhaling lots of smoke. I literally RAN from my room to the exit with a scarf over my mouth & would not spend ONE minute in the hotel for all the smoke. I had a towel rolled up at our door. It was so hard for me, partly because the smell made me nauseated, and partly because it was so thick in there, like the place was on fire.

We couldn''t change hotels at that time, there was something going on and EVERYTHING was booked up solid. But back in my MILs day, she smoked a pack a day iwth all 3 of her kids. her docs didn''t care. All big babies. Of course my husband has asthma & is prone to bronchitis...but he also grew up in an sealed home (a/c in arizona...all doors & windows glued shut) with a chimney for a mom. So he was screwed coming & going.

 

[peonygirl]

I just started TTC and I'm abstaining from alcohol. Although as people were saying implantion takes about 6 days and having one drink probably won't hurt your baby, who needs that worry? There are so many things about one's enviroment (pollutants, pesticides, etc) that cannot be controlled, why don't you give your child the absolute best chance possible? Also, alcohol-related problems with fetal development occur in a dose-response fashion--although your child might not have full-blown fetal alcohol syndrome, there are many, many more subclinical cases that present as minor reductions in academic potential, learning disabilities, small facial irregularities, etc.

 

[Independent Gal]

Date: 8/27/2008 6:01:26 PM
Author: peonygirl
I just started TTC and I'm abstaining from alcohol. Although as people were saying implantion takes about 6 days and having one drink probably won't hurt your baby, who needs that worry? There are so many things about one's enviroment (pollutants, pesticides, etc) that cannot be controlled, why don't you give your child the absolute best chance possible? Also, alcohol-related problems with fetal development occur in a dose-response fashion--although your child might not have full-blown fetal alcohol syndrome, there are many, many more subclinical cases that present as minor reductions in academic potential, learning disabilities, small facial irregularities, etc.

That's true, better to err on the side of safety at a later stage, and that's why I'm not drinking any alcohol (though I certainly don't judge anyone else who has an occasional drink). But it's not YET true before implantation! There is nothing remotely resembling differentiated brain cells at that point, and no real connection between the blastocyst and the mother's body. So, if it makes a person feel better psychologically to avoid alcohol (as it did for me... which is why I mostly avoided alcohol that week) that's one thing. But there is no scientific basis for you ACTUALLY putting the blastocyst's brain at risk, because the balstocyst doesn't even have a proto-brain yet, never mind a conduit for the booze to reach it.

Still, your body getting soused may make it inhospitable soon after implantation, theoretically. But you can't actually harm the bundle of undifferentiated dividing identical cells itself before it implants by having a drink or two at that stage.

 

[MMMD]

I brought up this subject with my obgyn because I was afraid of the drinks I had before I realized I was pregnant. He told me that it took 10 to 14 days from implantation to start sharing with the baby so not to worry. He also advised that since the medical community does not know how much alcohol causes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome everyone should refrain from drinking as soon as they realize they are expecting. Of course, no one should do anything they feel is detrimental while TTC. But, as with so many people I know, conception can take months or years. I don''t know if you want to give up hair dye, alcohol, etc. when you are not yet pregnant.

Caffeine is a different story. It has been known to affect ovulation so, if you are having trouble conceiving, this might be something you want to look into.

 

[peonygirl]

Hey IG! As an addendum to my post, implantation typically occurs before the pregnancy is detectable via a traditional pregnancy test (6-10 days in vs. 10-12 days or so).

 

[miraclesrule]

Well, my daughter received a gift basket from her SIL at her bridal shower that contained a bottle of Vodka and a pregnancy test.

You don't really know, until the test says positive. As long as one isn't putting down a 5th of hard core liquor every night, I don't think it has serious consequences. I had an occational glass of wine when I was pregnant. There are far worse things we expose our bodies to every day that I think are worse than a glass of wine.

 

[Independent Gal]

Date: 8/27/2008 10:52:17 PM
Author: peonygirl
Hey IG! As an addendum to my post, implantation typically occurs before the pregnancy is detectable via a traditional pregnancy test (6-10 days in vs. 10-12 days or so).

Yup, that's true!

So the idea is, if you really must have your drink or two, but you still want to play it safe, to stop having any booze around 7 days before your expected period or around 7 days after ovulation. That way, you can enjoy a drink here and there if you're so inclined, 3 weeks out of the 4 of your cycle while TTC. If TTC takes a long time, having 3 weeks out of 4 to be able to enjoy a scotch or a beer can make a difference to many people. The idea is, why quit for those 3 weeks unless you want to? Or unless you have fertility issues and really want every last shred of a percentage of chance?

Everyone has to decide for themselves, but the bottom line is, for those who want to have a drink or two before implantation, it can do no harm to the cells so she shouldn't feel guilty. It's totally each woman's choice.

Still, it's never a good idea, healthwise, to have more than 2 drinks at a time. For a woman 1 or 2 drinks a day, and not more than 7 a week is considered 'moderate' drinking. More than that is considered heavy drinking. I'm sure we've all done it, some of us more times than we care to remember, but since the OP was talking about having several drinks a day for a period of several days, I guess if I were her doctor or her good friend I would say "TTC or not, that is NOT healthy!"

But a mai-tai or two by the pool, if she knows when she's ovulating, should be OK.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Kind of off topic but did you or would you drink AFTER you got preggo? I went out with friends last night and my preggo friend (14 weeks) had a glass and a half of wine. I remember her drinking with her son too. Granted I am sure she just has it once a week or so but still. I find it funny she is crazy about vacs and makes her doctor order special ones (so they can give them to her son one at a time) but would drink even the slightest. I didn''t drink any alcohol while preggo. Guess I didn''t want something to happen and me always think...maybe it was that glass of wine...

 

[Independent Gal]

Date: 8/28/2008 7:20:25 AM
Author: Tacori E-ring
Kind of off topic but did you or would you drink AFTER you got preggo? I went out with friends last night and my preggo friend (14 weeks) had a glass and a half of wine. I remember her drinking with her son too. Granted I am sure she just has it once a week or so but still. I find it funny she is crazy about vacs and makes her doctor order special ones (so they can give them to her son one at a time) but would drink even the slightest. I didn''t drink any alcohol while preggo. Guess I didn''t want something to happen and me always think...maybe it was that glass of wine...

I am not drinking any alcohol... except yesterday I had some bourbon ice cream. But only after the lady who made it insisted that there was a thimbleful in the whole vat. If I felt so inclined - which I doubt I would - I might have half a glass with food in the third trimester. I gather that by then, it doesn''t have much effect. However, I also read that if you get to the point of being just barely tipsy, your fetus(es) is/are practically passed out drunk. Not a pretty image! So never mind the dangers, do I really want to be getting my fetuses passed out drunk? I think not!!!

So, no booze for me for now, and if at all in the third tri, it will be half a glass or a few sips, with plenty of food.

 

[TravelingGal]

It''s eye clean vs mind clean.

Like everyone said, you''re fine for the early weeks. My girl came into life from a boozy night and since we weren''t actively trying to conceive, I drank through the two weeks as I was away on business. She is fine.

If I were actively trying to conceive, I''d probably cut it down to next to nothing because it''s a mind clean thing. Or guilt. Or whatever.

As to your question Tacori, I drank tiny amounts while I was pregnant. I''m talking one sip now and then and toward the end about 1/4 of a glass here and there. That''s what I was comfortable with. My friend drank a small glass a week, and had no problems.