No alcohol for you!

PC dairy @ 31 weeks 6 days

I guess the time has come where I am obviously pregnant.  Today on my journey across the pond everyone has made comments or asked me about my bump.

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My halloween costume hides my bump – kind of!

Things that people have said to me today…

“Would you like me to put you on the upgrade wait list?”

“Are you sure I can’t get you a water or ginger ale?”

“When is the baby due?”

“Let me get that for you…”

“No alcohol for you!”  Wait….what?!

I checked into the American Airlines business lounge and the lady didn’t offer me a coupon for a free drink at the bar (which is something ordinarily you get), in fact she went so far to say as “no alcohol for you…!” Ummmm I paused for a second flabberghasted ‘yeh….I guess none for me, thanks’.  Awkward.  Thanks lady for policing my alcohol intake.

I’ve actually had these strong hints a few times…waitresses asking me, can I get you a water or soda?  Rather than, can I get you a drink or a beer?

When I went for my 30 week check up with my OB, the nurse asked me…”When did you last binge drink?”, followed by “Do you drink alcohol?”.  I was taken aback, because I answered all these questions when I first signed up to the clinic and I wasn’t expecting them now.  Also, because I am sure that anyone who had binged drinked at 30 weeks pregnant, probably wouldn’t be honest and deny it.

I’m not going to lie, I have had a few sips of alcohol here and there in this pregnancy – some weeks I will have nothing at all, others I may enjoy a small half glass of wine or one or two non-alcoholic beers (because non alcoholic beers do contain a very small amount of alcohol) at the weekend.  I drink them slowly, with dinner and I never want any more than that anyway.

In Germany the other week I was given a free shot of Limoncello after dinner and a coupon for a shot of tequila.  That was a bit too much for me….I gave them to other people.  But the point is that they didn’t blink an eye about it.  In fact in some parts of Italy, doctors recommend a glass of red wine to help keep the blood pressure low in third trimester.

Isn’t it funny how different beliefs and perceptions can be about what is right and wrong in pregnancy?  There is much research to support both sides of the argument, and all we are talking about is ‘light drinking’…and so the jury is still out.  For me, the odd sip of alcohol here and there is OK and I certainly do not condone drinking heavily whilst pregnant where there are clear linkages with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

(**Waiting for all the critical comments to come flooding in….**)

11 thoughts on “No alcohol for you!”

  2. Surviving Infertility says:
    Reply

    I loved the costume on IG when I saw it 😂😂😂
    Oh my, I can only imagine some of the trolls that might comment here…i have no criticism to offer as far as the drinks go. I havent had a taste for it so I havent had even a sip, but ive heard plenty say wine is safe in moderation. Enjoy!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. EmilyMaine says:
    Reply

    We had a few weddings when Inwas pregnant with Monkey so I had a glass of champagne at each one. I was happy to have a little once I was past 20 weeks. With BeeGee I had none! I actually just didn’t feel like it so decided to just go with it. We had a wedding when I was 37 weeks but I just didn’t bother. I was never keen on the early stages of pregnancy though as that is when all the developmental stuff is happening. They had a thing about it on tv here and apparently it is not only heavy drinking that is the risk. The problem is that they can’t say how many drinks it takes to be at risk and also it is about timing. There are some weeks in the first trimester where major developmental stuff is occurring and if you even have a few that week then you are more likely to end up with a baby with FAS. The amount you are drinking sounds pretty minimal though so I wouldn’t be concerned. It was really interesting stuff though.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. notpregnantinrezza says:
    Reply

    I’m really sorry you got that reaction. I think it’s total rubbish that people think they can police other people’s bodies. Lots of people drink or don’t drink during pregnancy. Seems like the research is pretty inadequate on it but regardless it’s up to the person who is pregnant to decide. Ugh. I had a friend loudly comment when I drank lemon, lime and bitters in front of her which has a tiny amount of alcohol. It made me feel like a bad mother but she was totally in the wrong. I think pregnancy must bring out the sexist worst in random strangers.

    Liked by 1 person

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