Pregnancy and alcohol

Women across the world often ask these questions: can I drink alcohol if I am trying to conceive a child? Can I drink alcohol if I'm pregnant?

The answers they receive vary from country to country and culture to culture.

I truly believe that alcohol is so FORBIDDEN to pregnant women in the United States because of our fear of alcohol (prohibition anyone?). In many countries across the world, pregnant women are told they can enjoy a light amount of alcohol during pregnancy.
So why not here?

Well firstly, it is easier to tell people NO ALCOHOL AT ALL than to explain what moderation means. Some people would take moderation as meaning a bottle of wine and end up suing the surgeon general for misleading them when they miscarry or have a child with special needs. We are a sue happy nation.
Alcohol is still a heavily regulated vice with MANY counties in states that refuse to sell anything stronger then beer. Many states require a state approved store to sell alcohol (often called ABC stores). This is done to control consumption of alcohol and regulate access to it.

Starting to see a pattern? I certainly do.

There is ZERO conclusive scientific evidence that proves light to moderate drinking is harmful. This is because it is considered unethical to expose pregnant women to any substances. Scientists are uncertain about the effects of many things on pregnant women because of this stipulation. Therefore, the information we have comes from surveys and from those who have over indulged during their pregnancy. It has yet to be proven that women cannot enjoy 1-2 glasses of wine or a few beers during the week for fear of abnormalities being created in the fetus during gestation.

The only way to conclusively discover correlations between alcohol consumption and birth defects/loss of the fetus is to conduct blood alchol level tests on a daily basis then track the development of the child during the first five years of life. This scientific analysis has not been done yet. When (and if) it does, we will have a better concept of what alchol does to development.

My final point is that every person absorbs alcohol differently. What 1 glass of wine does to me and what it does to you are two different things. This is the last reason as to why this "research" on light alcohol usage during conception and pregnancy is inconclusive.
blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/th...
www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-do/data...

Welcome!

So among the sea of endless blogs, why is this one unique?

I don't have a legitimate answer for you. I can tell you that I am a highly intelligent female that plans on tackling topics relevant to women trying to conceive a child, first time mothers, and new mothers. I will analyze points of interest from an intellectual and sociological stand point (such as my upcoming post on alcohol).

However, my blog won't be limited to intellectual conversation. As a woman trying to conceive my first child, I plan on chronicling my path to new motherhood and blogging about the subsequent challenges that are presented.


What's going on in our lives right now:

• I am about to end my first year as a teacher. This year has not been without it's significant challenges and stress. I didn't realize all of the petty crap a teacher has to deal with, especially a teacher whose students are required to take a high-stakes standardized test. Oh, I might want to mention that I also teach at in an impoverished community that is 99.9% African American. I was also the head softball coach until I was "relieved" from duty after producing the only winning season in school history. Your guess as to why I was relieved is as good as mine...

• As much as I love and adore my students, I am beginning to consider transferring to another school. If I am not valued for my contributions to the school community, then why should I stay? I often feel as if the administration is purposefully trying to push me out of my position so they can make way for someone else. If that is what they want, then that is what they will get. I refuse to be someone's punching bag!

• Husband found out that he will be relieved of his position effective July 1st. So he is desperately trying to find new employment. In this wretched economy, particularly in our area, it will be a challenge.

Alright onto the main topic:
This is our second cycle trying to conceive (TTC) and I have yet to ovulate. I'm beginning to wonder if I will this cycle?! Hopefully my ovulation prediction kit will identify the LH surge that precedes actual ovulation. We're trying to catch an egg this month!! A lot of women put unnecessary stress upon themselves during this process by constantly obsessing and not utilizing some sort of outlet. If you're stressing, how can you expect success? I understand why the stress exists, you have a deep desire that is unexplainable to have a child. It's the instinct that ensures the propagation of our species! However, teenagers and women who are unprepared to have children get pregnant easily because they are having sex for pure enjoyment.

So that's why my husband and I are focusing on. Pure physical enjoyment... and lots of it. Maybe we will successfully conceive this month, maybe not. Maybe I will turn into an obsessed woman on the hunt for pregnancy after we "fail" for a year straight!! We'll see...