You will probably never find a doctor that is OK with a pregnant woman having any alcohol at all. At least not in the US. Back to that in a minute.

The odd thing is, most doctors, no the other hand will tell you “don’t worry” if you did happen to have a drink or 2 (or more) before you found out you were pregnant. It’s more like the “guilt of drinking” will cause birth defects more that the booze.

No, I am not advocating drinking during pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)–a well-proven condition– is the name given to a set of specific problems that are found in children those whose mothers were drinking heavily during pregnancy. But That is about heavy drinking–how much is heavy? And what affects some women and babies and not others? The upshot is “Not all women who drink during pregnancy will harm their child but the only way to be sure is not to drink at all.”

But what if you have? I remember my husband and I had a few tequila Fridays in the early months of my pregnancy (it was a crazy time in the late 90’s, we were working in Seattle before the dot com bust, you know, nerd party). Doc said don’t worry, I didn’t listen and panicked at every hic for 2 years. Nine years, my child is perfectly normal, but I do wonder when he sticks Cocoa Puffs up his nose or leave chocolate on my dashboard just “to see what would happen”.

I’ve known several people that had a drink here and there during there pregnancies. And in most of the world, and in the US until the late 60’s, having a social drink during pregnancy is/was OK. I’ve also seen that European women I know drink lightly, only wine, and with a meal. And I will admit, my second pregnancy was planned so no booze…except one glass of champagne while 6 months pregnant on New Year’s Eve 1999. In my defense, I needed something to calm my nerves for when the utility plants failed and planes fell out of the sky. Imagine my disapp…I mean relief.

Have you had a drink in your pregnancy? How do you feel about it? What do other people tell you?