Newly pregnant and heavy drinking over Christmas

[slylives]

Hi - I have just found out that I am pregnant. My last period was December 3 so I am around 4-5 weeks along. I am happy but very cautious - I have had an ectopic and a uterine miscarriage in the last 8 months.

Anyway - I have been drinking "moderately-to heavily" over the Christmas holidays. Approx 2 glasses of wine probably most days, sometimes a little more. A few rum and cokes.

I am very concerned about any damage I may have done to the baby. Does anyone have any reassuring information? I tried to do some online research and kept ending up at the FAS website, reading about how I have probably inadvertently caused a lifetime of retardation and aggression.

Any kind words would be very much appreciated.

[*Aimee*]

I'm pretty sure by then the baby hasn't implanted yet so it's not receiving any nutrients from you. Someone may come along and correct me but I'm almost positive everything will be just fine! Congratulations on your pregnancy!!

[HappyMommy2]

I think your baby will be fine too. There have been lots of mamas in your shoes!!

Some mama on here will have the exact medical info about it, but I remember something about alcohol not reaching the baby that early too.

Congratulations mama!

[MaerynPearl]

Just after finding out I was pregnant with my daughter I had the heavy drinking discussion with my doctor who told me not to worry at ALL because until 6-8 weeks (sometime in there) the placenta is not even formed and functioning to pass those toxins to your baby.

Just do not drink any more and you will be fine.

Even knowing full well I could have been pregnant at the time (1 week to the day after I ovulated, a week before I found out I was pregnant for sure) I had three drinks without any fear of it touching the baby.... that was a week and half ago and now have my bfps... but no worries! and no more drinking for me! (even for my WEDDING IN JULY!!!!)

[pacificbliss]

The placenta is not functioning that early so nothing to worry about. Congratulations!

[etsdtm99]

exactly what everyone else said, you're fine. I got really sick the day after i ovulated and i was on all sorts of meds and antibiotics, it figures that i'd get pregnant (a surprise pregnancy at that!) just so i can worry..

[is it puppies?]

recently somebody posted a link to an awesome website that talked about it, I can't find it now but maybe you can if you are determined! the link (and the discussions) basically said that you need to be a heavy drinker through your pregnancy to cause FAS and even then it's just a chance... I think the post also talked about how in Quebec they had to discontinue an (alarmist) ad campaign that implied that just one drink can cause problems and it made many women seek abortions for having one drink...
it was a good website so if you search here maybe you can find the link!

[CEG]

There's no maternal-fetal circulation until about 2 weeks post-implantation (around the time you would find out you were pregnant). So generally no concerns about whatever was in your bloodstream before. Try to relax! I also had a few drinks early in my last pregnancy and even knowing about the circulation I was still nervous- but everything turned out okay!

[emnic77]

I know what that sort of worry feels like. I got pregnant with my daughter right around my 21st birthday, so do the math on that one.
I was guilty and afraid for the entire pregnancy. She now gets perfect test scores in school and was reading fluently at age 3. I hope that helps allay your fears a bit.

[earthnut]

All I've read says that although there is no known "safe" amount for alcohol, you need to drink pretty regularly throughout pregnancy to get noticeable affects. One binge won't have a noticeable affect on the baby. Just don't drink any more and the baby will be fine!

[Avocado]

Don't worry- you haven't damaged your baby. I don't even want to say how much I was drinking before I found out I was pregnant with dd1 (we were on a vacation of sorts)... it was a lot. When I found out I was pregnant, I completely FREAKED out. We were in another country/city (London) at the time and I rushed to a doctor. When I expressed my deep concern over my recent heavy (heavy!!) alcohol consumption, his reply was to "Go have a drink and celebrate."

Dd1 is now almost 5 and is a healthy, bright, wonderful child. Stressing out about it will do you and the baby no good, just enjoy being pregnant and congrats!

[Peace+Hope]

maerypearl!

just wanted to say hi (i was around this summer in TTC) and, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

[russsk]

We had cases of wine left over from our wedding so I had been drinking wine and sangria like nobody's business for a few months when I unexpectedly got pregnant. All is fine. Although ds occasionally does some nutty things that make me scratch my head, I'm pretty sure it's because he's a toddler and not because I drank.

[MacKinnon]

Come post this question in the September DDC I wonder how many of us are in the same boat!! I too drank over the holiday's, and had more than a few at my sister's birthday party on December 30th. I got a positive test at 11DPO on New Year's Day, and yes, I even partook in a champagne toast the night before. I knew I was in the two week window, I knew when I ovulated, and was hoping we were pregnant. It's generally considered fine until the maternal-fetal blood supply is shared, like one of the OP's said, about the time you miss your period, or two weeks past conception.

[rhiOrion]

We had a big beach trip about a week after conception. I really didn't think I was pregnant, so I spent that whole week in some state of tipsy.

I freaked out about it right after I got my BFP. But now, honestly, I'm happy I did it. There shouldn't be any effects on baby, and it gave me one last hurrah!

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by ilovemyavery

Come post this question in the September DDC I wonder how many of us are in the same boat!! I too drank over the holiday's, and had more than a few at my sister's birthday party on December 30th. I got a positive test at 11DPO on New Year's Day, and yes, I even partook in a champagne toast the night before. I knew I was in the two week window, I knew when I ovulated, and was hoping we were pregnant. It's generally considered fine until the maternal-fetal blood supply is shared, like one of the OP's said, about the time you miss your period, or two weeks past conception.

its not two weeks past but about 4 weeks past conception. however it is best to stop drinking as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed.

[MammaB21]

My midwives for my last pregnancy, and the ones for this one all told me the same thing. They said that the baby is getting their nutrients from the yolk sack from conception through the 7th week of pregnancy. At 8 weeks is when the placenta starts to function and the baby is getting what you take in. This could be debatable, but in general I would say anything before about 6 weeks shouldn't stress you out. Breath. Baby is fine.

[MacKinnon]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

its not two weeks past but about 4 weeks past conception. however it is best to stop drinking as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed.

Well thanks Now I really don't feel guilty about Christmas and New Years