Alcohol when pregnant

[Liudmyla2018]

Just found out I’m pregnant at 17 weeks. Now am worried sick as I have been drinking every weekend when out with friends, usually a few large glasses of wine. In my planned pregnancy I have not drank anything at all. Since finding out, I can not sleep at night, waking up and thinking about what I have done. I’m even considering termination... There have been topics about it but usually people find out quite early into pregnancy and quit. Anyone was in the same situation or knows someone who found out quite late and their child turned out to be fine? Internet is full of horror stories, apparently, you don’t need to be an alcoholic to cause the damage:(

Hi, my sister didn't find out till she was 12 / 13 weeks, she says she had quite a few incidences of heavy binge drinking (much more than a few large glasses), my niece is now almost 10, very clever, no behavioural problems.

I don't think you need to worry, lots of women don't find out till even later than you and their babies are fine.

I hope someone can give you a personal/lived answer but what do you mean by a few ? 3 each weekend, 5,7 ? Also when would the drinking each weekend have stopped i.e last week, 6 weeks ago? To put your mind at rest though I just did a mumsnet search and there were a few people still drinking at 24 weeks and their babies turned out fine. Same with all these “ I didn’t know I was pregnant” type programmes. Could you just stop now, discuss your concerns with your doctor, a midwife and at your 20 week scan?

I stopped going out since lockdown but had family weekend dinners when usually drank 2 large glasses of wine and then there was Easter when had 3 glasses. I have discussed this with midwife of course and unfortunately, no one can give any reassurances about outcome as each pregnancy is unique. I don’t know why I’m asking here, probably because am in despair and looking for positive stories...

i found out i was pregnant at 20 weeks & to be completely honest i was out heavy drinking almost every weekend (what i had always done) i literally had no idea i was pregnant and stopped immediately when i found out, i still beat myself up about it dometimes but my DD was born perfectly healthy no issues or problems at all and still none & she is 2!

I still feel bad about it but try not to stress over it, aslong as from now on you don't drink and look after yourself there should be no problems x

A colleague I knew didnt know she was pregnant until she was in labour full term.
She drank throughout her entire pregnancy completely unaware, and the little one was/is completely fine :)

@Liudmyla2018 I really don’t think that would have affected your baby. Especially if it was 2 or 3 glasses of wine a couple of times. In fact Harvard did a study specifically around mothers who had drank 3 to 7 drinks a week in their first trimester ( that’s why I asked when you stopped) and found the risk of any complications or learning difficulties in the children was the same for this group as the tee total (zero alcohol) group.

I know someone who found out they were pregnant as they went into labour! So they had nine months of drinking, etc and their little girl was absolutely fine.
From what I’ve read, the amount your baby will have received from you up to this point is tiny so I’d try not to worry and just look after yourself from this point on. X

I had a friend who didnt know she was pregnant untill she was over 8months and had drank as normal us going out most weekends, and played rugby for 7 months during that season, her son was born perfect and still is 10years on. Now u know ur pregnant just enjoy the pregnancy and dont stress, some people do far worse than drink during pregnancy and have perfectly healthy babies, dont let this spoil this magical time for you.