Worried about fetal alcohol syndrome

[Ljd401]

Hi all,
Just found out that I'm pregnant. The day after I would have conceived I had half a fruit cider, a few sips of prosecco and gin and tonic then last weekend I had a glass of pimms. I'm so so worried as all the research I've done says that the first few weeks are crucial in the development and that even a small amount of alcohol can cause damage. I wish I hadn't had anything. I usually don't drink so that's why I'm even more annoyed. Going to stress about this the whole pregnancy. I already can't sleep for thinking about it I'm classed as 4 weeks pregnant today.

 

[millielaura]

nooo you would honestly have to drink so much more often for a longer period of time to cause fetal alcohol syndrome. I know things are always a worry but so many people drink before finding out and baby is fine . Xx

 

[Wednesday]

I definitely wouldn't worry. It's not even a foetus yet! Seriously, unless you're an alcoholic drinking several units every day then you shouldn't be worried x

 

[kathryn85]

The first 4 weeks dating back from your last period are the least important time to be worrying about that as there is so little development and also most women don't know they are pregnant that early! I found out at 4 weeks that I was pregnant and had been drinking the two previous weekends!

You would have to be binge drinking several times throughout your pregnancy to get fetal alcohol syndrome.

You are no different to most women who don't tend to stop drinking until they find out they are pregnant.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

 

[TORino]

Please do not worry about this.

The week I got my bfp with my daughter I had at least 2 nights out of heavy drinking. I had a few drinks throughout the pregnancy too on special occasions. She is absolutely fine.

I also know a child with FAS. The mother drank excessively during pregnancy, like bottles of wine a day etc.

The baby is little more than a ball of cells at this stage that isn't growing from a placenta yet.

 

[Hoping for no2]

Yes can only reiterate what the others have said. You'd have to be drinking constantly during pregnancy to cause any damage. I went on a hen do with my first and didn't know I was pregnant and drank loads. This time I was in On holiday and drank every day for 4 days and found out I was pregnant the day I got back. I'm not worried in the slightest! In the early weeks the baby is literally cells, it's not a foetus. There is nothing to worry about X

 

[kumber]

As others have said, having a few drinks at such an early stage makes little difference, the zygote is only just separating and hasn't yet formed much beyond nubs that will eventually develop into limbs. FAS is cause by long term exposure to alcohol - we're talking a bottle of wine a day at the very least.

 

[Browneyed Girl]

You have absolutely nothing to worry about with that little alcohol x

 

[Ljd401]

Thanks so much for the reassurance. I'm just such a worrier. You're all very kind xx

 

[Dyan Belinda]

Seriously don't worry about it, the baby doesn't start drawing anything from your body until around 8 weeks when the placenta and umbilical cord are in full working order. Before that the baby has a yolk sac which they get all the nutrients from. So don't stress at all your baby will be fine!

 

[vic30]

No!!!! If you continued to drink a couple of bottles of wine everyday for the rest of your pregnancy then I'd say you had reason to be concerned. It's about continuous drinking of alcohol. I found out I was pregnant unexpectedly at 7 weeks and since conception I had a glass of sherry (don't ask!) a glass of champagne, two bottles of wine (4 sittings I might add) and I'm not worried at all. It's just one of those things. If we had been trying to conceive I wouldn't have had any alcohol but we weren't so I'm not going to worry about it X

 

[_GG_]

A friend of mine with two perfectly healthy girls, conceived both while on skiing holidays and was absolutely wasted for the entirety of both. All development at this stage is at a cellular level so as long as you cut it completely or at least massively cut down now, it's really not something to worry about.

You'd have to be a hardcore drinker throughout your pregnancy to cause foetal alcohol syndrome. xx

 

[Mummyto3babies]

Please don't worry I was 18 when I found out I was pregnant with my first and obviously just turning 18 I was drinking a lot I didn't find out I was pregnant until 8 weeks and had drank every weekend ( as awful as it is and I hate the thought of it now) I was actually drunk when I found out I was pregnant. I know have a very happy healthy extremely intelligent 6 year old. Xx

 

[Carly89]

Jesus I hope not, else I'm in trouble. We weren't technically trying when I copped out, due to the stress of TTC and abnormal smear results, we took a month off. The weekend I think we conceived was a weekend in Dublin, and as you can only imagine.. There was a lot of alcohol consumed in those few days! I don't feel guilty I feel blessed. Unless you are an alcoholic or alcohol dependent in some form, I think you’ll be absolutely fine xx