may be pregnant

[roadrunner019]

hey everyone. i may possibly be pregnant but i was wondering a few things. I heard pregnant people arent supposed to drink and some other stuff. Well I never get drunk but every once in a while i drink a mudslide or margarita or something just if it tastes good. Also I am a runner and I run bike or swim nearly every day. Is this okay to do if you may be pregnant?? I mean can i still run or drink a mudslide or should i wait to find out to make sure im not pregnant?

Thanks

 

[chrislife]

Alcohol is a no-no. It goes through the placenta in higher concentration than it goes into your own bloodstream, so baby gets intoxicated even when you don't feel the effects.

Exercise is good, and swimming is very highly recommended during pregnancy. Biking is probably good and safe if you're already conditioned to that. I'd check with the doctor about running, because it can give the body a pretty strong jostling. Jogging I'd stay away from entirely.

You might want to check out http://www.babycenter.com for lots and lots of information, discussion, etc about pregnancy, parenting, and family life. When I was pregnant with my son, I found answers to everything there!

How far along do you think you might be? Have you take a home test? If you can't afford a test, you can get one free at a crisis pregnancy center if there's one in your community. (Look in the yellow pages under "abortion alternatives.") I would strongly recommend against going to any place like Planned Parenthood, though. I know several people they tried to force into abortions against their will.

I hope everything goes well for you!
God bless you.
---Christina

 

[CarrieAg93]

No alcohol. No smoking. No hot tubs. Try to limit the caffeine. As far as exercise goes anything that you were doing prior to getting pregnant is fine, esp. in the early stages. Don't start anything new. If you haven't seen an OB yet, you might want to start taking a multi-vitamin and make sure you drink plenty of milk. Good luck.

 

[Leanna]

No Alcohol, because of FAS (fetal alcohol symdrome) which is really bad. Plus what the others said....

 

[EmSchmem]

Alcohol is a no-no. It goes through the placenta in higher concentration than it goes into your own bloodstream, so baby gets intoxicated even when you don't feel the effects.

Exercise is good, and swimming is very highly recommended during pregnancy. Biking is probably good and safe if you're already conditioned to that. I'd check with the doctor about running, because it can give the body a pretty strong jostling. Jogging I'd stay away from entirely.

You might want to check out http://www.babycenter.com for lots and lots of information, discussion, etc about pregnancy, parenting, and family life. When I was pregnant with my son, I found answers to everything there!

How far along do you think you might be? Have you take a home test? If you can't afford a test, you can get one free at a crisis pregnancy center if there's one in your community. (Look in the yellow pages under "abortion alternatives.") I would strongly recommend against going to any place like Planned Parenthood, though. I know several people they tried to force into abortions against their will.

I hope everything goes well for you!
God bless you.
---Christina

Don't bother with the phone book. It's a waste of time! I work for the hotline that refers women to the centers nationwide. 95% of the centers only list our phone number so here it is... 800 395 HELP or just go to www.optionline.org and click on find a center. Even if you CAN afford a test I strongly suggest taking one in a center. We are still working on our totals on this but it is looking like about 20% of our total calls are from woemn who took home pregnancy tests and got unclear results.
Also basically if it is still comfortable for you, go ahead and keep running BUT you may want to avoid it all together in this heat and you will need to almost double your water intake. As far as the drinks, avoid it for now then talk to your doctor. They may be fine with you having the occassional drink. Mine is though I really don't drink very often anyway.

 

[BeachBlonde]

FAS is a disorder caused by alcohol in the mothers system.One mixed drink can make your baby drunk.Do you understand that?
A glass of wine sometimes in the last trimester is acceptable,maybe once or twice but most OBGYN's tell you this clearly: Alcohol and Pregnancy don't mix.

 

[Chajara]

If it's just the mixed drinks that you like for the taste, try finding something else that tastes similar or just order it virgin. If you're craving a drink and absolutely must have one, have someone else order it and then take a sip. Savor it, enjoy it, and then don't have anymore, let the other person have the rest. That really ought to be enough just to take care of the craving so it's not driving you up the wall (I know all about ridiculous cravings, I get them from PMS sometimes)

 

[CrystalBrooke]

absolutly no alcohol...im no expert on pregnancy, but i do know that's a definate no no. dont smoke either, or be around someone who it, no hot tubs, and stay away from diet drinks and nutrisweet (sp?). exercise is great, i know i need to walk more.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

hey everyone. i may possibly be pregnant but i was wondering a few things. I heard pregnant people arent supposed to drink and some other stuff. Well I never get drunk but every once in a while i drink a mudslide or margarita or something just if it tastes good. Also I am a runner and I run bike or swim nearly every day. Is this okay to do if you may be pregnant?? I mean can i still run or drink a mudslide or should i wait to find out to make sure im not pregnant?

Thanks

You can have a drink every now and then-- it is fine. I would urge against drinking everyday or more than one drink-- but a drink every now and then is just fine. Biking and swimming are fine- and even beneficial! I had a friend who biked to work through her eight month of pregnancy. Just use your body as a guide and if you are in pain or struggling-- then ease up a bit on your acivities.

 

[kayd1966]

You can have a drink every now and then-- it is fine. I would urge against drinking everyday or more than one drink-- but a drink every now and then is just fine. Biking and swimming are fine- and even beneficial! I had a friend who biked to work through her eight month of pregnancy. Just use your body as a guide and if you are in pain or struggling-- then ease up a bit on your acivities.

Alcohol is a NO NO!!!

I wouldn't drink at all if I were you...everyone's body is different and you will never know how much of that alcohol is being transfered to your child. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is 100% preventable...NO drinking while preganant is the cure. PLEASE check out these sites before you drink:

http://www.nofas.org/
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/fas.html
http://www.worldprofit.com/mafas.htm


Exercising is great for you...do it as long as you feel comfortable doing it or until your Dr says to stop. Check with your Dr to make sure its OK for you.

 

[CrystalBrooke]

You can have a drink every now and then-- it is fine. I would urge against drinking everyday or more than one drink-- but a drink every now and then is just fine. Biking and swimming are fine- and even beneficial! I had a friend who biked to work through her eight month of pregnancy. Just use your body as a guide and if you are in pain or struggling-- then ease up a bit on your acivities.

im apalled...why would you want her to do that to her baby!? no alcohol whatsoever! i dont believe that giving up drinking should be so hard if you're planning on being a good mother and putting your baby's needs ahead of your wants!

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

im apalled...why would you want her to do that to her baby!? no alcohol whatsoever! i dont believe that giving up drinking should be so hard if you're planning on being a good mother and putting your baby's needs ahead of your wants!

Because the science behind total abstinence just isn't there. http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/3542.html#0 Drinking a glass of red wine everyday for example- can actually be a good thing--with many health benefits... I'm not advocating that any woman go out and get sloshed or even drink more than one occassional drink... Temperance is a virtue not of complete abstinence, but of prudent moderation.

Grown up solutions to problems are very rarely black and white or cut and dry-- but rather require an approach grounded in temperance and prudence to examine the particulars of each individual's set of circumstances. This woman stated that she drinks only one drink occasionaly, and there is no research out there that says that is harmful to a growing baby.

I think it is very naive to claim what does or does not a good mother make-- we are all imperfect trying to work with the confines of our imperfections to do our very best. Simply because it is not a choice I would make doesn't mean that I have the right to call a nuetral act one that lacks in love.

Also while motherhood requires selflessness- it does not and should not mean we should neglect the care for ourselves as children of God-in fact my ability to be whole should come before my role as mother. If we do not acknowledge our needs then we are not reflecting the greatness of God who created us oout of nothing to commune with Him. We also cannot love "our neighbor as ourself" if we fail to love ourself, and be honest about our personal needs that we have in order to be whole--- and that just might mean that we have a drink one night a week when we go out with "the girls"- or whatever it is....

 

[CrystalBrooke]

i fail to see how alcohol is a "need" in the first place.

 

[Leanna]

Because the science behind total abstinence just isn't there. http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/3542.html#0 Drinking a glass of red wine everyday for example- can actually be a good thing--with many health benefits... I'm not advocating that any woman go out and get sloshed or even drink more than one occassional drink... Temperance is a virtue not of complete abstinence, but of prudent moderation.

Grown up solutions to problems are very rarely black and white or cut and dry-- but rather require an approach grounded in temperance and prudence to examine the particulars of each individual's set of circumstances. This woman stated that she drinks only one drink occasionally, and there is no research out there that says that is harmful to a growing baby.
....

There is a difference between drinking in moderation when you are not pregnant and drinking when you are pregnant. When you are pregnant, you don't know if one or two drinks will cause FAS, and its not worth the risk. Its like getting on a roller coaster with a baby, who would do that?

 

[newcreature]

Because the science behind total abstinence just isn't there. http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/3542.html#0 Drinking a glass of red wine everyday for example- can actually be a good thing--with many health benefits... I'm not advocating that any woman go out and get sloshed or even drink more than one occassional drink... Temperance is a virtue not of complete abstinence, but of prudent moderation.

Grown up solutions to problems are very rarely black and white or cut and dry-- but rather require an approach grounded in temperance and prudence to examine the particulars of each individual's set of circumstances. This woman stated that she drinks only one drink occasionaly, and there is no research out there that says that is harmful to a growing baby.

I think it is very naive to claim what does or does not a good mother make-- we are all imperfect trying to work with the confines of our imperfections to do our very best. Simply because it is not a choice I would make doesn't mean that I have the right to call a nuetral act one that lacks in love.

Also while motherhood requires selflessness- it does not and should not mean we should neglect the care for ourselves as children of God-in fact my ability to be whole should come before my role as mother. If we do not acknowledge our needs then we are not reflecting the greatness of God who created us oout of nothing to commune with Him. We also cannot love "our neighbor as ourself" if we fail to love ourself, and be honest about our personal needs that we have in order to be whole--- and that just might mean that we have a drink one night a week when we go out with "the girls"- or whatever it is....

I would have to agree with Shannon on this one.

My step-daughter's doctor told her that an occasional drink (he recommended red wine) will do no harm to the baby.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

Attitudes toward alcohol consumption are vastly different in AMerica than in the rest of the world--they tend to be on the puritanical side of things.

Crystal it may not be a 'need' but being a mom doesn't mean that you have to forgo simple pleasures that help you to maintain your identity as someone other than 'mom'. Also at 17 you probably haven't developed a social life that involves an occasional drink after work-- but perhaps you like to have a handful of cookies -or soemthing else --- those cookies aren't a need, and are even harmful in some sense-- but if they help you maintain your mental health-- then go for the cookies!!

One of the really cool things about JEsus is that HE meets us where we are- we don't have to begin a relationship with Him only when we are holy and perfect-- but His heart is so big that He lets us all be so imperfect and then over time we gradually allow our hearts to be transformed into His heart.

All people are not all in the same place- we have to respect that- afterall JEsus does--

There is a difference between drinking in moderation when you are not pregnant and drinking when you are pregnant. When you are pregnant, you don't know if one or two drinks will cause FAS, and its not worth the risk. Its like getting on a roller coaster with a baby, who would do that?

Again- there is ABSOLUTELY NO evidence to support your claim-- and if you look at the public health websites from countries other than AMerica you will see a vastly different presentation of the issue of alcohol in pregnancy- one where total abstinence is not demanded. This is again a social convention based around the attitudes about drinking in America.

**I am in no way saying that pregnant women should go out on drinking binges but that one drink with friends every couple of weeks, or in very moderate amounts--if it is something that a woman finds herself wanting to do- in no way constitues a grave danger. In fact all of the junk (pesticides, preservatives, pollutants, antibiotics) in the food we consume daily is probably a graver danger than a handful of drinks spread out over nine months.

It's all a matter of perspective-- the OP is obviously otherwise concerned for her health and well being(evinced by the exercise that she does).

 

[jazzbird]

In fact all of the junk (pesticides, preservatives, pollutants, antibiotics) in the food we consume daily is probably a graver danger than a handful of drinks spread out over nine months.

That's a really great point Shannon. I would agree that eating processessed and non-organic foods (which contain lots of chemicals and hormones) is more of a risk than having a glass of wine on occasion.

Because of my own ttc struggles, I don't drink at all while pregnant (nor do I ingest many other things that most pregnant women do on a regular basis), but I certainly won't judge any other woman who has a glass of wine with dinner once in a while.

 

[Leanna]

I do try not to judge other pregnant women and the choices they make because its their baby and their choice. I was working during my pregnancy and during my break I would walk to a nearby food chain(there were a lot since it was the Mall of America very big) and no matter what I ordered I felt like I was being looked down on because I was pregnant and eating some kind of fast food. You gotta do what you gotta do. I also drank one pop a day and limited it to that. If people ask how they should act when they are pregnant, say on a forum , I will continue to encourage them not to drink alcohol, to limit caffeine, to not get into hot tubs, and that sort of thing..... I know I hung out with my friends while they had a drink during dinner and I would have a pop or a smoothie and it was no problem.

 

[kayd1966]

I think the main thing here is to make a personal discision after you do your research...and take responsibility for it. FAS is very wide spread and a huge problem in North America and being vigilant to prevent it is a stand that our health units and Drs are trying to take.

If you have a few drinks and nothing happens to your baby, then Praise the Lord for protecting your baby but if you have a few drinks and your baby is affected then don't go blaming God either and asking "Why Me?"

I am old enough to have a drink now and then and I have gone out for a drink after work with my friends. If I had ordered a drink with them when I was pregnant, they would have clobbered me because its not a wise thing to do.

My advice is take what you have read and make the decision for yourself but make an informed decision and be ready to take the resposibility for it...If you are willing to risk your baby's health and future then go ahead but if your baby's safety comes first, then take a nine month break.

 

[Leanna]

And amen to that post....