Remember gentlemen, it’s not just France we are fighting for, it’s Champagne!
~ Winston Churchill, WWI
In this entry, I get into a little bit of hot water with some people.
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I am not much of a drinker, even if my constant allusions to drinking may lead you to believe the contrary. I enjoy wine and I also enjoy hard liquor; and beer is near and dear to my heart as well. However, I seldom drink more than one drink per sitting –sometimes two, if I feel like indulging.
Yes, I have had my fair share of being three sheets to the wind and I’ve had some dates with the porcelain god as well. But in my thirties, those not-as-halcyon-as-movies-depict-them days just don’t seem to happen as often, the occasional sangria detour be damned (it is honestly not my fault that I happen to know a Spaniard who knows her mixology like a geek knows his quadratic formula, you know).
Anyway. As I am well aware you know by now, most doctors –especially in the United States– do not feel that ANY amount of alcohol is a safe amount during pregnancy. You only have to perform an elementary Google search to realize that study after study tackles anything from moderate to light drinking as the culprit of horrible, unsavory things happening to babies.
And then there are these two lovely, charming doctors who have restored my iatric faith –at least for the time being. They write a pretty compelling case for why it’s not a horrible thing for a pregnant woman to drink an occasional drink. Note that I did not say “drink in moderation”, because seriously: a drink a day may sound like relatively little to anyone, but when was the last time you had one drink every single day?
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If you’re not a drinker or a drinker-during-pregnancy, I’m sure you’re thinking I’m trying to rationalize my soon-to-follow confession.
If you’re a drinker, please read thoroughly and do not overdo it. And if you’re going to light candles at my shrine, I prefer lavender colored votives.
But all I would like to say is this: there is nothing lovelier than one (small) glass of good* champagne/sparkling wine to celebrate life and happy times and family and nothing in particular.
And now you know, and may commence to judge.
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*And by good champagne/sparkling wine, I mean something that does not advertise on TV and possibly cost more than $15. In these days where you can get bargain everything, it’s snootily refreshing to know that champagne refuses to compromise.
A Daily Dose of Zen Sarcasm! 
I too say a very occasional drink should not do any harm.
You take care.
Waving at you from New York
You’ll get no judgment from me!
Considering the fact that there are studies out there that are complete opposites of each other, which ones should anyone believe in?
That being said, it’s obvious that some things are bad. Having the occasional drink is okay in my opinion. What gets me upset are smokers who have absolutely no concern for the fact that they are risking damage to their children, whether born or unborn. I know smoking is an addiction and a very difficult habit to break. In that case, people should practice birth control until they break the habit.
Of course the fact that I am allergic to cigarette smoke might also be a factor in why it gets me so upset. I don’t want any other child to suffer as I do.
No judgement from me, my friend
having worked with reproductive health experts in my previous job, i can tell you with complete confidence that the occasional drink is ok while pregnant.
and having worked with someone who drank the occasional drink and gave birth to a perfect baby girl last year, i can honestly say that i’ve seen the results myself.