23 weeks pregnant - alcohol

[oppellen]

Hi,

I just found out I am 23 weeks pregnant and needed some advice please !!!! I go out drinking maybe once a month if that? But I drink quite a lot when I go out!!!! I also had used a bit of cocaine but not loads at all! I am scared that I’ve hurt the baby or the baby will come out and I have hurt them, I hate myself so much and obviously will not drink throughout the rest of the pregnancy! I am wondering what I can do to try and rectify this, I.e will pregnacare help with development of the baby?

I have had the scan and they haven’t said they are concerned about anything and obviously I’m just really scared of what damage I may have caused for my baby, I’ve never been so happy to find out I’m pregnant but now I’m so worried and scared and wondering if I should still go ahead because of my drinking use? As I’ve said I do not drink often once a month - if that and I will not be drinking but I could really use some peoples advice as I’m scared my baby will have FASD and I don’t know what the best thing to do for my baby is.

I am looking for advice and some people with knowledge who know people who have been in the same situation and how they’re outcome has turned out please

Congratulations!!!
I haven't been in your situation but i have read a lot of articles and read a lot of tests about FAS, and it seems that generally it's only people that are alcoholics that have babies with FAS. I have also read that a lot of people dont find out until they are 3-5 months and have perfect babies. Plus lets go back a generation, i know for sure my mum drunk when she was pregnant with me and a lot of my friends parents did the same, and the generation before that. And another positive is i know doctors that have a glass of wine or 2 every night to relax.

I know there isnt much research on drinking very little during pregnancy and how it harms your baby, its only in larger quantities, but it seems that yours isnt a lot as its once a month. As long as you stop now im sure that your baby will be absolutely fine, and im sure the midwifes and doctors will tell you the same. You will only cause yourself more stress if you worry about it. You didnt do it intentionally, you didnt know you were carrying a baby, so dont be hard on yourself and enjoy the happy news :-) xx

Thank you Maggie! I'm really really hating myself a lot because I must've been drinking quite a bit at the start of course when I didn't know, and I'm really scared of the outcome and what damage I could have potentially caused and as there is only about 16 weeks or so left of my pregnancy I want to try to rectify anything I possibly can to give my baby the best start in life. I feel so stupid for not knowing and I hate I was drinking larger amounts. However like I said it was only about once a month for the past 3 months or so as me and my partner have been saving so stopped going out as much, I would have maybe been drinking a bit more before then :( xx

Our NHS here states no alcohol, but if you look at other countries they state different. Its also to do with the fact that people in the UK cant stop after one or 2 drinks. Honestly don't worry, and don't google FAS as its scaremongering. your baby will be beautiful and healthy!xx

Congrats!! Nothing to add other that I agree with the above posters. Unless you have actual substance abuse issues, your baby is likely to be perfectly healthy and it’s obviously reassuring that your scan was fine :)

I really need to stay off Google as it is putting very scary thoughts in my head and I'm all over the place, I'm just very upset with myself and can't help but think of the worst! I pray she will be okay and nothing goes wrong☹️ I'd like to thank you very much and I'm going to try and keep this post updated for other women who may find themselves in the same situation as I know it's a very scary time xxx

No substance abuse, just worried I maybe over done it the times I have gone out and what the long term affects could be for my baby, had I known I wouldn't have done any of it, absolutely gutted and disappointed in myself, it's very hard to keep a positive mindset when you've read so many things on the internet and it's so scary to think of what I could've done etc ☹️ thank you so much for replying to the post, I appreciate it a lot xx

So if you drink once a month that's probably 4-5 times in total which isn't alot.
I found out at 25 weeks and even though I did drink in 1st trimester, I have 2 occasions where I did binge around week 23 and 24.
I also had the odd couple please of glasses here and there.
I have researched the Internet throughly and no evidence can be found to suggest that occasional binge drinking leads to problems. It is only repeated binges I.e. every week throughout your pregnancy so if you stop now everything should be fine.
I feel your pain though as I'm still anxious and have spent the whole time worrying. Non of us would ever choose to harm our babies but we aren't perfect and can only do our best from now on