I’m guessing this is a touchy subject, but just throwing it out there – how many of you did/do/will drink while TTC?
If you do drink, do you only drink pre-O or do you “drink till it’s pink”?
If you don’t, what made you decide not to? Doctor’s orders? Your acupuncturist? Personal beliefs?
I’m trying to cut back, but honestly, I like my beer. The first couple months of TTC I cut WAY back, but then when we started realizing this would take awhile, I honestly thought Screw it, this could take years, plus nearly a year of pregnancy, plus at least a year of breastfeeding, I’m drinking while I can.
Selfish? Maybe. But it seems to work for me.
The exception would be last night (CD1) where I was emotional and sad about yet another BFN and confided in my sis-n-law’s newly ex-boyfriend (who is a long time friend of mine) and he was SO comforting and wonderful about it all and we definitely drank too much tequila to drown our sorrows (his relationship ending and my cycle ending). Drinking while sad about a fresh BFN is not something I’d recommend!
I don't know what is recommended, but I never stopped drinking while TTC. I don't drink a whole lot, but I would have myself a beer or two on weekend nights. I had a few drinks on our anniversary and got my positive home test five days later. I felt a little guilty, but everything I have read says it is okay if you stop as soon as you know. Sorry again about your BFN. Stay positive though. It will happen.
I would drink occasionally when we first started and then I kind've followed the lead of my other friends who were trying and pretty much stopped (with the exception of days 1 and 2. My problem isn't really alcohol it's Diet Coke. I truly think its a personal decision along with the medical advice of your Doc of course.
I am not a big drinker to start with, so I do not know what to recommend. I rarely drink. I can go a month or so without drinking and be ok. But, when I do drink, I have one maybe two drinks. Good luck.
Josey,When I first started TTC, I cut way back on my drinking. After it became crystal clear that getting KU wasn't going to happen at time soon, I slowly began drinking again. Now, a year later, I'm a drink til it's pink girl.FWIW, I've drank on a many CD 1. Hope the hangover isn't too bad 🙂
I know this is REALLY going to shock you, Josey…but I drank while TTC and also drank while I was PUPO. (Let the onslaught begin). My rationale: giving up my social activity / simple pleasure would cause me more stress which would just complicate matters. While I was doing injectibles I had cut back quite a bit. I was usually drinking 1:1 normal and NA beer. So if I was going to 6 beers while playing games with friends, it was probably more like 2 or 3 REAL beers and 2 to 3 NA beers. Between the IUI and my BFP I was totally convinced (as were my docs) that it was unsuccessful PLUS it was the 4th weekend so I drank. I didn't get WASTED but I drank beers and hung out.It sounds like we probably imbibe the same amount (too much I guess but whatever) so just do what you are comfortable with and know that my response is likely not the most popular one. 🙂
Great question! I'm curious and have always wondered this, too. I usually skip alcohol when I am temping for ovulation confirmation because it makes my BBT unreliable the next day.
oh, one other hint. I gave up caffeine about 2 months before my BFP just thinking that giving up both REAL BEER and REAL COFFEE would be devasting at the same time. So that was a lot easier when the time came and the acupuncture meant NO withdrawal headaches. AND – I just went to Surdyks (your a MN girl right?) and bought NA Clausthaler Classic, Paulaner, Bitburger and Becks. Stay tuned and feel free to join me in my quest! 🙂
My theory is all things in moderation. I'm not going out (especially during and/or post O) and getting completely wasted. But if the situation calls for a glass, or three, of wine – so be it!
It's interesting reading all of your responses. :)@Oak – you crack me up. I think we'd be great friends IRL. LOL. I actually live in CO, but spent the first 22 yrs of my life in MN.@Jill – I agree about the BBT – around O time I try not to drink just to make sure we're timing everything correctly!Luckily I'm not a caffiene drinker or smoker so I didn't have to give either of those up – it's usually just water or beer, with a glass of wine or shot of tequila thrown in for good measure. 🙂
I feel like if I have to give up my sanity for TTC, I sure as hell am NOT giving up my alcohol!Really, it isn't going to hurt a thing until that baby is actually developing, so I say drink until you see pink.
I cut way back when I first realized it might not happen right away. I still had a glass of wine with dinner all the time pre-O, but tried to not ever get drunk. I only really ever got drunk on some weekends, and I pretty much stopped that altogether when trying. Then, the night after Christmas, a bunch of us went out and I got drunker than I had been in a very long time. I unknowingly also O'ed that night and got pregnant. So it really is just crapshoot I think.
Good question! I've been wondering that myself. I loooove my wine, so I definitely drink up pre-O (I say this like it happens all the time…I've only ovulated twice) then post-O I'll have a glass of wine (or two) with dinner on weekends. It's a routine that DH and I have…make a nice dinner, have some wine. I think it's important to relax and keep a routine that makes you feel good. I definitely believe that a few drinks before pink is ok!
just so you know, you are allowed to drink while breastfeeding.(they usually recommend one drink per hour, but you can have more if you're going to pump and dump, or after bedtime, and i remember reading somewhere that so little of it goes through the breastmilk that for your baby to get any significant amount you would have to be completely TANKED)
oh, and when we were TTC i still drank, until i got my BFP. even the day before testing, though i suspected something was up and kept it to only a few drinks.
I cut back (but not like I'm a very heavy drinker- a glass of wine/beer a couple times a week normally?) when we were doing injectables… I don't think I would have "had" to, but DH felt that it wouldn't hurt to cut out the alcohol. The cycle after our failed IVF was the most I'd drank in a while- I definitely had wine or beer every day for a couple weeks!! Not to the drunken point or anything, but it felt good to be "able" to do that- although the novelty wore off after not too long. Nowadays, I'm back to something twice a week or so. I don't think I'll do much different post-O, but I have pretty low expectations at this point. Long story short, I wouldn't go out and get slammed or anything, but I don't think a drink here and there is going to kill your chances!
In the first 2yrs of trying I drank 1-2 drinks/wk throught the month. Now (for the last year) I only drink (1-2 drinks during the first 7 days of my cycle. After that, nothing. My Naturopath and RE both said that alcohol will only make getting pregnant more difficult and since it's clearly already been difficult why make it harder?
We both drank while TTC. For the first few tries I stopped drinking after what I thought was ovulation. After cycle after cycle of getting BFN I decided I was going to drink 'til it's pink.
Visiting from ICLW… Good question. My first year TTC, I stopped. Then years 2 and 3, I didn't stop but had cut back. Then year 4, I started to cut way way back when IVFs started. (Like once a month). Then after my IVF failure, when it became apparent I had insulin resistance (which added in with alcohol can be bad) and poor eggs, I stopped. I had learned that egg quality can be affected by by regular drinking, as few as 5 per week, up to 6 months in advance. Of course, lots of ladies have no trouble. Since it was the longest I went, I did notice a big difference in egg quality, so I'd probably due it again. So, for me, I think it makes a difference, but that is probably not true for everybody. I kind of wished I had stopped before, but I felt the same way about so much being taken away. Interestingly enough, beer and white wine seemed to cause the most impairment. For now, I am on a break and letting it ride and drinking whenever I want, but I will probably stop 3 months before. But, this is just for me of course and my crappy eggs! 😛
Ya know…do what you feel is best. I personally didn't drink during active cycles – I did drink when not doing RE cycles. I did smoke though – cut way back – almost quit a few times and each depressing BFN sent me running for my crutch. What I always hated was the fertiles saying to me – You are TTC and still doing THAT!?!?!? I would mumble some excuse but always wanted to scream – You have your body fail you, have a team of people poking and prodding you, obsess over all aspects of TTC, spend your entire savings and then get a BFN over and over and tell me you don't need some sort of guilty pleasure. The stress of TTC alone made quitting extremely hard. I think you are just fine. 🙂
Wow, this is a great topic and I think it's awesome that you raised it, b/c I've totally wondered what other people do and felt guilty for having any alcohol at all. I drink up until right around the time I get a positive OPK, and if I can get myself somewhat regular, a few days before when I know we'll be BDing for real. It's for no other reason than a glass of wine helps me de-stress and not drinking around the 2WW gives me peace of mind. It's a good compromise for me.
After 19 months of trying I am a drink till it's pink girl. Then I get to avoid the question "Why aren't your drinking, are you pregnant?" from nosy friends who don't know about our IF
I have cut way back at times and I have let loose at times. Right now, because we are heading into shared risk, I have decided to drink when I want. I still try to limit my weekly intake, but I am not denying myself since I am confident I will get pregnant in the near future and won't be able to drink for a long time. So, I say, drink till it's pink!ICLW #27
Hi Josie- I am new to your blog. I thought your post was a really interesting question. Like many others, I was very cautious about drinking when first trying to conceive, but now that there are complications, I drink occasionally. However, I just found out I have PCOS, so I am really tweaking my diet big time and have given it up again. Along with caffeine! That's my bigger problem- Starbucks. But, it's been going great so far. Does alcohol at all affect one's ability to GET pregnant? Or does it affect PCOS??Feel free to follow me on my journey. http://jesstryingtoconceive.blogspot.com/Thanks! Jess
I stopped drinking hard liquor when we started TTC. I drink from time to time but if we ever start actively trying again I think that I will curb the drinking.An ICLW Visit from #107 (mfi, speedskating, strength)liddy @ the unfair struggle
Well, I am on fertility drugs (injectables) and when I start those I don't drink. Other than that, no, I haven't stopped.
I didn't drink at all in the beginning of our journey. Over lots of time though, I did start to drink – at first just before ovulation, but lately, in moderation, all throughout my cycle. I spoke to my doctor about it and he said as long as I don't go overboard, he doesn't see a problem. However, when we move on to iui/ivf, I probably won't drink at all.
I did give up completely… but after two years of trying I now am a firm believer in a little tipple now and then up to ovulation. The only reason I don't drink after ovulation is I chart my temperatures in the second half of my (long-ish) cycles and I'm not waking myself up at the same time each day only to have messed up my temps with a few drinks! I agree with posters above – a little won't so any harm and might do some good.
This made me laugh because both times I managed to conceive, I drank a beer right after the IUI. All things in moderation, right?
I can't empathize with you Jo as I've never been there, but I agree with the other comments…drink 'till it's pink. It's not selfish at all and it's already such a stressful time for you. And you CAN drink while you breastfeed, just in (extreme) moderation & if you have a little too much on a celebratory night…pump & dump! 😉
Until someone comes up with a peer-reviewed study that inconclusively proves that your liver is directly connected to your uterus and/or ovaries, bottoms up!It annoys the shit out of me when people look at me when I drink and go, "Aren't you trying to get pregnant?" Besides being monumentally stupid, it's none of their damn business.I've been pregnant three times (lost them all.) The first time I got pregnant, I was wasted. Second time, I'd drank that weekend because I hadn't yet missed my period. Third time, I was stone sober and I have nothing to show for all that.I don't smoke, I do yoga four times a week and I'm infertile.Bottoms up yo!