I see so many studies with insane results, why don't people think its any better to drink when pregnant, than smoking? It seems fairly simple to me, what you ingest, so does your baby. Do you really even want to take that chance? :mad:

Many people don't care. Because they don't see the internal damage they don't feel its really bad to "just have one glass" or "one small puff". They think the media is making it worse than it is or lying.

I had two friends who were due within a week of each other. One stopped smoking and drinking and limited her time around people who smoked to once a week to play darts on our league team, the other smoked and drank like she normally did and not only played once a week on the league team but hung out at the bar 4/5 days a week. The one who quit with her baby (as she had done with her first child) had a healthy 8lb 5oz boy who was in perfect condition. The other girl had her baby 3 weeks early and she was underweight even for a premi. She also has asthma and low lung capacity. And thats what I know of since haven't seen her in some time. The lady who quits kids is happy and healthy, we just saw him the other night.

Now I do afew that sometimes the media can make a mountain out of a mole hill, but seriously this is an unborn child's health we are talking about. It makes me wonder why such non-tactful people are given the ability to reproduce, when some sane people still can not. I have also seen the difference between those that cut back, quit and didn't - it is truly amazing sometimes, I wish more people could get off their high horses and stop thinking about only themselves.

It's really amazing what the media can do to some people - no matter what the story may be. Whether it's violence, a dramatic story, or a case study like this - they'll push it as far as they can to the point that some people will freak.

But sometimes getting people to go crazy about it is a good thing - and in this case, getting people to really think about this kind of thing is good - who in their right frame of mind would do such a thing...I'd carry on but well - nevermind.

I'm sorry but I do think that one glass of wine in a week is ok. It is women who abuse alcohol that are asking for trouble, not the ones who have just a glass at Christmas.

Throughout my pregnancy I had one, half glass of wine, mixed with Sprite. I was not willing to take a risk myself, I just wanted something to toast with. However I will not belittle a woman who does have a glass.

Heck, my OB recommended I have a glass in a warm glass, with candle light and soft music when I went into preterm labour. I did everything but drink the wine, and ultimately the contractions stopped-but even doctors know that a small amount is not going to cause fetal alcohol effects.

The trouble is that some women don't understand that one glass really does mean one glass. They will use it as an excuse to go overboard, and so a draconian no alcohol policy is pushed.

Agreed to a point, with all the risk factors, why even take that chance for a toast? You can easily toast with something non-alcoholic, I know I did News Years Eve of 01, I was pregnant, and at the time at work, it was apple cider, not really good, but better than taking a chance. I am not going to bash anyone for their thoughts, I just wish more people would be less selfish (the ones that abuse it that is).

Because I don't think that half a unit of alcohol throughout a nine month period is a risk. Especially when it's not first trimester. Only in America is such a stance against alcohol taken. All around the world, the advise is that 1 drink, very occasionally is fine. Studies have been done that show at what level of intake harm starts to occur and the advised levels are far below that.

I researched the point of view in many more places than just America before I partook of even my half unit of wine and am comfortable that it was not a risk, and did no harm.

Isn't it funny how times change? I smoked with both right up to and durning labor in the hospital for pete's sake! There were no risk factors really at that time (nearly thirty years ago)....Would I continue to smoke (or drink) while pregnant now? NO WAY! I'd be too scared and like mentioned wouldn't take any risk. But get this, our daughter-in-law did not quit smoking while pregnant (yeah, pissed us off), but our daughter did stopped smoking, any drinking, caffeine, any and everything she did the 'right' way. And of course, daughter-in-law uneventful pregnancy and birth, our poor daughter horrible pregnancy and birth...Ain't life a kick?:)

There is a big difference between having a glass of wine before labor, when most of what you drink isn't going to make it into your bloodstream or the baby's, and every day/week while pregnant and the baby is still forming. Yes it might not hurt, but with the amount of multiplying the chance of a genetic abnormality is increased. Adding something that has been proven to increase the chances of something bad happening is silly to me.

Some people are just really stupid, and don't want to accept the reality of the situation. They think people are just "lying" to them, to deny the pleasure they have from drinking or smoking.

The truth however, is deadly serious. People can't keep running from it, unless they want the situations to worsen.

I think that something else should be mentioned here, many don't drink enough water when they are pregnant, but feel that drinking alcohol is better. Are these people dense or something? Makes me shake my head, a lot.

There's a lot of stupid things that people do which really make me wonder.

Everyone is born with a brain I thought. Why not try to use it more often?

The amount of idiots out there is disgusting. Hopefully my children won't grow up like that. Heck, i'll make sure they don't!