I stopped drinking when TTC #1. After six months had a glass of wine... turns out I was pregnant and just didn't know it yet. Didn't drink while pregnant or for a year of nursing, so glad I had that glass! Barely drink now because roughly two years of no alcohol got me out of the habit and killed what little tolerance I had, but if I get pregnant with #2 I don't plan to give up the occasional glass until I know I'm pregnant.

Could the original poster provide more info about the all-or-nothing research? I'm curious about learning more.

And I have cut waaaaay back, personally. You will lose weight, which is always a nice bonus. As is the difference in your restaurant bills.
It's now at the point where I don't drink out of habit with dinner anymore, just when the meal or occasion merits it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did not give up drinking while TTC, but when I was researching what damage I may have done while drinking before I knew, I read about the all or nothing stuff. That makes me think not drinking during the period when implantation may occur seems like a good idea if you really, really want to be pregnant, but isn't important if you're concerned about developmental problems.

I don't know what research you've read, but you don't have a common blood stream with the fetus until 2 weeks after implantation, i.e. around the time of the missed period.

There's some research to suggest that alcohol may impact sperm viability as well as early cell division. Which is what the 'all or nothing period' also suggests - because of the way cell differentiation happens, you won't cause FAS or anything by drinking during the 2WW but alcohol consumption may impact conception. Note, the only stuff I've seen relates to heavy consumption.
http://m.aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/160/7/661.full

The abstract itself notes that this is only relevant for 10 or more drinks per week, though. If this doesn't qualify for you, I don't think this research applies.

If you aren't drinking significantly, then go ahead. If it's a large amount and very regular, then I think it's possible it could affect conception. Maybe dial it back a tiny bit but don't quit?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did not give up drinking while TTC, but when I was researching what damage I may have done while drinking before I knew, I read about the all or nothing stuff. That makes me think not drinking during the period when implantation may occur seems like a good idea if you really, really want to be pregnant, but isn't important if you're concerned about developmental problems.

I don't know what research you've read, but you don't have a common blood stream with the fetus until 2 weeks after implantation, i.e. around the time of the missed period.

There's some research to suggest that alcohol may impact sperm viability as well as early cell division. Which is what the 'all or nothing period' also suggests - because of the way cell differentiation happens, you won't cause FAS or anything by drinking during the 2WW but alcohol consumption may impact conception. Note, the only stuff I've seen relates to heavy consumption.
http://m.aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/160/7/661.full

Anonymous wrote:I did not give up drinking while TTC, but when I was researching what damage I may have done while drinking before I knew, I read about the all or nothing stuff. That makes me think not drinking during the period when implantation may occur seems like a good idea if you really, really want to be pregnant, but isn't important if you're concerned about developmental problems.

I don't know what research you've read, but you don't have a common blood stream with the fetus until 2 weeks after implantation, i.e. around the time of the missed period.

Anonymous wrote:Definitely enjoy it while you can!

It took awhile to conceive #2, and I never drank much more than a glass during the two week wait, but I always got something really nice when my period showed up!

By which I mean, a glass on any given evening.

Definitely enjoy it while you can!

It took awhile to conceive #2, and I never drank much more than a glass during the two week wait, but I always got something really nice when my period showed up!

I did not give up drinking while TTC, but when I was researching what damage I may have done while drinking before I knew, I read about the all or nothing stuff. That makes me think not drinking during the period when implantation may occur seems like a good idea if you really, really want to be pregnant, but isn't important if you're concerned about developmental problems.

Anonymous wrote:Springboarding off the giving up caffiene thread below. Was anyone a regular wine drinker and find that giving it up made a real difference in TTC? I'm on board with 'drink 'til you see pink' with respect to fetal abnormalities and understand the science behind the 'all or nothing period" and am comfortable having wine with dinner while TTC in the sense that I know it won't impact the health of a viable pregnancy (I plan to quit when/if I ever get a BFP). But I've seen a bit of research about how drinking durring the week of ovulation and the 2WW can impact chances of conception so was wondering if anyone else had eliminated it and found it made a difference? DH is in the food and beverage industry and stocks lovely wine and I love to cook and making really well planned dinners and splitting a well selected bottle of wine are one of our real pleasures, even on weeknights. So, I feel wistful about upending this for nothing, although I guess my waistline would thank me, but could also be a lot more disciplined if it made a difference.

I say enjoy that while you can, because once the baby comes those long leisurely meals are over for a long, long time.

No need.

I would worry more about its impact on the male half of the TTC equation, both spermatogenesis and performance-wise...

If you're worried about it, just cut back from splitting a bottle to one glass, or half a glass. It probably won't make a difference, but emotionally it can feel good to know you're doing something different.

Nope. I definitely drink while TTC. Number one took 13 months to get pregnant. I asked my RE about it for the same reasons you pose and he said "look, there are far more pregnancies due to drinking than due to ART. You're perfectly fine to drink until you conceive." That made me feel a whole lot better about it.

Springboarding off the giving up caffiene thread below. Was anyone a regular wine drinker and find that giving it up made a real difference in TTC? I'm on board with 'drink 'til you see pink' with respect to fetal abnormalities and understand the science behind the 'all or nothing period" and am comfortable having wine with dinner while TTC in the sense that I know it won't impact the health of a viable pregnancy (I plan to quit when/if I ever get a BFP). But I've seen a bit of research about how drinking durring the week of ovulation and the 2WW can impact chances of conception so was wondering if anyone else had eliminated it and found it made a difference? DH is in the food and beverage industry and stocks lovely wine and I love to cook and making really well planned dinners and splitting a well selected bottle of wine are one of our real pleasures, even on weeknights. So, I feel wistful about upending this for nothing, although I guess my waistline would thank me, but could also be a lot more disciplined if it made a difference.