ghanima22

Because of a recent comment, I wanted to question whether I should expect some Parisians to be rude or upset with me if I sample wine while in France, being that I am visibly pregnant? I suppose I haven't had any problems with people being bothered by this before (this being my third pregnancy) as I only drink a small amount. Also, coming from a medical family, I've been told (and have read research) that alcohol in moderation is not harmful to a baby (as it is with everything else you consume). I've actually been encouraged by medical family members to drink red wine to help with my blood! Anyway, I'm not wanting to start a political debate on whether or not it's right, only if I should expect some negative comments. Thanks!

Rachel

Robert2533

A Parisian will not be upset with you for sampling wine while being pregnant. They understand that wine is an essential part of life and most drink it moderately. Some rather trite and fanatical Americans probably will get a little upset and might want to hang you, but that's life. Amusez-vous bien!

kismetchimera

I presume that you are over 18 years old..Therefore, why worry of what other people think?
You are your own person, do whatever you think is best..
I dont want to preach about the dangers of drinking while you are expecting..You should know about it..
I am European, and I grew up drinking wine with my meals at an early age..
However, the minute I found out that I was expecting I gave up wine and cigarette, I wanted the best for my baby..
I dont think that the Parisians are going to care about your drinking wine with your meals..Enjoy La Belle France..
Ciao,
Annamaria

cigalechanta

You have medical family members backing you up why would you care what posters think? Yes pregnant French Woman do have A little wine, but they don't drink much wine in general.

NYCFoodSnob

I would say you "taste at your own risk" even though I doubt anyone would question you or make you feel uncomfortable (especially if they sense you're not French), unless you consume generous amounts and/or get noticeably intoxicated.

Caring for unborn children is an international concept these days so it's wise to be prepared for anything.

The last time I was in Florence, I witnessed a ready-to-deliver young woman go off on an older woman who was smoking in front of her while standing in line. Both women were locals and witnessing a fight over the issue of second hand smoke (in Italy) was a first for me. Their language got quite heated with the mother-to-be storming out of the store.

cigalechanta

ghanima, carry some tissues like baby wipes, the paper can be very thin or not there in some toilets and should you be on the road.
Have a wonderful time and a beautiful babby.

nonnafelice

In Adam Gopnik's wonderful book "Paris to the Moon" he writes about the experiences of his wife having a baby while they were living in Paris. Her French obstetrician told her to drink red wine but never to eat raw vegetables. She (the doctor), wrote Gopnik, says "salad" the way doctors in New York say "uninsured."

So ... drink the vin rouge in Paris, but don't order the salade! (There was no explanation in the book about why salad was considered unhealthy for pregnant women.)

nonnafelice

Correction: Actually, later on in the book Gopnik does explain about the prohibition on salad: that it's possible to get a parasitic infection from eating raw vegetables, and this is more common in France than in America. Red wine is recommended because it is high in iron and is an antispasmodic.

rex

nonna..

I think that Europeans (mostly) have been (over?)educated about the risks of Listeria on unwashed (raw fruits and) vegetables - - in restaurants, in particular (since it's not easy to verify and not very "de rigueur" to wash lettuces and the like, before "le composition d'une salade").

http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/genpub/to...eria-ccae.html

I don't necessarily side with those who feel that pregnant mothers need to be complete teetotalers - - but on the other hand, I do have some expertise in the feeding of premature babies - - and I don't know anyone who would condone feeding a baby (premature or not) milk, that contained enough alcohol to bring its blood level up to say... 0.07%.

No doubt this happens wih the consumption of a six ounce glass of wine, by a pregnant mother.

Best wishes,

Rex

Surfergirl

My doctor also said after the first trimester having a half glass of wine would do no harm and might even be of some benefit. My friend and I, both (then) in our six and eight months enjoyed white wine spritzers (then very popular) without the bat of an eye in a California pub. Shoot, when we consider that our mothers smoked and drank martinis while pregnant, with all the warnings now, you'd think all of the baby boomers would be stark raving mad. Okay, maybe some of us are! But the point is, moderation is key in anything.

ThinGorjus

You are right, sweetie, nothing is harmful if consumed in moderation. This includes heroine, arsenic, cyanide, salmanella, cigarette smoke, etc. You wouldn't feed your baby rat poison, would you? Then why would you feed it wine??

If I were in a restaurant in Paris and I saw that you were pregnant, and drinking wine, I would throw a stale baguette at you. Im not kidding, either.

You asked for an opinion and I gave you one. Bloody bollocks to you, sweetie.

ewt

"I think that Europeans (mostly) have been (over?)educated about the risks of Listeria on unwashed (raw fruits and) vegetables - - in restaurants, in particular (since it's not easy to verify and not very "de rigueur" to wash lettuces and the like, before "le composition d'une salade")."

That makes me feel a little ill. I think I've seen too much of the food coming off food trucks to think that its all ok. Good to know that before I arrive though.

As for the drinking, just don't come crying when your baby ends up with problems. The problem with saying you can drink in "moderation" is that everyone's sense of moderation is different. Some people think moderation is one glass every month. Some people think its one glass a day. Some people think its two a day because hey, they aren't drunk from 2 glasses, so why not? Anyway, moderation is an ambiguous word.But if its worth the gamble for a few hours of pleasure, no one on a message board can stop you.

rex

<<when we consider that our mothers smoked... you'd think all of the baby boomers would be stark raving mad...>>

As I said earlier, I am not evangelical about saying that a pregnant mother cannot taste wine.

But cigarette smoking should not swept under the rug of "our mothers did it". It does not make children "raving mad". For some... if only a few... it makes them dead.

I was born in 1953, in the smack middle of the baby boom. I never met any of the babies who were born in 1953 - - and also died in 1953. So "peer experience" doesn't temper my thoughts on this well-established fetal toxin.

RufusTFirefly

The biggest source of intestinal illnesses in the USA now is prepackaged salad greens--the ones that have "Triple Washed" in big letters on the package.

It appears that some of the people doing the washing of the greens may be forgetting to wash their hands.

Tulips

I'm sure it will be easier to order a glass of wine while pregnant in Paris than in the US!
Just be careful of un-pastuerized cheeses, pate, and anything containing uncooked eggs (such as mousses, tiramisu, fresh mayonaise). There was a discussion about this on this board recently.

rex

Getting rather off the original subject now - - but "unwashed greens" and "intestinal illness" is quite a different matter from Listeria (which occurs in soil, but has also been found in unpasteurized dairy products and in the USA, in some turkey-based "cold cuts").

Listeria is hardly a disease risk for normal NON-pregnant patients with uncompromised immune system function. While it may have some GI symptoms, those are not predominant in mild nor sever cases. See http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/disea...tm#howknowhave if you want more info.

You can find extensive year-by-year info on foodborne disease outbreaks on the CDC website also - - and I don't recommend it. You might conclude that eating almost anything anywhere poses a risk - - and you might blow that out of proportion.

ewt

That is true about the CDC website. That's probably why I was so disgusted for a moment. I used to work at the CDC and continue to work in public health today.

suze

My observation is that European people have a more liberal and mind-your-own-business attitude about life in general. For that reason more than any others discussed above, I doubt any Parisian will care what you chose to eat or drink. Besides, do you speak fluent French... if not, how will you know if they are talking about you?

MyriamC

You're right, Suze! We Europeans mind our own business. I don't think there's one Parisian who cares how much wine a pregnant woman drinks. Considering all the explanations (a small amount, medical family, research, ...) it seems to me as if the poster feels a little guilty herself for wanting to drink wine.