Worried

[Onestep2]

I've just came back from holiday to discover that I'm pregnant! Obviously over the moon about the pregnancy. I'm currently 4 weeks along so it's still very early. This is my first child.

However for the last 2 weeks I have done nothing but drink cocktails and wine and the occasional ciggy (I know it's disgusting - I quit over 2 years ago but something about the sun and sangria made me cave a few times)

I'm now freaking myself out that the holiday alcohol and smoking will have harmed baby. Can anyone reassure me or give advice that it will all be okay?

All I can say is that this must happen to SO many women!! It took us 5 months to conceive our daughter so we were actively trying and regularly testing...and yet I still managed to get off my face on gin for a full weekend whilst unwittingly pregnant! DD is 20 months now and totally fine! Baby number 2 is due (today!) and I didn't know about him until I was 10 weeks gone - I certainly had a few vinos in that time too.

I'm sure it will be absolutely fine.

I've heard the expression drink 'til it's pink. I think there's quite a lot to be said for it. Otherwise you could be avoiding drink for months/years for nothing.
I'm sure only a few women stop drinking while they are trying to conceive.

Try not to worry (easier said than done I know), but the chance of you having done any harm to your baby is low.

I hope you have a good pregnancy, birth and a happy, healthy baby.

Hi onestep, I know quite a few people who got pregnant after drinking before they found out, stopped as soon as they knew, and none of them had any problems with their pregnancies or babies. In fact one of my best friends tested, got a BFN, then got absolutely wasted on a night out, and told me how the day she found out she was pregnant was the following morning - she had done a pregnancy test that morning while they were both immensley hungover and got her BFP. Her baby was fine. Hes 3 now!

The majority of things healthcare professionals tell you not to do whilst pregnant are because there is no evidence to say they are safe, not because there is evidence to say it will be harmful.

Smoking i think is different, but actually if it was only a short time when you were on holiday and you're not going to smoke throughout the pregnancy, it's not a big deal.

I do also have a friend who was a heavy smoker prior to getting pregnant, and on getting pregnant could not go cold turkey and she was having one a day through the pregnancy. She told her midwife who said it's far better than 20 a day, and one a day or occasionally is fine.

I think you will be absolutely fine.
I hope that helps xx

Ps congratulations!

I found out I was pregnant 3 days after getting back from a 2 week holiday in Florida. I was 8 weeks pregnant no idea.
I went on rollercoasters, Waterstones, drank and even carried on taking my contraceptive pill totally oblivious. I’m now 31 weeks and have decided this baby is made of strong stuff! Try not to worry too much and congratulations xx

Im so glad it's not just me! Thank you ladies. I feel a lot more at ease!!

Just a bit of a shock as although we were trying I didn't even think it would be a positive so soon so didn't even think about it on holiday. Wasn't till we arrived home and I thought about it and realised i had over 4 weeks of interrupted happy days without AF!!!

@skylucy your due today??? How exciting!!!! Good luck xxx