FAS- alcohol first four weeks

[worriedmam21]

Has anyone had a bad outcome as a result of drinking moderate to heavy amounts of wine during the time prior to a positive test - so basically the first few weeks after conception. I am so worried, and what I read online has differing views. Some say it’s fine and others say that days 17-21 can be critical. I feel like such and idiot and am so ashamed.

Seriously don’t worry. I drank like a fish before I realised I was pregnant - on a girlie weekend and found out the week after I was pregnant as normally I am like clockwork so did a test. Had been out every weekend prior too.

Don't be ashamed, you can only ever work with what information you have and if you didn't know you were pregnant you could hardly be expected to act like you were.

What you describe is very common, OP. I'm not an expert but my understanding is that FAS usually requires very heavy drinking throughout pregnancy. I think if moderate to heavy drinking in the first few weeks of pregnancy was likely to trigger FAS, we'd see FAS a lot more often.

For the first few weeks, the embryo gets it's nutrients from a yolk sac until it then connects to the placenta so it isn't actually getting anything from you until then.
I wouldn't worry xx

As houseofvelour said - the placenta isn’t formed until about week 8. Prior to that the baby isn’t connected to your blood supply.

I was told categorically that tbe first 5 weeks don’t matter, I was shitfaced at conception and for the first few weeks (December and New Year). Didn’t touch a drop as soon as BFP at 4 weeks. All was well.

I drank as normal when I was ttc, and before I knew I was pregnant. But then I drank throughout my pregnancy as well. Nowhere near as much as usual, and weaker drinks than usual. By which I mean I have a very high alcohol tolerance and rarely get drunk or hangovers. Id have to drink all evening and all night for that to happen. Even then I don't get hangovers and I've never not remembered anything, I always remember regardless of how much I've had to drink. So usually if I have a spirit and mixer I make it strong, between a double and treble, poured freehand. But I made them weak, so a single or less. Or with wine I'd have a small bit topped right up with lemonade. But no way was I not having a drink for 9 months, especially at my wedding.
My mum drank and smoked as normal throughout all 3 of her pregnancies. My Nan the same both times. All fine. And I know others who have as well.

No, no one has. FAS is typically only shown in drinkers doing so throughout. It's also a VERY common panic in early pregnancy. You're good and enjoy!

@happymummy12345

I drank as normal when I was ttc, and before I knew I was pregnant. But then I drank throughout my pregnancy as well. Nowhere near as much as usual, and weaker drinks than usual. By which I mean I have a very high alcohol tolerance and rarely get drunk or hangovers. Id have to drink all evening and all night for that to happen. Even then I don't get hangovers and I've never not remembered anything, I always remember regardless of how much I've had to drink. So usually if I have a spirit and mixer I make it strong, between a double and treble, poured freehand. But I made them weak, so a single or less. Or with wine I'd have a small bit topped right up with lemonade. But no way was I not having a drink for 9 months, especially at my wedding. My mum drank and smoked as normal throughout all 3 of her pregnancies. My Nan the same both times. All fine. And I know others who have as well.

That’s appalling, your tolerance to alcohol is irrelevant to your baby. Utterly stupid.

It’s one thing to drink before you know, but just dreadful to drink throughout. Hopefully your parenting has improved by now!

You honestly have nothing to worry about.

But no way was I not having a drink for 9 months

I’m quite shocked by this. How selfish.

@happymummy12345

I drank as normal when I was ttc, and before I knew I was pregnant. But then I drank throughout my pregnancy as well. Nowhere near as much as usual, and weaker drinks than usual. By which I mean I have a very high alcohol tolerance and rarely get drunk or hangovers. Id have to drink all evening and all night for that to happen. Even then I don't get hangovers and I've never not remembered anything, I always remember regardless of how much I've had to drink. So usually if I have a spirit and mixer I make it strong, between a double and treble, poured freehand. But I made them weak, so a single or less. Or with wine I'd have a small bit topped right up with lemonade. But no way was I not having a drink for 9 months, especially at my wedding. My mum drank and smoked as normal throughout all 3 of her pregnancies. My Nan the same both times. All fine. And I know others who have as well.

Wow just wow 🤦‍♀️

@worriedmam21 do not listen to @happymummy12345

@happymummy12345

I drank as normal when I was ttc, and before I knew I was pregnant. But then I drank throughout my pregnancy as well. Nowhere near as much as usual, and weaker drinks than usual. By which I mean I have a very high alcohol tolerance and rarely get drunk or hangovers. Id have to drink all evening and all night for that to happen. Even then I don't get hangovers and I've never not remembered anything, I always remember regardless of how much I've had to drink. So usually if I have a spirit and mixer I make it strong, between a double and treble, poured freehand. But I made them weak, so a single or less. Or with wine I'd have a small bit topped right up with lemonade. But no way was I not having a drink for 9 months, especially at my wedding. My mum drank and smoked as normal throughout all 3 of her pregnancies. My Nan the same both times. All fine. And I know others who have as well.

So you’re from a long line of selfish bastards then?

@happymummy12345
Jeez, that's totally appalling. And yet you sound so proud.

@happymummy12345 trots out this very paragraph of nonsense out on EVERY thread about pregnancy and drinking. Seriously, it’s copied and pasted and ready to go. I wouldn’t pay any attention.

Don't worry OP, it was Christmas party season both times I found out I was pregnant
Both DC fine and healthy, I'm sure I read the placenta isn't functional until 8/9 weeks so wouldn't have passed to them.

@Houseofvelour

For the first few weeks, the embryo gets it's nutrients from a yolk sac until it then connects to the placenta so it isn't actually getting anything from you until then. I wouldn't worry xx

Apparently the alcohol can get to the yolk sac, might be part of why the guidance has changed. Not sure how but this site is usually reputable. www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Alcohol/

Now I have to look up does yolk sac start getting used immediately

By the way, it's not true that all the nutrition for the early embryo comes from the yolk sac. A lot comes from digestion of endometrial cells during implantation, and after that many secretions from remaining endometrial cells. This is maternal tissue and therefore anything the mother consumes has a potential route to the foetus.

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150430082304.htm

sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2009/issue57/#:~:text=The%20endometrium%20is%20the%20only,to%20the%20placenta%20is%20complete.

This is sort of intuitive; thalidomide had its effects when taken very early indeed.

embryo.asu.edu/pages/effects-thalidomide-embryonic-development

Doesn't mean that alcohol consumption in the very earliest stages is likely to cause FAS, just didn't want people to get the impression that you can ingest whatever you want before the placenta forms and it's fine.

Sorry, looks like the second link didn't format properly. It should work of you copy-paste though.

@worriedmam21

It's very you've harmed the baby in any way. As others have said, many people drink before they find out.

However, I will say that it's not ideal. People saying they drank like a fish while ttc amaze me - why? It's not without risk.

HappyMummy that's very hard to read. I hope you've changed your approach since. You're lucky your baby was well.

Another story to reassure you.

A week before I found out I was pregnant with my first l was drinking all day at a bbq and doing countless number of jagerbombs.

With my second I went out clubbing the week before I found out and had been drinking until 5am, doing countless tequila shots, jagerbombs.

Both of my children are absolutely fine.

Please don’t worry OP!

@Gleps

Were they both unplanned pregnancies?

I can understand this happening once, if you genuinely had no idea you could be pregnant. But how anyone who thinks it might even be a possibility they could be pregnant continues to drink to excess is unbelievable and totally irresponsible.

@EarringsandLipstick I’m not sure this is the point of this post but I’ll justify myself anyway. First pregnancy was planned but I’d only just come off the pill and never imagined I’d get pregnant so soon. TMI but we hadn’t even had sex during my supposed ovulating window. Second pregnancy was unplanned but a very welcome surprise for my DH and I.

A friend adopted a baby with FAS. That the baby was removed from its mother tells you all you need to know about the extent of substance abuse that causes FAS to occur. Don’t worry OP

[quote Gleps]@EarringsandLipstick I’m not sure this is the point of this post but I’ll justify myself anyway. First pregnancy was planned but I’d only just come off the pill and never imagined I’d get pregnant so soon. TMI but we hadn’t even had sex during my supposed ovulating window. Second pregnancy was unplanned but a very welcome surprise for my DH and I.[/quote]
Fair enough. I responded to your post which described twice drinking massively to excess without realising you were pregnant. I found it surprising that you wouldn't, at least on one occasion, have been actively TTC.

I didn't really mean to be judgy of you personally. Apologies for that. But I find it surprising that people are quite ambivalent about excess drinking at early stage pregnancy. That's probably because I don't drink a lot myself tho.