Heidi Klum dines with the Flying Tomato

Heidi Klum dined at LA restaurant Orso with Olympic snowboarder  Shaun "Flying Tomato" White on Wednesday.  She has a glass of red wine or soda in front of her but we don’t know for sure that it’s hers or how much of it she has drank.

In the United States, pregnant women are urged not to drink, but as my OB/GYN told me, "In the US we tell you not to drink but in Europe they say you can."  However, towards the end of a pregnancy, I think there is less risk to the fetus- in the last two months of pregnancy, my OB/GYN said I could have the occasional half glass of wine, especially when I was stressed out about my job (he said the stress was worse than the alcohol content!). 

What did your doctor advise you regarding alcohol?  If you live outside of the United States, what is the custom there?

Photo from People, used with permission

Comments

how do you know it is wine. stop being so patronising. it could be juice. god you make me sick. stop putting pictures of your baby on this site. she is not famous

- nico on October 27th, 2006

When i took my Educational Assistant course we took a training on fetal alchohol syndrom and its the first 4 months that are worst for alchohol especialy the first 2 when most women dont even know there pregnant. Thats why they highly suggest if there is a chance you could be pregnant or become pregnant not to drink at all but a glass of wine towards the end of your pregnancy once and while is not going to affect the baby.

- C. on October 27th, 2006

i live in the uk and they say 1 or 2 units a week wont do any harm. I avoided alcohol in the first trimester when all the organs were forming but did have the odd glass of champagne later on during family celebrations. didn’t seem to do my 9lb baby boy any harm at all – he’s bright as a button! i guess whatever you are comfortable with as long as it’s not extreme.
You’re right about other parts of europe though. in france i believe they continue drinking and eat pates and soft cheeses too

- kate on October 27th, 2006

It’s diet coke, not wine. I have seen these pictures on another blog yesterday.

- LA Shark on October 27th, 2006

In Sweden they urge you not to drink at all, an advice that almost all pregnant women follow.
A pregnant woman with a glass of wine in front of her at a restaurant would definately get a lot of looks. So it is not like it’s one custom in whole Europe, it varies a lot.
I always think it’s funny when Americans say “in Europe they do like this”. Europe consists of almost 60 countries with over 700 million people…. And I would say that Scandinavia, Spain and Belarus all are very different from each other!

- Sophia on October 27th, 2006

Even if it is wine, it’s a small glass and it could very well be non-alcoholic wine but like the previous poster said, I think it’s coca cola.

- hea on October 27th, 2006

I have an “irritable uterus” (Braxton Hicks 24/7 starting at 6 months)that made my second pregnancy a really difficult one. My doctor seriously urged me to drink a glass of wine each day to calm my uterus. She too said any effects of the little bit of alcohol would far outweigh those of premature labor and the effects of stress on the baby.

- Alecia on October 27th, 2006

I am pregnant now 17 weeks and in the UK they say you are not even aloud any now, this is a new thing that has just started and all expecting mothers are told to no longer have even one. They said the difference in Ultrasound Scans of babies to mothers who had even 1 unit of alcohol react differently to mothers who have drank none. Anyway i dont realy understand all the medical stuff of where why or what i just know that is what they are saying now.

- Mandy on October 27th, 2006

My parents are European and I was born in France. Generally the attitudes there are completely different towards alcohol, including during pregnancy. Everything in moderation, basically; overall the quality of the alcohol is better and they drink less of it at a time. And wine, especially red wine, is looked on as a healthy thing, good for the heart. I would say that pregnant women pay more careful attention than they used to, but still they never give a second thought to having a glass of red wine every so often during pregnancy. And they certainly would be confused and horrified to see other people talking about it (which is why it always slays me, the strong and judgmental reactions in the comments that come up to such things on this blog).

- Chiara on October 27th, 2006

My midwives encouraged me to drink a Guinness daily in my last two months. It’s high in B vitamins and tons of antioxidants. It also helps you relax during those last (difficult) weeks. My son was born a healthy 7 lbs 12 oz with a very easy, quick labor.

- April on October 27th, 2006

Im from Germany and I was told not to drink alcohol during the whole pregnancy…

- Sandra on October 27th, 2006

in France pregant women are allowed to drink wine but everyone knows that they shouldn’t, if you start you will never stop and your baby will have to pay for what you did.

- abby on October 27th, 2006

you wrong, i live in France and pregnant woment avoid drinking wine and eating soft cheese, we have a lot of information about it.
Anyway each woman is responsible for her body but please don’t stereotype countries

- cassopolis on October 27th, 2006

A Diet Coke is probably worse for you than an occasional glass of wine!

My doc told me no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy, although I did have an occasional sip…I really think that during the later stages of pregnancy is it okay to drink in moderation although I’m sure the people who saw you would be horrified.

And I really do think that sodas, especially diet ones, are horrible for you…and not just when you are pregnant!

- Spiff on October 27th, 2006

Why take the chance? I am not yet pregnant but when I am, I think I can give it up for 9 months. If you’re unsure what the effects will be, why bother? And I also think that glass of wine seems to be at the place setting beside Heidi, maybe it was for someone else at the table?

- Michelle on October 27th, 2006

I was thinking the same thing Spiff was… the chemicals and artifical sweeteners in Diet Coke probably aren’t any better for the baby than wine! My doctors advised me not to drink alcohol at all during pregnancy, in the States and in Germany.

- Christina on October 27th, 2006

I agree with Michelle, why take the chance? 9 months isn’t really all that long (although sometimes it sure seems like it is f-o-r-e-v-e-r when you are pregnant!) — foregoing a few glasses of alchohol of any type certainly should not be a hardship. There are so many different theories; why take the chance? It isn’t worthi it IMO.

- annabelle on October 27th, 2006

In Australia, my OB/GYNs were both chilled out about alcohol consumption in moderation, and certainly NOBODY at a dinner party or restaurant would comment on a pregnant woman enjoying a glass of wine, we’re more live and let live, and don’t impose your judgements on other people…also Michelle, “why take the chance?” if applied to everything in life would mean you’d never get out of bed in the morning. Let’s go easy on pregnant women AND TRUST THEM!

- Leishk on October 27th, 2006

I am french but I spent all my pregnancy here in New York. In France doctors are very strict regarding drinking alcohol during the pregnancy. They say that you can’t even drink a quarter of a glass during all the pregnancy. Here in New York, I had 2 doctors who both told me that I could have a glass of wine when I had BraxtonHicks contractions. I called my doctor in France and he told me “No! Not even a quarter of a glass!”. If you’re able to read franch, go to every pregnancy relative french websites and you’ll see that french are a lot more strict than american about alcohol…

- anis on October 27th, 2006

I find it amusing that it is so disdainful for a pregnant woman to have an occasional glass of wine but it is perfectly acceptable to have narcotic drugs injected while in labor.

- Trish on October 27th, 2006

Sorry, but I still think it’s not worth it. If you don’t know for sure, it’s a questionable choice at best. I think once you’re pregnant, your body is not just yours anymore. You are sharing it with a fetus who cannot withstand the effects of alcohol that an adult can. If you can’t stop drinking for 9 months to 100% guarantee that your baby will not be affected, I think there are some other issues going on. I do trust pregnant women to make their own choices, but this one always amazes me. I was at a Christmas party last year, where there was a 6 month pregnant woman who had more wine at dinner than I did. She must have had at least 3 glasses. She said her doctor told her that anything less than 5 glasses is fine. I wanted to slap her! Keep in mind that we don’t know if Heidi was drinking the wine or not, maybe she just had a sip. This topic could cause quite a debate I’m afraid CBB!!

- Michelle on October 27th, 2006

I am agree Cassopolis, it is exactly what I wanted to say: don’t stereotype countries! We maybe like wines and cheeses but we also have doctors as smart and informed as american doctors!
About Heidi Klum and about the fact of having a glass of wine during pregnancy, I don’t think it’s such a big deal, most of all the last month…Personally, I had a glass of wine when I was contracting 2 hours before my delivery, actually, I broke my water just after having it! It made me more relax and I was such in pain that I thought “at least, if I have to die, I want to have a glass of wine before!”.

- anis on October 27th, 2006

It’s one thing to have 3 glasses, another to have half a glass of especially red wine in the third trimester. I did not feel bad having half a glass at 7 months at a wedding and 8 months on my hubby’s b-day. I work in the medical field, this does not affect the child at that amount. What I have trouble with is women who won’t quit smoking during pregnancy. It depends on the perspective, you could also put down people who eat fast food during pregnancy, with its carcinogens. I think Heidi is a fabulous mama, if she had a tiny bit of red wine, hey they say a small amount in the last 3 months can be good for you.

- Kori on October 27th, 2006

I don’t want to get involved in the alcohol debate… I’m just wondering why Heidi Klum is dining with Shaun White??

- fumar on October 27th, 2006

why drink it even if it can harm?

but, then again, how many women drink when they don’t know they are pregnant and conceive with/because of alcohol that is involved and their babies are fine?

- natalie on October 27th, 2006

I’m in Canada (Ontario, to be more specific) and when I was pregnant my midwives told me that a drink every once in a while wasn’t going to do any harm. I’ve heard different things from different people — one friend’s OB/GYN told her to avoid so much as a drop, another was told that a couple glasses of wine a week was fine. It’s certainly an issue that’s surrounded by a lot of confusion.

- Gwen on October 27th, 2006

Well,iam in Germany as well and my Gyn/Ob told me that a beer once in a while is good for your amniotic fluid.

Like someone stated a (diet) coke is probably worse,you should stay away from sodas during pregnancies anyways.

Also like someone stated all Europe isnt the same just like all Gyn/Obs over here arent going to tell you the same.

- Simone on October 27th, 2006

Michelle, to accept your argument, you must first accept that alcohol is damaging or that its effects are not known, and this is why people disagree with you. Some people believe that a little bit of wine has a neutral effect on the baby — not that it has an unknown effect, but steadfastly that it has a no effect (in strict moderation). If you accept that as the premise, then avoiding alcohol at all costs means avoiding anything that is not absolutely nourishing. This cuts out all candy, any number of things (anything that isn’t vitamin- or iron-rich, etc.) Three glasses of wine at a meal is definitely excessive; that’s not what I think most people here are talking about.

As to French attitudes, I stand corrected. My mother (who is French) went through both of her pregnances in France, but I’m the younger child at 28 so I guess attitudes have changed since then.

- Chiara on October 27th, 2006

Also, I can’t believe the REAL question of this post has been completely overlooked: under what circumstances did these two people end up together for lunch? Oddest. pair. ever.

- Chiara on October 27th, 2006

I orginally believed that you shouldn’t drink during pregnancy. I was then quite shocked to hear that my mum drank while pregnant with all four of her children. When i say she drank, I mean perhaps 2 or 3 glasses a week, after the first trimester. The doctor said it was fine and after each pregnancy she ended up with a healthy baby. My three siblings and I are all healthy and the only thing that was different was my sister being born a month early but she was healthy and the doctor said it couldn’t be linked to drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

Saying that i believe that i wont drink while i am pregnant. I wouldn’t want to risk anything. However, I have no problem with occassional drinking by other expectant mothers!

- Shannon CBB contributor on October 28th, 2006

I’m currently pregnant and living in Germany. While I choose not to, my doctor has told me that one or two small glasses of beer or wine a week were okay. I know of plenty of other docs here that have said the same so, I can say that this is going on in at least parts of Europe.

- Jennifer on October 28th, 2006

whats the worst thing that can happen to the baby if you only drink a glass of win in th prangnacy? But it’s still not worth it!
I live in France and i have never seen a pregnant woman drinking a glass of wine.

- abby on October 28th, 2006

I agree with you Sophia. I’m swedish but to many americans I’m European and once they hear I’m Swedish, they take for granted that I’m blonde, blue eyed and that my name’s Inga. Well, I am blonde and blue eyed but my name’s not Inga.

- Hea on October 28th, 2006

I’m Hungarian, my husband Italian and currently we live in Australia. In my 2nd trimester I travelled to Europe (OK with GP and midwives) to stay with both sides of the family. I found in both Hungary and Italy people were very relaxed about it, you could have some if you wanted, they trust the woman to know how she feels and act on her (and her Drs) best advice.

In Australia they’re pretty relaxed too. My GP didn’t say anything on alcohol but he knows I’m a nutritionist so only mentioned avoiding cheeses with added mould, like camembert, blue vein and so on.

From my research, your own liver metabolises the alcohol so none gets passed to the foetus HOWEVER this only applies if you drink the small amount that your liver can breakdown in a short span of time. Otherwise the rest will circulate in the bloodstream (this gives you that woozy feeling) while the first lot is being processed. Because womens bodies vary so much it is difficult to say ‘X amount is safe’ therefore they say no amount is safe to be on the safe side.

- Ilona on October 28th, 2006

I am from the U.S., but I had the same ob/gyn for all 3 babies and he is French. He told me no alcohol at all. He never said it’s ok during the last trimester. Nothing like that at all. He did say that coffee is ok (a cup a day, not more), but he said no to a lot of different teas. I think doctors say no to alcohol because they don’t want to open Pandora’s box, where women are drinking a few glasses at a time or everyday and thinking it’s ok. A glass of wine every once in a while during the last trimester won’t cause any damage.

- melanie on October 28th, 2006

It looks like coke, or rootbeer… not wine

- Rose on October 28th, 2006

Well, according to an earlier post on CBB accompanied by a picture of a pregnant, smoking Kerry Katona, she said that her doctor told her that smoking cigarettes was better than stressing out over quitting smoking. I think most people would agree what a load of crap that is, not scientifically true AT ALL. That doctor was totally wrong and irresponsible.

That goes to show that not all doctors have good advice (though I think almost all of them do). And smoking (definitely) and drinking (not so much) during pregnancy in the generation when my parents were born was widely accepted. Some of the proof was “oh, gee, so and so did it and their kids turned out fine, women have been doing it for years and it’s no big deal”. That is not proof, it’s anecdotal, and plenty of kids whose moms did drugs and smoked and drank lots while pregnant turn out fine, but not all of them. And ultimately science proved the people wrong that thought that it didn’t affect the baby.

As for an occasional glass of wine, it’s probably okay, and probably isn’t a big deal, but it could be and we really don’t know AND WE PROBABLY WON’T EVER. It’s not like they can do ethical clinical trials to test the results of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. I don’t think any responsible scientist would do that. All they know is that even moderate alcohol consumption can and has gravely harmed fetuses because women have abused it by choice while pregnant. So, I chose not to drink at all during my pregnancy and I craved beer in a major way my whole last trimester. I know all the stupid rules you have to follow when you’re pregnant suck, because I followed most of them, and some of them are totally scare tactics and don’t need to be followed, but things like smoking and drinking are no-brainers, people. If you can’t give up just those two things for nine lousy months, you’ve got some problems. People will say whatever they want to justify their behavior, including quoting their horrendous doctor’s advice about smoking while pregnant.

- huh? on October 28th, 2006

Oh, well, what’s the fuss, it looks like a glass of wine, but it could be coca cola and of all the types of alcohol that she could have chosen (if it even is her glass) red
wine is definitely the most healthy type.
Doctors here have changed their tune during the past few years. I know plenty of women who were told one glass on occasion was okay during their first pregnancy and who weren’t allowed to drink a drop during the second. I think many doctors are just playing safe.
I don’t know whether I would drink myself. Or rather: I don’t know whether I would dare do it in public and expose myself to nasty comments.
Two of my friends didn’t drink one drop during their pregnancies, but most pregnant women I’ve known would drink a glass of wine on occasion. The only comment I’ve ever heard on that came from one of the teatotaller pregnant ladies. She almost brought the other woman to tears by trying to make her feel guilty. I think those comments brought about more stress to mother and baby than that half glass of wine ever could have.
Also, it all depends on the situation. I’ve known one woman who was so stressed out from trying to quit smoking during her first pregnancy that her doctor told her to stop trying to quit and to just cut it down as much as she could. She ended up smoking one, maybe two cigarrettes a day, which was very little compared to before. I would say she did great job and she quit smoking alltogether before her second pregnancy.
You do what you can.

- hermowninny on October 28th, 2006

I live in San Francisco, and when I was pregnant my OB said an occasional drink would be fine. I didn’t want to drink anyway, so I never asked her exactly what “occasional” meant!

- Nicole R. on October 28th, 2006

Michelle – your comments show that clearly you don’t trust pregnant women to decide for themselves…unfortunately for you, since the law does not require one to carry a licence to be pregnant you can’t police pregnant women drinking. When you do have kids and avoid alcohol, I’m sure you’ll give birth to perfectly healthy babies… just like my two kids are, even though, god forbid, I drank 1-2 glasses of wine a week.

- Leishk on October 29th, 2006

I’m with Chiara! What on Earth brought these two people together at lunch??? Random!

Regarding the drinking: I’m in NY and was told by both my OBs (switched docs mid-pg) that an occassional small glass in my 2/3 trimester was totally fine. I didn’t have much though, b/c I had too much reflex to enjoy red wine anyway. My British mother-in-law drank wine occassionally throughout four pregnancies and all of her kids are healthy as horses and went to Oxford & Cambridge. I personally don’t think a little bit does any harm, but I think people’s idea of “moderate drinking” differs wildly.

I think this is one reason many docs tell us not to drink at all – they think some people will go on a bender. I believe the main reason is because they are afraid of malpractice – and want to protect themselves from any possible suit.

- PSB on October 30th, 2006

I agree with Trish. If drinking a glass of wine once in awhile is so horrible, then why aren’t people making a fuss about pregnant women receiving narcotics during labor? Guess what? Those drugs go right to the baby. That seems a bit more alarming to me than the occasional glass of wine. Gee whiz. Leave Heidi alone. So what if she has a glass of wine with lunch? I’d say she deserves it.

- Lisa on October 30th, 2006

LOL. That was meant to be “reflux” – as in acid reflux.

- PSB on October 30th, 2006

Gee, this just goes to show that some women have too much time on their hands and criticize other women for the littlest things. It was just a picture of Heidi Klum, laughing over a meal! Geez!

- alexasdf on October 31st, 2006