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Pregnancy & Boooze

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My mom was told to drink beer to increase her milk supply while she was nursing us too! She agrees that it worked.

I''m reading ''What to Expect when you''re expecting'' and it says that, once or twice during pregnancy, on a special occasion, having half a glass of wine or champagne, preferably WITH food, is totally OK.

Well, I''m now 5 weeks knocked up (who knew? i mean, until yesterday), and so far no aversion to booze, but no desire for it either. It will definitely be easier not to drink now that I know I''m pregnant rather than TTC. But since it was only one month of TTC, I guess I can''t complain!
 
Cara, what are the limitations? I read that it''s totally fine to keep exercising at your usual level, but that you just shouldn''t step it up to a more intense regimen while pregnant than you''re used to, or exercise too hard on a high pollution or too hot day. Or, y''know, fall off a galloping horse or mountain bike at 8.5 months.
 
See, because of the lack of good data, I think each doctor kind of makes up their own guidelines. I do know three pregnant women that were given guidelines of:
1) Keep your heart rate under 140
2) Duration limit - I forget if it was an exact number or the general "don't overdo it"

Which for two of these woman was definitely a step down from their prior exercise level.

For the third, my friend who ran marathons had stopped exercising while TTC, under doctors advice to put on some fat!, and thus was so out of shape once she did conceive that heart rate 140 was brisk walking for her, so no running or even what would have been moderately intense exercise to her prior self.

Wheras Paula Radcliffe, the British marathoner, did run through pregnancy and bike, but had a 160 heart rate limit and regular sonograms to monitor fetal growth since the ob/gyn had never had a patient want to keep running before.

I should note that heart rate limits are really a gross tool, as people of the same age have natural variety in their max heart rate. For example, the guideline of:
max. heart rate = 220 - your age
would have my max heart rate at 190. But I regularly get my heart rate over 200, and have seen numbers over 210 on occasion. So to limit me to heart rate 140 would be quite different than limiting another 30 yro that happens to have a lower max heart rate, say of 180. And by the time most women get pregnant, they aren't advised to go determine their max. heart rate!
 
Date: 6/17/2008 2:03:55 PM
Author: Independent Gal
My mom was told to drink beer to increase her milk supply while she was nursing us too! She agrees that it worked.

I''m reading ''What to Expect when you''re expecting'' and it says that, once or twice during pregnancy, on a special occasion, having half a glass of wine or champagne, preferably WITH food, is totally OK.

Well, I''m now 5 weeks knocked up (who knew? i mean, until yesterday), and so far no aversion to booze, but no desire for it either. It will definitely be easier not to drink now that I know I''m pregnant rather than TTC. But since it was only one month of TTC, I guess I can''t complain!
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Independent Gal, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Wishing you all the best for a happy and healthy pregnancy!!!
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Date: 6/17/2008 2:03:55 PM
Author: Independent Gal
My mom was told to drink beer to increase her milk supply while she was nursing us too! She agrees that it worked.

I'm reading 'What to Expect when you're expecting' and it says that, once or twice during pregnancy, on a special occasion, having half a glass of wine or champagne, preferably WITH food, is totally OK.

Well, I'm now 5 weeks knocked up (who knew? i mean, until yesterday), and so far no aversion to booze, but no desire for it either. It will definitely be easier not to drink now that I know I'm pregnant rather than TTC. But since it was only one month of TTC, I guess I can't complain!
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IG!!!
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Congratulations!!! How exciting for you and your husband! I'm very happy for you both and wish you all the best!!!
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Congrats Indy!

Man, it seems like just yesterday you were looking for input on that tiffany solitare...

Yay for you and Indy-hubby!

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The latest that I''ve read is that exercising is fine, with the caveats that Indy posted. You are supposed to be careful with form and with certain things like yoga, because pregnancy hormones cause joints to be more flexible and more easily damaged. I''d imagine that it''s also a good idea to be careful with things requiring balance, because I can see a pregnant woman''s sense of balance being off -- that''s just speculation on my part, though.

Here''s a cool article on weight training and exercising during pregnancy.
 
Congrats to you IG!

I pretty much gave up hard alcohol a few years ago, but pre-preganancy enjoyed wine with dinner 4-5 times per week. When I went off the pill, I asked my regular doctor if I needed to stop drinking since there is always a period of time when you don''t know if you are pregnant or not. She said not to worry about it as long as I drank in moderation. She also said an occasional glass or two of wine is fine during preganancy, but people might give me dirty looks. After I knew I was pregnant, I asked my OB his opinion. He also said having wine occasionally (like once a week) is fine, but advised against daily drinking or binge drinking. He said his wife drank wine during her 4 pregnancies and it can help keep mom-to-be less stressed. I now have a glass of wine with dinner once or twice a month. I am more in line with the European approach to eating and drinking during pregnancy. There is at least one study that showed moderate consumption during the thrid trimester could reduce contractions and the risk of premature labor (which is a high risk for me). It is a very personal decision for each woman to be made in consultation with her own doctor.
 
Wow! Congrats, Indy!

I think that since you are pregnant, it''ll be much easier to avoid alcohol etc. It''s a whole different ball game when it''s not just you.
 
Shoot, I didn''t even think I''d ever get pregnant on my first try (each time) that I drank my normal amount up until I saw 2 lines on a pg test.

There is no placenta until about the 7th or 8th week of pregnancy anyway, (the first day of your period is the start of week one, so you are "technically" about 2 to 3 weeks when you conceive, and 4 weeks when you miss your period, but that embryo is only a week or so old ...and no placenta for substances to cross the pregnancy is sustained by progesterone hormones primarily).

My OB told me I could have 1 glass of week after my 1st trimester. So once a week I treated myself to a lovely glass of red, and it was such a treat. My son is a freakin'' genius who can practically read (he''s 3.5) and my daughter is fine too.

DH drank beer around me, and I didn''t care, since, while I like beer, I don''t love it. He did stop drinking towards the end, so he''d be completely clear headed if we had an emergency run to the hospital. Even now, with kids, one (or both of us) has to stay fine to drive in case the kids need us, so 1 or 2 drinks is our tops unless the munchkins are at the g''parents.

My fave "mocktails" that made me feel festive & like I was sipping something delish are still: cranberry & club soda w/a slice of lime, virgin margaritas made with some oj and 7up, blueberry/pomegranate POM wonderful & club soda, and now that I''m no longer pg, my fave summer sipper is diet tonic water with lime (it has quinine in it, so I don''t think its good for pregnancy or bfing). I still like my virgin sippers because I don''t always want alcohol, but I want something that tastes like a cocktail..KWIM?

But it wasn''t so hard to give up with the first baby, coffee was hard to give up and I failed. I noticed it was much harder to cut back on alcohol & coffee the 2nd time. I did it, but I missed it a lot.

What was kind of fun, was taking my friends out a few times in the 1st trimester (dh''s bday, my bff''s dh''s bday) I was the designated driver (our bars are non smoking) and watching everyone else getting hammered. They looked ridiculous! I have never laughed so hard. I also drink less because of that, I don''t want to be that silly.

But in all seriousness, I think we are too sensitive now. My MIL smoked 2 packs a day with all 3 kids and she gave birth to monster huge healthy athlete children. And while I don''t recommend smoking while pg, a little second hand smoke is not going to melt your fetus.
 
Date: 6/17/2008 1:53:52 PM
Author: cara
In defense of American doctors, one cannot perform a well-controlled study on the effects of alcohol consumption on fetal development for ethical reasons. And, some existing studies do suggest that there is no 'safe' amount of alcohol that can be consumed as bad outcomes are not well correlated with the amount of alcohol consumed by the mother during pregnancy, and the fetus does seem to be vulnerable to alcohol exposure at different stages of development (ie. not just during the first trimester.)


These questions could be answered by a nice study: Group A pregnant women, drink nothing. Group B pregnant women, drink X. Group C, drink 2x. You see the problem?


So, one could just say that American doctors are conservative in their interpretation of available data.


I got kind of bothered intellectually with the similarly conservative recommendations for limited exercise during pregnancy, which are even less supported by actual data. But having never been pregnant, maybe I woln't actually mind if/when it comes to pass. Anyone annoyed by exercise limitations during pregnancy, or planning to ignore/did ignore them?
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I wasn't limited by anything other than exhaustion. I taught yoga, spin (indoor cycling), salsa, and dance while pregnant with both kids. I gave up jogging because it made me feel like I'd pee my pants, but my OB said to do whatever I'd already been doing & stay hydrated. I also lifted weights, but lowered the weight a bit because of balance concerns once my belly got big, but that didn't stop me from doing standing bow pulling pose while 7 months pregnant. I just did what felt good and avoided what didn't.

eta: I'm a certified group exercise instructor & the "stay below 140 bpm" is outdated. Most care providers have moved to allowing an active woman to continue doing what she is accustomed to. Of course, if you've never exercised before, pregnancy is not a time to start a whole new regime. Walking, light stretching, and water aerobics are best for newcomers to the pre-natal fitness game. Also, pre-natal yoga is modified to avoid poses that might be risky to one's balance, joints etc.
 
Congrats Indy!!! Wow that is so exciting!

I am sure you will do all the right things, no worries. Enjoy and feel good!
 
CONGRATS INDY!!!!
 
Thanks Ladies! Yeah, sometimes I think ''WOWEE! It''s less than 2 years since I started dating FI, and here we are, hitched up and knocked up!''

But really, it is great. We are so happy together and our relationship just gets stronger, happier, and better with each passing month. Even though we haven''t had THAT much time alone together, we are both eager for kids, and we both feel like what we want is to be a family that includes, but goes beyond us as a couple. I asked DH yesterday whether he wished we''d had more time alone together, and he said "Are you kidding?" and reminded me of how he asked if he was allowed to get me knocked up back when we''d only been dating for TWO MONTHS!
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We are both so ready for this! Adjustments, radical changes, and all!

BTW, we went out with some pals last night to a cocktail lounge. DH had a small glass of wine "so that no one would guess." Yeah right!
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I was so ravenously hungry and enjoying my salad so much that I didn''t care. nyum nyum nyum. Tasty greens with candied lemons, nuts, and shaved sharp cheese! So tasty! Who needs booze?
 
Congrats IG.
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Y''know, about the exercise thing. I think with pregnancy and child stuff, it''s important to look at the level of risk vs. the benefits. Say serious exercise increases the chance of a miscarriage by 1%. But not exercising increases the chance of a miserable mommy by, like 95%. You just have to ask yourself if it''s worth it to you, and whether you being miserable and potentially having a harder delivery is really good for your baby either. Stress affects fetuses too!

Or say having mattress X (priced at $500) means there''s a 1/500 SIDS risk, and having mattress Y means there''s a 1/495 SIDS risk (priced at $50). If you don''t have $500 to throw around, it makes sense to consider whether the teeeny-tiny increased risk is worth the hardship (if it is a hardship for you that is!).

I think we sometimes see ''increased risk'' and don''t pay attention to how much risk we''re actually talking about. So it makes sense to look at the actual studies, and pick and choose when the risk is ''worth it''.
 
Yeah, one goes crazy trying to minimize all the risks, at some point a $/% risk increase metric is needed. Or maybe a Unit of Obsessiveness Required/%risk increase for risks that are merely tedious to minimize but not expensive. And it is particularly hard when the risk is not well quantified or studied.

With the exercise guidelines in particular, its really the art of medicine and not science at some point. Let me see if I can dig up the Paula Radcliffe article. Here it is.

Yes, Radcliffe''s doctors used a heart rate guideline and regularly ultrasounded the baby to monitor its growth... So that woln''t be happening for people with normal insurance plans! And its a pretty gross tool to monitor health effects on baby... is it growing seems to be the information gathered.

And different doctors are quoted saying there is no data to back up a heart rate limit or even a perceived exertion limit. It does warm my heart to hear that such limits are outdated or unsupported, but clearly such limits are commonly given to pregnant women today. And it is hard to ignore one''s doctor on such things.
 
Date: 6/18/2008 12:43:46 PM
Author: Independent Gal
Y''know, about the exercise thing. I think with pregnancy and child stuff, it''s important to look at the level of risk vs. the benefits. Say serious exercise increases the chance of a miscarriage by 1%. But not exercising increases the chance of a miserable mommy by, like 95%. You just have to ask yourself if it''s worth it to you, and whether you being miserable and potentially having a harder delivery is really good for your baby either. Stress affects fetuses too!
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IG - I exercised an HOUR a day while pregnant! Seven days a week and both my kids turned out fine. With my second pregnancy, I only gained 25 pounds and was all tummy. I do think it''s vitally important to stay in shape while pregnant! Both my kids turned out fine with my regimine and I weigh 17 lbs less than I did before both pregnancies. I was 130 before and am around 112 now!

Congrats on your pregnancy.
 
AH, you''re my role model now, MC! That''s my goal! 25-30 pounds. I''m at my ideal weight now, and I''d like to return here within 6-12 months of popping my li''l sprog.
 
Date: 6/18/2008 1:29:05 PM
Author: Independent Gal
AH, you''re my role model now, MC! That''s my goal! 25-30 pounds. I''m at my ideal weight now, and I''d like to return here within 6-12 months of popping my li''l sprog.
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It''s easy to stay within target weight if you watch what you eat. I ate loads of wild king salmon and drank a lot of water. The BIGGEST mistake one can make (IMO) is eating junk food AND drinking juice. With my first pregnancy, I went overboard with the OJ and it really showed. lol! Second time around, I did drink espresso and did when breastfeeding too, so I did find indulgences to keep life feeling a bit normal. You shouldn''t torture yourself while pregnant! lol

Do you do aerobics now? Kathy Smith has a pregnancy aerobic video that is perfect. It''s VERY outdated now, but the moves are perfect for pregnancy.
 
Congrats Indy on your pregnancy!

I was cracking up reading about the exercise limitations - I used to run 3 miles a day before I was pregnant, but I became such a lazy loafer once I was pregnant. I could barely walk from the couch to the bathroom without getting winded, and I never did get that "burst of energy" in the second trimester. To my husband''s astonishment, even with the total lack of movement that I maintained during the pregancy, I did only gain the recommended 35 pounds (I''m 5''9", on the tall side.) It was so funny though, because I totally thought I was going to be one of those yoga-class pregnant ladies, but a walk to the corner store left me dizzy. Kudos to all you gals who exercised while pregnant! :)
 
I enjoy my wine and beer as well, but strangely it was not hard to give it up during pregnancy as well. It''s like seeing someone driving bright shiny new car; it looks nice on them, but as you know it is completely out of the question you don''t even think about it. Just make sure you have lots of yummy (nonalcoholic) juices and soda water, etc available.

As far as social norms, it is funny especially the time after you find out you are pregnant, but before you tell anyone.
For my second one I discovered I was pregnant in December. For New Years I was all dressed up, set to go to this nice party where all our friends would be, and I was freaking out, because I was thinking there was no way I could get around not having a drink and someone not noticing, then putting two and two together, and getting busted before I felt ready to tell people. So I had my husband turn around the car and drop me at home, and he went himself.

The near beers are very good and they are good if you decide to nurse, and don''t want to pump and dump.
 
Date: 6/19/2008 1:26:05 PM
Author: part gypsy
The near beers are very good and they are good if you decide to nurse, and don''t want to pump and dump.
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I dunno--my mom drank real Guinness while she was nursing me and I turned out fine...although I do really really love Guinness.
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Yeah, my mom drank beer to increase the milk flow too!

I'm only at week 5, but so far I'm still raring to go exercise wise. Just waiting for the serious nausea and fatigue to settle in I guess.
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Funny thing: I met a friend the other day and she suggested sushi. I said 'nope, no sushi for me today!' and she said 'You're pregnant. Yup. You don't have to tell me. But you are.'

It was SO ANNOYING!!!! I didn't want to bare face lie, but this friend can just be SOOO INTRUSIVE. I just fudged and said 'I'll let you know when there's something to know, OK!?!'
 
OMG, Indy, I just saw that you and Mr. Indy are going to have a little Indy!!! Congrats!!!
 
I just wanted to drop in and say congrats! It''s a wonderful surprise that you conceived on your first try.
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Thanks for the congrats ladies!

I feel like such a lush accepting your good wishes on a thread called "Pregnancy & Boooze" but whatever, right?
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Wow I totally missed that you are pregnant when I posted. Congratulations!!!
 
Date: 6/19/2008 1:50:07 PM
Author: Independent Gal
Yeah, my mom drank beer to increase the milk flow too!


I''m only at week 5, but so far I''m still raring to go exercise wise. Just waiting for the serious nausea and fatigue to settle in I guess.
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Funny thing: I met a friend the other day and she suggested sushi. I said ''nope, no sushi for me today!'' and she said ''You''re pregnant. Yup. You don''t have to tell me. But you are.''


It was SO ANNOYING!!!! I didn''t want to bare face lie, but this friend can just be SOOO INTRUSIVE. I just fudged and said ''I''ll let you know when there''s something to know, OK!?!''
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Ugh, the same thing happened to me, and I have a terrible time skirting the question. I was with two friends, one is pregnant, the other isn''t, and we were talking about work. And I mentioned that I wouldn''t expect to necessarily take time off, and the non pregnant friend asked outright, ''Wait, are you pregnant??''

I stammered, ''Yes, I mean, I don''t know, it''s too early so I don''t really want to talk about it.''

It''s not nice to be backed into a corner like that!
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Oh, I miss my Guinness and bourbon!
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Date: 6/19/2008 7:28:23 PM
Author: part gypsy
Wow I totally missed that you are pregnant when I posted. Congratulations!!!
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Me too!! I just looked and several TTCers are preggo. It''s like a little PS baby boom! Congratulations Indy!!
 
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