First post - unexpectedly pregnant and worried

[ExpatWino]

Hi, first time posting so please be gentle! I have a lot of questions Hopefully I posted this in the right forum!

I (37, live overseas with DH and dog) have just got a positive home test result.
We were definitely not TTC but my cycle has been weird lately, so I took a test in mid-Sept and got a negative result (3 days after sex, unsure how many days after ovulation) My next period didn't come on schedule so I waited as I thought it was just being weird, but then it got really late so I thought I should do a test, and just got a positive. Eek!!

Because my cycle has been off, I have no idea when I may have conceived. We've only had PIV sex 2 times since my last period, so either the last test was just a moment too early, or I got pregnant last weekend. Would a test show up a positive result so soon?

If I'm already a month gone, I'm concerned I've been doing lots of "wrong" things. In the past month I've spent 2 weeks in Japan eating raw fish, raw meat, etc. Plus I work in the wine industry and have been drinking pretty much every day with work. On top of that, I've been on a strict keto diet (basically only eating meat and fat with a few veggies) for the past 3 weeks... Are these things damaging for the baby if we decide to go ahead with the pregnancy?

So many questions! Hope someone can help

Okay, so most tests will only show pregnancy at the earliest from 10 days past ovulation - I think it is most likely that your last test was just a tad too early. It is more likely that you conceived from the first sex.

Regarding the raw fish etc - I believe that pregnant women are advised to avoid sushi because of the risk of food poisoning. If you've been well, then there's no problem! Regarding drinking, lots of people continue to drink in the first few weeks of pregnancy before realising they are pregnant. Doesn't sound like you were drinking to the point of inebriation anyway? So I wouldn't worry - just stop drinking now! Same for the diet - just start eating properly now. In the first few weeks the baby doesn't even have a placenta/umbilical cord anyway so isn't getting nutrients directly from your bloodstream. I'm sure it will be absolutely fine, but check it out with your GP / midwife if you have further concerns.

Congratulations :)

Agree 100% with @BadBadBeans. It's very unlikely you'd get a positive test at only 1 week after conceiving so more likely you're further along. Was the line quite clear? Don't worry about the wine, sushi etc., all you can do is eat according to the nhs guidance from the point you know you're pregnant. Incidentally, sushi is usually ok to eat throughout pregnancy in the UK as it has to be made using fish that has been frozen but I imagine in Japan it might be different.

Good luck whatever you decide to do going forward.

Start taking folate supplements immediately, OP, and increase your green veg, to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
Avoid soft and unpasteurised cheeses, raw egg, pate and raw meat or fish.
Ditto alcohol and cigarettes.
If friends have cats, avoid the litter tray (toxoplasmosis).
Other than that, congratulations, and my best wishes for a happy and safe pregnancy and delivery!

So many of us have had this worry. My GP told me the embryo hadn't even bedded in so wasn't actually attached to me!

The placenta doesn't fully develop until week 13 or something. For the first weeks baby isn't attached to you per se and actually feeds itself from its own yolk sac - like a chick. So don't worry- you haven't damaged bubs. We've evolved this way for this very reason - genius stuff.

Agree with folate and more veg and no wine or smokes. It'll be fine. Congrats!

PS I'm overseas too - some info on here a God send as it's so different where I live