Fetal alcohol syndrome, risks?. And a general rant!

[Pinky333777]

I'm feeling guilty and having mixed feelings on consuming alcohol while pregnant.
Of course it's obviously best to avoid alcohol completely, but I think I've been ignoring or blocking out potential risks. Just so I can enjoy a glass of wine once a week.
How selfish of me.

I've just come off the phone with DP - who up until now has been okay with my occasional beverage - and he asked me if I were attending a friends party this weekend. Which I am. And he asked me if I will be drinking. I said I may have a glass, yes.
He's now of the opinion I should be completely avoiding alcohol.
I know deep down this is for the best and now feel guilty for having been drinking in the past.
I also selfishly feel sad this is another thing I can't do.
I'm being childish - I see that - I'm just feeling put out by all the 'can't dos and can't haves'
I tried to buy some clothes in a couple of shops recently. Neither had a maternity section. So I can't shop in normal shops.
I'm not allowed to ride my bike.
Or my scooter.
I can't do the escape rooms we hoped to do last weekend, or the Halloween celebrations at theme parks.
Can't enjoy my favourite cheese, or a cheeky cigarette.
I feel like a child always being told no and I want to strop about it 😃

Anyway, back on topic, sort of.
How much of a risk does a glass a week pose to an unborn baby?
Do you think I might have already caused damage??

I wish I had just quit completely and not been so niave and ignorant 😐
Anyone else struggling with this topic?

[Anatidae]

But you can’t say that - there’s no data.

The data says that on a population level light drinking is not associated with significant or measurable differences

From that, it’s measured and reasonable to set the advice as nhs England have done.

It is conceivable that in an individual a light level of consumption could cause issues, just as it’s conceivable (in fact known) that in some individuals heavier consumption seems to produce no effects.

Alcohol is a known teratogen. That is a fact. The level at which it has an effect is unknown. The precise mechanism by which it has an effect is unknown. The mechanisms which interact in the mother to increase/decrease the effect in the foetus are poorly known. And we can’t do that much to look at them because it’s not exactly something you’d get a research grant for and mouse modelling only gets you so far.

If x is a teratogen, it’s unlikely that any level of x is totally safe. All you can do is make informed choices based on population level, observational and retrospective studies.

[FarFrom]

Anatidae- It's clear from you not overstating any findings and being cautious in your interpretation that you are as you say a research scientist!
These areas are difficult as any results can be run with in either direction and none of us want to make mothers feel guilty. But to not report findings is to actually take away choice.

[Piewraith]

There is a trend in medicine today towards practising "defensive medicine". That is practising medicine not in a way that is best for the patient, but in a way that no one, ever, could possibly complain due to fear of litigation. The motto of defensive medicine is "well you can never be sure".

Now while that is sometimes true and patients can present unusually or have unusual outcomes, it also leads to ridiculous trains of thought like "Well I know one sip of alcohol cant affect a foetus. It's never happened ever BUT this patient could be the first one. OR their foetus could have an unrelated birth defect and they could blame the sip and sue me. She could claim I said one bottle per day, not one sip per week. Ok better ban it".

[Connor06]

Hi carnt believe what I am reading on here no amount of alchol is safe in pregnancy is it worth risking your baby's health for sake of one or 2 drinks a week why wouldn't you want to give your baby the best start possible my friend is by no means drink dependant had odd glass of wine maybe once a week sometimes not even that baby born fine or so she though started having problems round about 3 years old after various diagnosis of autism and adhd he was diagnosed with fasd to say my friend was devastated is a under statement she has to live with the guilt of that for rest of her life so please think before you have that drink because it isnt onley alcoholics that this effect it's a lottery you may get away with it but are you willing to take that chance

[Emerald89]

This thread is 3 years old?!

[Darkstar4855]

@Connor06 OP’s baby was born two years ago, not much point lecturing her now!

[Guardsman18]

@Connor06. Really interested in your post. My adopted son (birth mother a drug addict) - no health professional will even give me head space about it.

I have even spoken to the master of FASD - Dr Murkajee (sp?) and was fobbed off a bit I felt.

Who diagnosed your friends child and on what grounds? I hope you don't mind my asking. Thanks

[Connor06]

Hi my friends son was diagnosed by a pediatric in west yorkshire but it's not easy getting diagnosed she was looking his symptoms up on internet and fasd came up she found a support group and went to that then went through gp she was eventually referred and was eventually given the diagnosis he dosnt have any of the facial features which I think onley 20%of kids with this have but has been a lot better know he has support a lot of kids are misdiognosed with autism and adhd i think also some birth mums might not feel able to say they actually drank during pregnancy for whatever reason and if the mother says she didn't drink they carnt give diognosis of fasd if your adopted lo birth mother took drugs but didn't drink he wont have fasd but I think usually if theire has been drug abuse alchol has been involved as well hope you get some answers it's not easy it seems to be swept under carpet yet statistics say more kids are born with fasd then with autism and adhd so sad

[Connor06]

I'm not lecturing but if my post stops one woman from drinking during pregnancy then it's worth it

[Connor06]

Sorry he got diognosis on his behaviour ie lack of concentration not sleeping been hyperactive meltdowns also when he was younger was not meeting milestones and his ears are lower then they should be which is a symptom I'm no expert in fact never heard of it till my friend started having problems hes 10 years old know but functions at more like 6/7 year old hes adorable and a loving child

[Connor06]

Pediatrician called kate ward