Oh Cr*p - just found out and have been heavily drinking

[Strawberry0998]

Hi Mumsnet!

Kind of freaking out here, period was late but didn’t think too much of it as my cycles are 36-39 days by day 42 no period and I just had this feeling I was pregnant, boobs so sore, nausea, cramps etc. Did a test yesterday morning and yep there’s the cross!

This is not planned but I am married, financially secure it’s just not the right time - well is it ever?!

Anyway it is what it is as they say but as it wasn’t planned, I have been drinking a lot - well over the recommended NHS amount - maybe 2 large wines a night and weekends even worse (I have a very very stressful job)!!! I have not been looking after my health at all and I am so so so worried about what might happen or risks I could have posed to the baby and I just don’t know what to do. I am completely freaked out :( I feel so guilty.

Should I tell my GP, is there anything I can do now?! Or is the damage done.

The baby won’t be connected to your blood supply yet. The placenta doesn’t form until about 8-12 weeks. Don’t worry, you haven’t done any damage.

@BlueSoop

The baby won’t be connected to your blood supply yet. The placenta doesn’t form until about 8-12 weeks. Don’t worry, you haven’t done any damage.

Oh really?! I’ve been DESPERATELY googling but the information is so different - I am riddled with guilt.

OP the night before I got my positive test this pregnancy (26 wks now) - I’d been out on the lash with the girls and got really pissed. Was lying in bed with an awful hangover when I saw a faint line.... It happens. Go easy on yourself x

I don't think you'll have harmed baby, give yourself time to absorb the shock and stop beating yourself up.

Make an appointment with your gp to clear up any lingering worries and if you need to talk things through before making a decision as to what you want to do.

If you can take time away from your job this weekend to rest, eat well and get some fresh air then I think it'll do you good.

Please don't worry. I didn't realise I was pregnant and drank a shameful amount of units over a Christmas and New Year, after which followed a weekend away and a big birthday for a friend. Obviously I was horrified when I discovered I was in fact 8 weeks pregnant. I had no reason to think I was as I was on reliable contraceptives. My DD is now 22 and at university and is a bright, gorgeous girl. The midwife said to me if she had a pound for every woman who came in with a story like mine she'd be very rich. Your baby will be fine. Congratulations

@DollyParton2

OP the night before I got my positive test this pregnancy (26 wks now) - I’d been out on the lash with the girls and got really pissed. Was lying in bed with an awful hangover when I saw a faint line.... It happens. Go easy on yourself x

Thank you I am trying but I feel horrible, my cycles are so long and it’s so easy to go over that I just didn’t think and I am such a wine - down woman of an evening it’s such a bad habit! I absolutely stopped immediately although giving up my cup of coffee each morning is going to be tough!

I think as it wasn’t planned I am so overwhelmed! Xxx

I didn’t find out I was pregnant until I was 17 weeks. I’d emigrated to Canada several weeks earlier and had drunk my way through several leaving parties and arriving parties!

The baby doesn't connect to your blood stream for quite a long time. I wouldn't worry at all

@TheFormidableMrsC

Please don't worry. I didn't realise I was pregnant and drank a shameful amount of units over a Christmas and New Year, after which followed a weekend away and a big birthday for a friend. Obviously I was horrified when I discovered I was in fact 8 weeks pregnant. I had no reason to think I was as I was on reliable contraceptives. My DD is now 22 and at university and is a bright, gorgeous girl. The midwife said to me if she had a pound for every woman who came in with a story like mine she'd be very rich. Your baby will be fine. Congratulations

This made me smile - thank you so much for sharing!

We too were using contraception so it’s a bit of a shock especially as I think we had sex twice in February! In 10 years we’ve never even had a scare or a worry - must have had the stars collide for us.

Very shocked especially as there so many plans this year post lockdown! X

@TaraR2020

I don't think you'll have harmed baby, give yourself time to absorb the shock and stop beating yourself up.

Make an appointment with your gp to clear up any lingering worries and if you need to talk things through before making a decision as to what you want to do.

If you can take time away from your job this weekend to rest, eat well and get some fresh air then I think it'll do you good.

Thank you, luckily my job is extremely stressful but I refuse to work on a weekend as I pull 12-14 hours a day in the week (yay to law firms!) so I think this weekend will be PJ’s and research - I feel so overwhelmed xx

@MooseBeTimeForSummer

I didn’t find out I was pregnant until I was 17 weeks. I’d emigrated to Canada several weeks earlier and had drunk my way through several leaving parties and arriving parties!

If you don’t mind me asking how was the rest of your pregnancy and birth? Or are you still pregnant? X

@legalseagull

The baby doesn't connect to your blood stream for quite a long time. I wouldn't worry at all

Thank you I had no idea I really thought that was it, I’d stuffed poor baby’s future up.

I was young when I was pregnant with my first and didn't find out until I was 23 weeks pregnant. She's now 14 very intelligent, extremely quick witted and in no way deformed or damaged by the fact I was living my life as a typical 20 year old. Unexpected pregnancy is alot to get your head around! Enjoy your weekend in your PJs researching!

I went on an all inclusive holiday to the Caribbean not realising I was 6 weeks PG cos I had v irregular cycles following a miscarriage - you can imagine how much alcohol was consumed 🤦🏻‍♀️

Midwife not bothered at all - said the placenta isn't developed at that time. DS is absolutely fine and super clever - so my boozing has definitely not affected his brain!

Congratulations!

Almost everyone I know who fell pregnant unexpectedly, seemed to tell the same story: had recently been drinking loads or had a night out where they were the most drunk they had ever been. So much so that I developed my own theory around this somehow being the body's way of having one last night/week/month of drunkenness before months of sobriety.

Disclaimer: In no way is the above based on actual research/studies/anything scientific. Just my brain doing what it usually does and thinking random weird things.

In short: your baby will be fine

@Strawberry0998
Absolutely fabulous. I had no morning sickness or anything. I had been having irregular periods since coming off the pill, so thought nothing of it, especially with the stress of selling a home and packing to emigrate.
He was 10lb 11oz and turned 9 at Christmas.

Don't worry!!! Baby not connected yet! I found out I was pregnant with a hangover 😂 I am now 15 weeks pregnant and everything is fine!
You also don't need to give up coffee - 200mg caffeine is allowed! Read the book 'expecting better' - it dispels so many myths

I found out I was pg, young and definitely unplanned- I had been drinking, smoking, recreational drugs, early jan so big New Years party etc. Confessed all to the Dr who said it was fine- smoking was the bigger issue in terms of the pg at that point.

Thank you all for your replies - I feel a lot better!! This last year of lockdown has definitely made me drink more (well what else is there to do!!) so I definitely panicked! I still am.... maybe this was my body telling me to pack it in and give my liver a rest.

Still very shocked but we’ll see what the next few weeks bring - it’s still super early, can’t quite work out the dates as my cycles avg. 36 days but can go to 39! Looking at my app my last period was 22nd Jan but with my long cycles looks like I might be maybe just 5 weeks?

Looks like we just outgrew our 2 bed terrace overnight!

Firstly, congratulations OP! I found out I was pregnant with my DS on my last day of honeymoon - I'd spent the week mostly full of prosecco/wine/champagne and spent a decent chunk of each day in hot tubs, saunas, outdoor thermal springs and even an ice bath 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️ I wasn't worried about the alcohol really, as other people say there's no placenta flow between you and baby at that point. I was slightly more concerned about all the extreme temperature stuff and spinal/neural development but my 4 year old is completely "normal"!

45% of pregnancies are unplanned.
11% of women drink between 14-35 units per week of alcohol.

0.45*0.11= 5% (roughly) so that’s assuming all those women are of child barring age. Which they won’t be. But you can see ALOT of women drink ALOT of alcohol and get pregnant/keep a healthy pregnancy just fine.

Links www.drinkaware.co.uk/research/research-and-evaluation-reports/alcohol-consumption-uk

Please don't worry - before my friend got her BFP (unplanned) she was on a group holiday in Spain - drinking by the pool all day, jet skii's and incredibly strong drinks every night.
She has a very cute (and very sassy!) 2 year old daughter :)

Thank you all - I still am quite anxious but definitely not as panicked as I was when I found out!

Do not worry at all.
Get on the folic acid x