Alcohol

[Melanie3103]

Have u all given up ??

We’ve been trying for #2 for 3yrs, miscarried once (June2017).. obviously the minute we found out not a drop - but what about abstaining while ttc ??

And if so - the whole cycle or just certain days etc...

If i were to anstain the whole time i was trying - it would be over 3yrs (!)....

Thoughts??

Xx

 

[DeeDeeAbi]

I think there's a lot to be said for having a moderate amount when TTC! It helps you to relax for one. I think the more sacrifices you make, the more your brain stresses out. I tried abstaining for a couple of months and nothing- both times I've been drinking as normal when I found out. Lots of luck xx

 

[Pidgeridoo]

I don't abstain! I enjoy my wee beer on a Saturday night, gets me through the week sometimes lol Obviously the second I get a wisp on a test though I won't be touching a drop!

 

[millielaura]

Drink till it's pink first year of trying for my daughter I cancelled on so many things just because I didn't want to drink but didnt want people to see I wasn't drinking. Went to a nice cocktail place when we went to London for the first time and didnt drink a drop .Didnt even have her born till 3 years later now I wished I'd just had the bloody glass of wine or cocktail haha. Unless its a treatment cycle where youd want to be extra cautious about everyrhing then i think if its going to happen it will and the odd glass of wine wont make a difference you totally deserve it too xx

 

[xMillie]

I didn't drink for over 4 years years while ttc. And as we got closer to the 5 year make I finally decided, over Christmas, enough is enough I'm going to just enjoy myself because it's not happening.

During tww I don't cut back anymore. If I fancy a drink then I'm going to drink xx

 

[KatD]

I agree, "drink until it's pink" besides, after implantation there is 21days before you and baby will share a circulatory system.

 

[SugaryIris]

I drink like normal, but I’ve never been one to go out on big benders just a flew glasses here and there. I don’t want to put my life on hold whilst we are waiting!

 

[CDK500]

Before ttc I would regularly have a glass of wine or a beer after work. Even on the weekend I wouldn’t have more than a couple. But since November last year I decided to give it up altogether except for when AF came as I classed that as “safe” to drink. Still no bfp yet so not sure depriving myself was worth it!
I caved in and had 2 glasses of wine last night. Af not due until 15th but I had a horrible week in work and I just really felt I needed it.

Now I think I might change and let myself have the odd drink at the end of the week, it’s like others have said you can’t stop enjoying your life otherwise ttc is just going to get you down the longer you’re at it.

So now hoping that my small weekend tipple will make happier, reduce my stress and result in a BFP

 

[liz85]

Yep I have a drink aswell. I’m over two years trying I stopped lots alochol caffeine and I still don’t have my baby yet. So I have a glass of wine at the weekend and I have a coffee. Xxx

 

[Sunflower1]

I read that alcohol affects sperm count. Neither of us drink at all.

 

[MoominGirl]

Neither of us are big drinkers anyway but I don't see a problem with drinking in moderation. We've been at this so long now that I'm not denying myself anything anymore. We've never smoked, minimal caffeine, minimal alcohol and we're still not pregnant. We've tried to improve our diet generally which we're sticking with as we actually enjoy the healthier meals. For that reason, I feel it's ok to indulge from time to time.

 

[MrsBunny]

Agree with folk here, everything ttc is so stressful, a small drink will probably do more good than anything. Of course would abstain once +ve.

I've cut down a lot over the last year, partly related to ttc, but also just for general health. Still have the odd glass of wine now and then, tho I can feel the effect on my sleep quality. I tried a few alcohol free beers, and I think becks blue is the best substitute.

 

[angelkins]

I agree, "drink until it's pink" besides, after implantation there is 21days before you and baby will share a circulatory system.

Handy to know been stressing about the what ifs, need to relax a bit more

 

[Shepherdess]

another drink til it's pink lady here. when ttc baby 1 I was only 24 and out partying most weekends including being pretty drunk at a wedding at 7dpo. since having DD I never get drunk as I can't handle the hangovers with a toddler but I would have a little bottle of prosecco most Saturday night's or a homemade mojito. again once I got my BFP I stopped.

my thinking was always you could be ttc for years so try to enjoy yourself and relax

 

[Donna88]

I'm not giving it up, I'll try and not go crazy with drink but I don't want to give it up completely as one it raises questions from other people and two it could take years to conceive and I think making yourself miss out on things will only make that wait harder and more stressful.
I know it may be different once it comes down to time for us to start trying, but my plan is to try and take a more relaxed approach this time around - not tracking ovulation at least for the first few months.

 

[Surveyor]

I don't drink and I cut back on caffeine in order to prepare my body for TTC.

Reason for not drinking: I don't have many inhibitions to begin with so I don't really need alcohol socially, also my friends are used to me going though "clean living" phases at times so they don't give me a hard time about it. My wedding was even an alcohol-free event, long before I even started thinking about TTC. It's nice to spend my money on other things than alcohol, and giving explanations without lying or giving anything away isn't exactly a strenuous task. Building good habits takes time for me, so I am already working on it now.

I drink tea (1-2 cups a day) but no other caffeinated beverages, I used to drink 6-8 cups of coffee A DAY. I recently read an article about an alarming correlation between heightened MC risk and high caffeine consumption. So if you are concerned about alcohol, caffeine can sometimes be even more alarming in the earliest stages.

However if you are testing regularly, and it's unlikely that you would not notice an early pregnancy, then it's probably no problem to drink. So I totally understand people who choose to keep drinking until confirmed pregnant.

DH also doesn't drink, but he was never a drinker before.

Hope I don't sound like a crazy prude hehe...

-Sev

 

[Surveyor]

Moderate alcohol consumption does not affect a women's ability to get pregnant. Excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy increases the chances of miscarriage and stillbirth. It is advised to avoid excess alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

According to the American government's CDC, NO amount of alcohol during pregnancy is "safe". According to the NHS it is best to avoid all alcohol during pregnancy as experts do not know the "safe" limit.

As a healthcare professional I have seen the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome, I would personally never drink during pregnancy. Moderate alcohol consumption CAN cause FAS, one glass every-other week probably wont (minimal consumption is unlikely to harm fetus, but still increases risk of FAS). So alcohol consumption doesn’t even have to be excessive to cause issues.

Citation:

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/alcohol-use.html
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/alcohol-medicines-drugs-pregnant/?

-Sev

 

[MrsBunny]

@sev, cutting caffeine is definitely going to be harder for me than alcohol. I have reduced my intake - was also a 5+ a day habit. Now generally two (strong!) coffees in the morning, then decaf from there, but know I'll need to reduce further if/when I fall.

 

[Surveyor]

@sev, cutting caffeine is definitely going to be harder for me than alcohol. I have reduced my intake - was also a 5+ a day habit. Now generally two (strong!) coffees in the morning, then decaf from there, but know I'll need to reduce further if/when I fall.

It’s been a struggle! Had to ween myself because when I tried going cold-turkey I ended up becoming a verbally abusive monster. Really great now that I’ve gotten down to just drinking tea, my sleep is better and I stopped getting weird heart-rhythms. Have you noticed any differences after cutting down your cups of joe?

TMI: I really miss my morning poos though... Wasn’t so fun for my bowls to stop coffee-drinking. Guess I can amend that with more fiber in my diet though...

-Sev

 

[WolfMamma]

We still indulge in wine a few times a week. I'm not putting my life on hold for TTC I'm afraid!!

Once I get my BFP, all booze stops.... for me anyway!