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.

Thank you. I found this second article myself and it’s one that has me worried sick.

@CoalCraft

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 meant to quote you. And meant third article. I don’t understand why this isn’t clearly told to women ttc. Or maybe it’s just me that it didn’t get through to. I’m worried sick.

@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.

This is disgraceful. You should be ashamed.

@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

I was about to say this.

Don't worry.

I also drank quite a bit the weekend before I found out as my DSis was visiting. We drink a lot!

I abstained as soon as I found out, obviously, but before then not. Like you.

DD is top of the class and very healthy!

@worriedmam21 this level of anxiety needs discussion with your MW or GO, it does not bode well for pregnancy and needs to be managed before it gets out of hand.

Most babies are not conceived in optimal conditions. Most people aren’t at optimal weight or fitness, don’t have optimal diet, some have been drinking, some have been smoking, some have been on illegal drugs, some on medication not suitable for pregnancy.
All of these factors can have an impact on a fetus, but most pregnancies progress normally.

Step away from google and get some support for this as it’s only going to get harder.

*GP

Get off the internet and chill out for your own sake

Thanks everyone for the advice. I know I’m down a hole with google. This is what worried me. It says that early can be bad and weeks 3-4 is about when it was for me. The GP said not to worry. I just feel so stupid. All the other months of ttc, I did fine and this time - this one time - I drank and here we are.

depts.washington.edu/fasdpn/pdfs/KesmodelDenmarkACER2019.pdf

Half the population would have FAS if drinking in the first 4-5 weeks of pregnancy regularly caused an issue!

Before I got my bfp with my first dd, I was at a music festival. I'm sure you can imagine I wasn't exactly sober. She's a perfectly healthy 3 year old.

Even your gp has told you it's fine. I think you really need to step away from Google and just accept that you're obsessing over this and it's not healthy. Everyone is telling you that it is massively unlikely that your child has AFS. Please listen and try to work on why you're obsessing over it so much.

@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.

FAS is difficult to diagnose and is probably significantly underdiagnosed in babies who have a milder form / don’t have the distinctive facial features. So there’s probably no way to tell for sure. Honestly the best thing to do is not drink from now.

@worriedmam21
Sorry to hear you are so worried. I went through/am going through this same worry. I was on holidays during this window, and drank. Although reassured by my doctor i was shocked to discover that research does mark early pregnancy as really important. and like you i could not believe that days 17-20 are so critical. how is this not widely known?. Or maybe it is but most people I speak to don't know this.

Anyway i wanted to reach out because I know how shocked and scared you might feel. how far along are you? Have there been any problems so far in the pregnancy?
Although its scary it is good to know that plenty of people drink alcohol in early pregnancy and there are no affects.

there were some markers in my pregnancy and i think they may have been a result of this. hopefully yours is going well.