There are often alcohol related flamewars on pregnancy boards between US women and UK/European women. The US women are usually whole-hog teetotaling "YOU ARE DAMAGING YOUR BABY!!!" types, with the UK/Euro more, "You're so fucking uptight. Check what OUR government suggests as a reasonable amount. PS, STFU."

At the wedding we went to in October, one of the bridesmaids was in the early stages of pregnancy. She wasn't showing nearly as much as I was. Her husband was a groomsman in the wedding, too. When a waitress brought around a tray of champagne for the toasts, I took a flute because--hey, a few sips wasn't going to hurt.

The groomsman and his wife were standing right beside me and he said loudly, "Oh, NO! She (his wife) can't have any! She's pregnant!" While I'm standing RIGHT there with my belly sticking out and a champagne flute in my hand.

Jilli, Jeeves and I are sending vibes to you and Beastie.

The groomsman and his wife were standing right beside me and he said loudly, "Oh, NO! She (his wife) can't have any! She's pregnant!"

Jeez. Hadn't these people heard the of the words, "no, thank you?" Also, if my SO told someone else--loudly and in public--that I wasn't allowed to do x, y, or z, he'd be picking his teeth out of his lower GI tract.

A drink of wine a week? Not even noticeable.

That's what I've heard.

The whole growing list of things that people can't have during pregnancy amazes and frightens me. Either the fact anyone got born healthy before 2000 is a miracle, or people are being overcautious because you don't want to be the *one* person who killed or maimed her baby by eating a slice of baloney and sipping a beer. (Which, obviously, you don't, and I'm sure if/when I have a kid, I'll be as paranoid as anyone else.)

It looks like hugs for meara and Jilli are appropriate.

Yeah, I'm fine with it. There were just way too many differences

Man, you are SERIOUS about your love of lamb. (the roasted kind)

t snuggles billytea

I would rather have a root canal, a broken leg, or give birth sans drugs than have a UTI. And I'm not exaggerating.

I'm with you there. In recent years I have been able to head them off by drowning them out at the first hint. I'm as fond of antibiotics as I am of the UTI so I drink massive amounts of water and take lots of Vit C.

I personally didn't drink a sip of either wine or caffeine when I was pregnant. No, I didn't think small amounts were an issue. I love love love my wine and my coffee. I just found it easier for me to eliminate it as an option. Other women are better at moderation than me. I did find myself in toasting situations and took a glass. Toasted then handed the glass off to someone else.

Billytea, you sound all sensible and stuff. Daughters should prepare to be wooed and wowed in the new year.

Life distraction has been such that it has taken 45 minutes to write this post!

{{Jilli}} Beast~ma for you sweety.

Also, if my SO told someone else--loudly and in public--that I wasn't allowed to do x, y, or z, he'd be picking his teeth out of his lower GI tract.

Yes, this. I was thinking that if this were my SO I'd be downing shots behind his back.

Juice:

Pictures have been taken but are now trapped on a secure digital card in Drew's camera.

Taps toe. It's already 6am, and where are the pictures?

Man, you are SERIOUS about your love of lamb. (the roasted kind)

Damn straight. I have standards above which I will not go!

Vibing for the Beastie, and looking forward to the new season of the Wally Report.

I saw a lot of kids with FAS when I was volunteering at the orphanage in Romania. It's sad, but it wasn't a couple glasses of wine that got them there.

I don't really have much more to add to the topic, other than my doctor (the embassy doctor) kept offering me alcoholic drinks, and his wife would gasp and say "J! She's pregnant!" She also made the lemon face when I bought two bottles of wine for cooking.

I thought about telling her that I don't really drink even when I'm not knocked up, but she wouldn't have believed me.