Women may be able to safely drink small amounts of alcohol while pregnant, but some reactions may not be pleasant.
Every so often a story comes along about a pregnant woman being outraged at the reaction of her drinking wine or alcohol.
The latest comes from a
babycenter.com blog post from a Boston resident who was refused a glass of wine by a waiter, who she described as being rude about it.
The blogger argues it’s her choice, health professionals say moderation is OK and this action discriminated against her civil rights.
I get it.
We ladies hate being forbidden to do things while pregnant, especially if we have been given the go-ahead by our trusted OB-GYNs. We feel we should be trusted to make good decisions for ourselves and unborn child.
Personally, I could barely eat or drink anything because of the nausea that lasted until my delivery date. Plus, I was a real nervous Nellie about everything while pregnant. So alcohol was out.
But I have many friends – including a labor and delivery nurse – who indulged on occasion.
That meant no more than one glass a week, and a glass is about 4 ounces. All of those women have healthy children.
Honestly though, how can an obviously pregnant woman not expect some push back when drinking in public or around strangers?
It is within a restaurant’s right to refuse service, and maybe this individual waiter stepped over a line or handled this wrong. But to assume everyone around you is going to be cool with your choice is unrealistic.
While there are studies showing small amounts of alcohol may be safe during pregnancy, there is a greater volume of research showing detrimental and devastating effects of drinking while pregnant.
Oklahoma does not rate well on the national charts for addiction, which doesn't magically go away when pregnant.
So, if you are a server of alcohol, how do you know whether you are contributing to a person with a problem or a woman taking her first drink in months? You don't.
A better decision would be to enjoy a glass in more private settings around friends and family who already know your situation. Don't take it out on the unsuspecting waiter, who is in good faith thinking about your baby.
