Eucharist while Pregnant?

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Becky4906

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Good Afternoon -

I am sure this must have come up before, but I can’t seem to find it anywhere… Given the obvious dangers of alcohol during pregnancy - should a pregnant woman recieve Eucharist under both forms?

To clarify - I am not currently pregnant, but we’ve decided to start trying again. I always recieve Eucharist under both forms, and it really bothers me when I am not able to (ie: our Bishop asked that we recieve the host only during flu season). I would hate the idea of not recieving both Body & Blood for 9 months…but on the other hand we tried for 2 years with out success and if God blesses us with a baby this time around I don’t want to do anything to endanger that child.

Given the sheer number of Catholic Mom’s on here…I figure someone has to have an answer for me 🙂
 
Drinking during pregnancy is not advised; but, I do not believe a tiny sip of wine would actually hurt the baby. However, your immunity is compromised during pregnancy making you more susceptible to any type of illness. I would avoid drinking from a common cup for that reason.
 
Because of how much more susceptible to viruses I am while pregnant, I choose not to partake of the Cup. However, small amounts of alcohol while pregnant, like a sip of wine, is not enough to be harmful. So this is really a prudential decision. If you generally have robust health and a strong immune system, and you really feel the need to partake of both species, then I would encourage you to continue to receive as you have always done.
 
My MIL was advised to drink a glass of red wine every night during her pregnancy with my husband. He’s perfectly healthy. Europeans have a much more moderated attitude about this and drink occasionally. We Americans tend to get a little nuts about things. I would never tell someone it’s OK to drink during pregnancy, but I think the fact that a woman is afraid to drink communion wine indicates we’ve gone too far.

Our current parish offers communion only under one form at most Masses for various reasons (except for celiac sufferers, it is arranged for them to take the cup), but you can always choose to only receive the host. You receive the full body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus in either form alone.

When I was pregnant I regularly received under both forms. I did not worry about alcohol nor about disease. I still don’t. I don’t believe that Jesus will allow me to come to harm from receiving Him. Maybe they makes me stupid or naive, but so far it’s been borne out.
 
SlackerCatholic said:
My MIL was advised to drink a glass of red wine every night during her pregnancy with my husband. He’s perfectly healthy. Europeans have a much more moderated attitude about this and drink occasionally. We Americans tend to get a little nuts about things. I would never tell someone it’s OK to drink during pregnancy, but I think the fact that a woman is afraid to drink communion wine indicates we’ve gone too far.

Our current parish offers communion only under one form at most Masses for various reasons (except for celiac sufferers, it is arranged for them to take the cup), but you can always choose to only receive the host. You receive the full body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus in either form alone.

When I was pregnant I regularly received under both forms. I did not worry about alcohol nor about disease. I still don’t. I don’t believe that Jesus will allow me to come to harm from receiving Him. Maybe they makes me stupid or naive, but so far it’s been borne out.
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Neither stupid nor naive, just blessed with a robust immune system. If I even hear someone sneeze in the next room, I am bound to catch that cold. It is even worse when I am pregnant. So I don’t partake of the Cup, nor do I shake hands at the passing of the peace, during my pregnancies. I was so thankful for the announcement our priest made before mass last fall about allowing those of us who get sick easily to gracefully opt out of the handshake, which is an optional thing anyway, as is receiving from the Cup. 🙂
 
Becky4906 said:
Good Afternoon -

I am sure this must have come up before, but I can’t seem to find it anywhere… Given the obvious dangers of alcohol during pregnancy - should a pregnant woman recieve Eucharist under both forms?

To clarify - I am not currently pregnant, but we’ve decided to start trying again. I always recieve Eucharist under both forms, and it really bothers me when I am not able to (ie: our Bishop asked that we recieve the host only during flu season). I would hate the idea of not recieving both Body & Blood for 9 months…but on the other hand we tried for 2 years with out success and if God blesses us with a baby this time around I don’t want to do anything to endanger that child.

Given the sheer number of Catholic Mom’s on here…I figure someone has to have an answer for me 🙂
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Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity are all fully present in either species alone. So you are receiving both Body & Blood whether you ever partake of the Chalice or not. That being said, the amount of [the accidents of] alcohol present in the amount of [the accidents of] wine one consumes when partaking of the Chalice is negligible and poses absolutely no risk to an unborn child.
 
Becky4906 said:
Good Afternoon -

I am sure this must have come up before, but I can’t seem to find it anywhere… Given the obvious dangers of alcohol during pregnancy - should a pregnant woman recieve Eucharist under both forms?

To clarify - I am not currently pregnant, but we’ve decided to start trying again. I always recieve Eucharist under both forms, and it really bothers me when I am not able to (ie: our Bishop asked that we recieve the host only during flu season). I would hate the idea of not recieving both Body & Blood for 9 months…but on the other hand we tried for 2 years with out success and if God blesses us with a baby this time around I don’t want to do anything to endanger that child.

Given the sheer number of Catholic Mom’s on here…I figure someone has to have an answer for me 🙂
Click to expand...
It is not necessary to become a teetotaler while pregnant. That advice was reactionary and totally unbalanced. If it were accurate, then most people over a certain age would have FAS. In truth, only a small minority have it and all of them were born to alcoholics.

The standard recommendation anyway is for a woman to have no more than one serving per day. If you stick to that or even limit the days more then your child would not be affected by it OB/GYNs are slowly moving to this view. Never mind the inconsequential amount contained in the “accident” of the Blood.

Of course, women with an alcohol dependency have no other choice than to abstain totally since they lack the willpower to only have a small amount.

I have struggled to obtain a balanced view of alcohol consumption for many years. I still rarely touch it myself but hope that I can at least provide sound advice for others.
 
Hello!
I might not be qualified to post advice about this, but in my part of the world, Eucharist is partaken without drinking from the chalice. Im not sure why, but I think it is alright for you to not partake from the cup during Eucharist since you are with child. Someone correct me if I am wrong about this. On another note, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PREGNANCY! 😃 I will pray for you and your family for the coming of your new child.
 
Medically, not advised, but spiritually, the wine has changed into our Lord blood, so if it would be me, i surely would continue. I also see children under age having the wine so clearly, it is ok.

Anyway just my thought

p.s. The French church only give the Host never the wine. The blood and Body of Christ is contain in the Eucharist, no need for wine. You can only receive the Host. If in doubt, just do the Host during your pregnancy.
 
aemcpa said:
Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity are all fully present in either species alone. So you are receiving both Body & Blood whether you ever partake of the Chalice or not.
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This 👍
 
Thanks to everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ut - much appriciated!

I will continue to recieve as I always have with out worry while we continue to TTC…I hadn’t thought about the lower immunity issue - but I think I will just practice “putting it in God’s hands” 🙂
 
Can you ask your priest if you can get something else besides wine. I know that sounds bad but don’t a few places use grape juice for alcoholics, I heard this from someone around here. If so can that be extended for pregnant women? Can grape juice be substituted? Or are those not catholic churches. Is there any chance to sort of skip the wine? I know once again that sounds bad but she is pregnant and your not suppose to have any alcohol while pregnant for the baby.
 
Some illnesses (cmv, chickenpox, fifth’s disease, influenza, rubella…) are extremely serious during pregnancy and some of these can cause fetal death or birth defects. I am always extra cautious about my health during pregnancy because of this. I do not partake of the chalice (which I never do anyway), and I don’t put my fingers into the communal holy water fonts. I get my own water blessed and use it at home, though :). The alcohol content I would not worry one iota about.
 
Hello!!

Not to be rude, I would be asking a doctor about this. They have strict policy on CAF about asking medical advice. I believe your question falls into that category. You know the Catholic Church recognizes full Communion if you only take one form of the Eucharist. As far as what will and wont harm you baby and the chances of communicable disease, you need to talk to your OBGYN.

Good Luck!!

Blessings,
Jill
 
ILIKECEREAL said:
Can you ask your priest if you can get something else besides wine. I know that sounds bad but don’t a few places use grape juice for alcoholics, I heard this from someone around here. If so can that be extended for pregnant women? Can grape juice be substituted? Or are those not catholic churches. Is there any chance to sort of skip the wine? I know once again that sounds bad but she is pregnant and your not suppose to have any alcohol while pregnant for the baby.
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Those aren’t Catholic churches.

In the Catholic Church, the only person who is required to drink from the Chalice is the celebrant, but the OP stated that she would like to do so if it’s possible.
 
Earlier in history the Catholic laity almost never drank the wine/blood so you could just take the other part of the eucharist if you want to. If you however still want to do so I think you should ask a doctor about it to know whether it is okay or not.
 
I asked by OB/GYN about this when I was pregnant with my first and she laughed and said such a small amount was fine. So I continued to recieve under both forms and gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby boy.
 
ILIKECEREAL said:
Can you ask your priest if you can get something else besides wine. I know that sounds bad but don’t a few places use grape juice for alcoholics, I heard this from someone around here. If so can that be extended for pregnant women? Can grape juice be substituted? Or are those not catholic churches. Is there any chance to sort of skip the wine? I know once again that sounds bad but she is pregnant and your not suppose to have any alcohol while pregnant for the baby.
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NYET.

Nothing can be “substituted” for grape wine. It must be made completely of grapes and it must be wine.

Mustum is a special form of grape wine that is permitted to alcoholic priests only, on a case by case basis. Essentially, it is freshly squeezed grapes that have not been allowed to ferment (it is not pasteurized, as grape juice is, so it will ferment if given the chance). There is no reason to offer mustum to the laity, even if alcoholic or pregnant.
 
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