Everyone knows that drinking alcohol while pregnant is an unhealthy, irresponsible decision (maybe this is too strict? I've read some doctors say a glass of wine is ok every once in a while). But what about when you're preparing your body for pregnancy?
Of course, alcohol isn't good for your body - not the type I drink, at least. I'm not a wine drinker, so I can't use the excuse that a glass with dinner is healthy for my heart. I'm not a beer drinker either (believe me, I've tried a lot of them.. not a fan). Nope, I like the liquor! Give me a mixed drink that doesn't have a strong alcohol taste, and I'm slurping it up. Shots are ok, too, but a drink like Captain and Coke is much more enjoyable for me.
I apparently acquired a reputation at work for being the "party girl," although I don't think it really fits me. I'm not one of those social butterflies who's out drinking and dancing every weekend. Anyway, this reputation led to me being designated the Happy Hour planner. Not a hard job at all, and I love the people I work with so hanging out, drinking and eating half-priced appetizers once a month is actually fun.
A problem emerges, however, when the Happy Hour planner wants to stop drinking and start eating healthier. First, if I'm in any social gathering and NOT drinking, someone always points it out and asks if I'm pregnant. Most excuses are not good enough to convince the person otherwise, which is pretty annoying. Second, most bars have pretty crappy food. Its definitely not what you'd want to eat if you're looking to lose weight and get in shape (yes, round is a shape, but not the one I'm going for).
So if I wasn't the planner, I'd just skip the monthly "after-work event," but I don't have that luxury. I'm thinking I might try to pass it on to someone else in the group, but I need to think of a good reason to do that. Maybe I want to give someone else the power to choose which bars we go to? Or maybe I'd like to give someone else the responsibility so that they can improve their planning skills?
For now, I'm drinking infrequently - maybe once a week - and not in excess (except for Valentine's Day, I'll admit.. we went a little crazy with the Captain). I know this isn't ideal, but I'm thinking its ok. My main concern is that I'll get pregnant before we really start trying (off birth control now, so we're trying to time everything perfectly to avoid the fertile days), and I will drink without knowing I'm pregnant. Even this scenario happens all the time, and the mom and baby are fine.
My conclusion? Over the next two months, I will enjoy myself within my own limits (after that, I'm saying goodbye to the Captain and his friends!).
Cheers!
Just found this while doing some research. I like the advice to only drink during that "time of the month" since you know you're not pregnant! :)
ReplyDelete"Because alcohol exposure can increase the risk of miscarriage and affect fetal development (fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS), it's important for women trying to get pregnant to not drink any alcoholic beverages at least a month before trying to conceive.
Alcohol affects your ovulation pattern because it affects different enzymes in the liver.
"I often tell my patients if they want a glass of wine or a margarita, to have it during their periods. But in the second half of the month, when they could conceive, not to drink at all," she says.
Men also should moderate their alcohol intake. "If they drink more than two drinks a day, they may make fewer sperm or make what I call 'sloppy swimmers,'" says Dr. Mazzullo. "The sperm is developed, but it doesn't get the job done."
Likewise, men and women trying to conceive should reduce their caffeine intake to fewer than two caffeinated beverages a day to avoid impairing sperm motility and female fertility."
--http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=2363
Good to know! I'm sharing this with my sister-in-law! Thanks, Jess <3
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