https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:21:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327953 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 21:54:24 +0000 pastemoo 2327953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: i lobe you for that first post. Thank you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327941 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 21:35:21 +0000 BlueWolverine 2327941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>But then, on the other side, there's research like this: <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2015/10/pregnant_women_should_not_drink_at_all_says_american_academy_of_pediatrics.html?wpsrc=sh_all_dt_tw_top" rel="nofollow">http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2015/10/pregnant_women_should_not_drink_at_all_says_american_academy_of_pediatrics.html?wpsrc=sh_all_dt_tw_top</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327297 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 14:15:54 +0000 mamimami 2327297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meredithNYC: I'm with you. In fact, it seems like a straw man to me. The question is not whether I'm willing to risk my child's health so I can DRANK, but whether any risk exists in the first place. If I am drinking at such a moderate level that the risk does not exist, it's not a question of selfishness or unselfishness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327242 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 13:31:05 +0000 rachiecakes 2327242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had no idea what the TWW was before HB (I joined when I was 9 months pregnant). I didn't understand charting.<br /> I drank a bottle of champagne and enjoyed a weekend in the steam room &amp; hot tub at a spa for my best friend's 30th birthday before finding out a week later I was pregnant. </p> <p>@Adira: Totally agree that when you know better you do better. Things have changed over time. I actually had a nurse in the hospital that propped newborn J on his side, another nurse came in and yelled at me "back is best" and I told her I didn't touch him, the other nurse did. Lol.</p> <p>Once I knew I was pregnant I followed my doctor's suggestions, to take a prenatal and for foods/drink; no alcohol, no unpasteurized milk/cheeses. If she had said anything else, I would've avoided that, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327226 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 13:19:37 +0000 Adira 2327226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess I thought this was the AAP stance already, but okay.</p> <p>Like everything, as time goes on, we learn new things and understand old things better and so recommendations change. When my mom was pregnant with me, there weren't restrictions on lunch meat or how much caffeine she could have, and obviously most people turned out just fine! But now we know there's a chance that those things could harm a fetus, so there are recommendations about what we shouldn't eat and how much caffeine is okay, and now how much alcohol is safe (none apparently). When I told my mom about all the limits there are on pregnant women now that there weren't when she was having babies, she just said "Phew! I'm glad I'm done having kids! I wouldn't be able to manage it now." Things change. Such is life. It's like how car seat technology has changed and the recommendations for rear-facing have changed. Part of parenting is figuring out what recommendations are really important to you and your family and what you can and can't do to keep your children safe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327218 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 13:17:33 +0000 Truth Bombs 2327218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meredithNYC: Meh, just my personality I guess. Fair enough to accuse me of getting unnecessarily worked up over it. Whether or not another pregnant woman drinks has literally no effect on me. Just someting I have a strong opinion on I guess. I'm well aware none of my opinions here will change anyone elses actions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327212 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 13:13:45 +0000 Truth Bombs 2327212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Don't worry, you won't hurt my feelings :happy: My employer certainly benefits from me being caffeinated. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327211 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 13:10:24 +0000 Foodnerd81 2327211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: I would argue that my toddler and my husband benefit from me having caffeine, especially when my 2 year old refuses to sleep through the night occasionally.</p> <p>Eta but yes, I agree no one but the person having a small drink benefits from it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327209 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 13:08:57 +0000 Foodnerd81 2327209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: I hope this doesn't come across like I'm just picking on you- just trying to explain from the other side why this annoys me. </p> <p>Like @meredithNYC: points out, no one is perfect when it comes to every single guideline they issue to pregnant women. With my first pregnancy, I literally had a crying breakdown over taking Tylenol for a migraine- there's just so much crap out there saying what we should and should not do while we are pregnant. Obviously Tylenol isn't a great example because it is for health, but the same is true for so many things. I drink coffee- could I be messing up my baby's heart? I follow the dumb lunch meat rule and heat it up, but don't always make sure it's actually steaming. I don't like the taste, but some women have a diet coke now and then- what is the artificial sweetener doing to her baby? So to me, this feels like it's pointing fingers at pregnant women as being selfish for wanting something for themselves instead of only thinking about the baby 24/7. </p> <p>No, drinking any alcohol isn't necessary. But having a very small glass of something you really like and feeling a little bit more like yourself can feel pretty good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327208 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 13:08:06 +0000 meredithNYC 2327208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: I guess I just wonder why your delivery is often so strong. I tend to avoid caffeine during pregnancy, but I don't need to get my panties in a twist (to borrow your phrase) over those who don't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327202 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 13:04:13 +0000 Truth Bombs 2327202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meredithNYC: Since your comment was obviously directed at me, I'll respond. Yes, drinking alcohol in pregnancy is selfish, by the simple fact that no one benefits except the pregnant woman. Having caffeine in pregnancy is also selfish. I'm not willing to give up caffeine, I've researched and feel confident that as long as I stay within a certain limit it's unlikely to have a negative effect on my baby. But obviously, I can't know that FOR SURE and skipping caffeine all together would be the safest option. If someone calls me selfish for that, they are totally correct, no one else benefits from the choice but me. But if they call me selfish, I'm not going to get my panties in a wad over it, because I'm confident in the choice I made. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327198 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 13:03:42 +0000 Maysprout 2327198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: I gave a few reasons.<br /> The two I worry about when these types of things come out is<br /> 1. Many states do have laws about drug use in expectant mothers. 2. Scientific accuracy </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327185 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:54:11 +0000 meredithNYC 2327185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>lol at some commenters acting like giving up alcohol is just too much for "some" (read: selfish) women to give up. I assume such people adhere to the letter of the law regarding EVERY piece of advice/guideline given to pregnant women. Oh to be so perfect! Such an inspiration. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327184 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:53:34 +0000 Truth Bombs 2327184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsKoala: Sorry, I didn't mean to sound defensive. I don't work for the AAP, I have no reason to be defensive, just trying to understand the other side. I think we can both agree that in general use the term fearmongering has a negative connotation. And I just can't find a negative to discouraging pregnant women from drinking with the goal of protecting their babies. It's not like the AAP has the ability to make this law and force women to follow the recommendation. If the opinion makes a woman feel badly about her choices, she can change her behavior. If she feels cofident that moderate drinking in pregnancy is no risk to her baby, then these articles shouldn't make her feel badly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327181 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:51:42 +0000 catomd00 2327181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: I want to find something! ;) I think the issue people are having with it might be that it kind of came out of the blue as a new recommendation, but it's just more of the same only now they're saying don't drink if there's a possibility you might become pregnant, which honestly just seems a bit much. Technically that means no woman of childbearing age having sex protected or otherwise should drink bc there's always a chance of becoming pregnant. It just doesn't really sit well with me. I think there's a really fine line between helpful recommendations that really matter and recommendations feeing controlling or even recommendation fatigue in general. I mean how manypre babies are we really protecting from harm with the new recommendation? I'm a data person so I have a natural inclination to want people to answer those questions for me. Is this recommendation really going to move the needle? I think it's fine to have it but at the end of the day, the people it's intended most for probably aren't paying attention. Let's put dollars into identifying those really at risk and intervening. </p> <p>I really do wonder the motivation behind the new recommendation because I really only see it as a cover our asses policy. I'm just curious what sparked it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327177 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:49:58 +0000 pwnstar 2327177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: No worries! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327167 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:44:04 +0000 Maysprout 2327167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pwnstar: I guess I was putting words in your mouth. But while its a carcinogen, the studies that I saw that look at ethanol and acetaldehyde seperately havent seen the same type of fetal effects from acetaldehyde as they do from ethanol. So that's why I assumed you just wrote it out wrong since its present in lots of food, it'd be bad if it had a sig impact on fetal development. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327139 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:30:17 +0000 Truth Bombs 2327139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: I don't disagree with you. I really was legitimately asking for someone to give me a reasonable motivation for why they would push THIS point, other than protecting babies against possible harm. And so far, no one has been able to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe/page/2#post-2327134 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:26:23 +0000 catomd00 2327134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: the AAP is not free from politics or corruption. I don't know what the motivation with this specific case could Potentially be, but I think understanding how the AAP works and where money comes from is important. I wouldn't say I take their recommendations with a grain of salt, but having dealt with similar organizations going through decision making processes like these recommendations, I have a critical eye always towards the organizations and motivations behind why they do what they do. I think it's more helpful to be an educated and critical consumer of research (at the source level going back to studies themselves) but I know the aap and the like can be helpful in creating guidelines for those who aren't fortunate enough to be able to be an educated consumer of literature for whatever reason. At the end of the day, aap recommendations should be just one of many tools that we use to make decisions, among reading literature and consulting with our physicians. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe#post-2327133 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:26:07 +0000 MrsKoala 2327133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: In my opinion, fearmongering is used correctly according to the definition (using fear as a tactic to achieve a specific end). By saying, absolutely no amount of alcohol is safe and can lead to FASDs, they are certainly inciting fear to achieve a specific end and that is the lowering the amount of pregnant women who drink. You don't really need to be so defensive about my use of the word. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe#post-2327132 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:25:34 +0000 pwnstar 2327132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: I don't think I mentioned cancer, unless you are construing teratogenic to mean carcinogenic? (A teratogen is any agent that can disturb the development of an embryo/fetus, which could certainly include a carcinogen.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe#post-2327122 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:21:54 +0000 Truth Bombs 2327122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsKoala: So... they are "fearmongering" to protect unborn babies? Because there is literally no one else who benefits from a pregnant woman not drinking. It's not like when anti vaxxers claim the AAP is fearmongering people to vaccinate to benefit Pharmaceutical companies (also a ridiculous argument in my opinion, but at least they have a beneficiary). So, I just don't get people being upset over these recommendations. If you think drinking during pregnancy is fine, it's your body, so go ahead. But, the AAP is being cautious to protect against preventable negative effects on babies, call me crazy but I can't find any fault in taking that stance. Again, unless a woman is a legitimate alcoholic who is going through withdrawal, I personally just don't see how it's such a huge sacrifice to skip the glass of wine. Obviously others feel like it is too much to be asked to give it up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe#post-2327111 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:15:58 +0000 Maysprout 2327111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pwnstar: Right. Theres so much variation in individuals it wouldn't be fair to give a blanket alcohol is safe, but that can be said for lots of things. </p> <p>As for acetaldehyde causing cancer, that seems to be the case in large doses, but it's present in milk and yogurt and fruits and breads. IVe never heard of a recommendation to avoid foods with acetaldehyde during pregnancy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe#post-2327096 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:09:21 +0000 pwnstar 2327096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsKoala: That is exactly what the LS article states:</p> <p>"One of the reasons for releasing the report, titled "Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders," is because some recent research has been interpreted as suggesting that lower levels of alcohol use might be safe during pregnancy, said Dr. Janet F. Williams, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and one of the report's lead authors. </p> <p>But the pediatricians' group doesn't agree with this research interpretation, and says there's more evidence pointing to alcohol's dangers in pregnancy.</p> <p>In fact, there's more than 30 years of research that clearly connects alcohol use during pregnancy with birth defects, Williams said. And as detection methods become increasingly more sensitive, recent studies have revealed the subtle effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, she said.</p> <p>"Prenatal exposure to alcohol is the leading preventable cause of birth defects and developmental disabilities," Williams said. These birth defects may affect the heart, kidneys or bones, as well as hearing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</p> <p>Mothers who consume alcohol during pregnancy can put the fetus at risk of developing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, an umbrella term for a group of conditions that can cause physical, behavioral and learning problems in a child." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe#post-2327080 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 12:04:00 +0000 MrsKoala 2327080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: I'd imagine that they believe that some of the articles that have come out about a more liberal attitude towards drinking while pregnant might induce someone to believe that drinking is okay and they want to counter this idea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe#post-2327069 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 11:59:45 +0000 Modern Daisy 2327069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought this study was useless. We already know large amounts of alcohol can have a negative effect. Like caffeine, what is way more important and relevant is how MUCH typically results in negative effects. They still don't know, so the recommendation hasn't changed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe#post-2327029 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 11:37:45 +0000 Truth Bombs 2327029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsKoala: Just out of curiosity, what is it that you think is the AAP's motivation to "fearmonger" women out of drinking alcohol during pregnancy? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe#post-2326998 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 11:25:30 +0000 MrsKoala 2326998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Fearmongering is all I see. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe#post-2326921 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 10:39:57 +0000 erinbaderin 2326921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't find it in either of the two links you shared but I'm almost certain that when I read an article about this yesterday it said that while it is a new report, it is not based on any new studies or research. Basically they're just putting out a report reiterating their position. </p> <p>Yeah, here: "The report based its findings on the “large and growing body of research” that exists and did not include new original research." <a href="http://www.thestar.com/life/2015/10/19/no-amount-of-drinking-is-safe-during-pregnancy-new-report-warns.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.thestar.com/life/2015/10/19/no-amount-of-drinking-is-safe-during-pregnancy-new-report-warns.html</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/aap-no-amount-of-alcohol-is-safe#post-2326890 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 10:24:50 +0000 JoJoGirl 2326890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think "pre-conception drinking" is a tough call. Our (HB) version means in the 8-10 days between O and testing. Many women wait what, 2 weeks after a missed period before even testing - so they could very well mean drinking when you're 8 weeks pregnant. I agree with others that before there's a shared blood supply, risk is nil, especially since in the first week following conception the thing is just traveling down toward your uterus and isn't even ATTACHED to you yet! As long as you REALLY know when you conceived, I'd still feel comfortable drinking during a TWW. </p>