Alcohol in the Amniotic fluid

[ringsaglitter]

Hi guys,

I've had a bit of a mess up. I am pregnant, but I had a semi-weak positive test, followed by a negative test the next day - so thought I'd had another chemical pregnancy. My symptoms (sore breasts, cramping) also went, and it's not my first time to go through this.

So a couple days later I had a couple of beers as I was on holiday (thank goodness nothing heavier but still), then next day, I dunno, something felt off so I did another test......and it was positive.
Of course I'm happy, and taking my folic acid, not touching alcohol again etc however the beers I had were around day 12, when the amniotic sac and fluid starts.

We know that before the placenta is formed, alcohol still reaches the baby via the yolk sac:

"Alcohol consumed at any stage of pregnancy can reach the baby. In the earliest stages of pregnancy the developing embryo gets its nutrients from a structure called the yolk sac. Alcohol from the mother’s bloodstream can pass into the yolk sac"

https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/32962/#:~:text=Alcohol%20consumed%20at%20any%20stage,pass%20into%20the%20yolk%20sac.

And that the amniotic sac forms around day 12, with the ability to remove alcohol at 3 to 4 % of the mothes rate. So the 4.5 units of beer I drank will have taken about 6 days to leave the amniotic fluid, according to my calculation, however......

In the past I read, and I've seen a documentary where it stated very clearly that trace amounts of alcohol stay in the amniotic fluid permantly. Is this correct? Is anyone able to link me to something about this?

I know everyone says what's done is done, but I can't help worrying now

Also, has anyone else had a positive test, then negative, then positive again?

My mum was 6 1/2 months pregnant and in her 40s when she discovered she was having me. She had drank alcohol throughout and smoked 20 cigarettes a day. I was fine.

I'm not dismissing your concerns, just saying the chances of any ill effects with the amount you drank are miniscule. Stop worrying.

You'll be fine. Stop worrying

You're fine x don't worry

Please don’t worry. It was a couple of beers, you were hardly getting paralytic on hard spirits.

With gentleness, please do not worry, many many many women drink at that stage before they know. The warnings are to stop people really getting hammered repeatedly throughout pregnancy. And congratulations!

I’d tested negative before I went on a week of drinking, every day and night I had some event on. I think on night 3 I’d had multiple wines, gins & vodkas and didn’t feel I was enjoying it or getting drunk, the next morning I tested positive. Everything was fine. My Dr at the time (ex paediatrician) told me not to worry, most women don’t realise they are pregnant and drink in the early stages of pregnancy with no issues.

Honestly, you're fine. Stop reading so much into it. Your baby isn’t going to develop FAS just from that. Heroin addicts conceive, go full term and deliver addicted babies. You had a couple of beers extremely early on. You have not done any damage. Have you had previous losses?

Thanks guys. I'm beating myself up because I wanted to make sure the baby got a perfect alcohol and caffiene free enviroment to grow, and although I stopped alcohol no probs, I'm finding getting up in the morning without coffee literally impossible

Sounds like this isn't just about alcohol, from your update. Sounds like it's you worrying that you're not good enough for your baby.

You are. Because you are you and you are growing and nurturing your baby and doing the very best you can for him/her. You haven't killed him with a couple of beers and you won't end him with a cup of coffee in the morning either.

And you will carry and birth your baby and you will love each other and go on the fantastic rollercoaster of life together and some things you'll fuck up and some you won't. But the odd beer and a coffee in the morning won't even figure in that long run.

I went on a work do and got somewhat drunk before I tested positive a few days later. It became a bit of an office joke.

The early to mid pregnancy robbed me of the enjoyment of caffeine.
In the last couple of months I could tolerate it again and had a weak coffee at home and a latte at a coffee shop near daily.

The baby was totally&completely fine.

Wishing you well with your baby news 💐

You need to knock that perfectionism on the head right now before you drive yourself and others mad. Drinking a bit before you know you're pregnant is the norm, not some great moral falling. Babies are grown and born in such a range of circumstances and if this is your biggest worry you're a lucky woman indeed. I would go so far as to consider it self indulgent.

Self-indulgent... what an odd thing to say

You know absolutely nothing about my life or the challanges I'm facing, I'm simply enquiring about the correct stastics of how long the alcohol stays in the amniotic fluid

Drinking alcohol before you know you're pregnant may be common where you live, but in this country it's about 8% (so 92% don't)

I don't know what's making you so bitter about life but sort it out before you go around posting unhelpful, unpleasant replies.............

Day 12? Is there amniotic fluid? There certainly isn't a baby to be harmed - sorry if this is insensitive but have a look at fetal development - understanding it will make your journey easier.

They used to tell pregnant women to drink Guinness for the iron. (My partner's nan continued to drink a bottle of it every day until she died, in her 90s, of old age).

My SIL who was a few months pregnant and knew it, got so drunk on her wedding day she threw up down her dress before passing out. Yes, I judged her. My nephew, however, is totally fine.

I wouldn't worry.

Please try not to worry. Your baby will not be harmed from the small amount of alcohol you drank this early on. Also you can have up to two cups of coffee perfectly safely throughout pregnancy.

I’d be more concerned about the anxiety levels you are experiencing as they seem higher than normal. This can be markers for requiring extra support during pregnancy and after birth so if it continues I would recommend mentioning it to your midwife so you can receive the correct help.

Yeah, thank you. Once the pregnancy progresses I'll relax and enjoy the ride. I've had miscarriages etc so it's not like I'm trying to be perfect, rather I don't want to lose another baby.

I found the book Expecting Better my Emily Osted great for managing pregnancy worries such as alcohol and caffeine, I'd really recommend it.

A coffee is fine?

https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/

haha yeah, I drink about 4 at breakfast then usually a monster or diet coke etc later in the day.

You're drinking monsters and you're worrying about a small amount of alcohol?

I'm not sure how far along you are, but I suddenly had no choice but to give up coffee and tea at 6 weeks when the morning sickness hit hard!

Whilst I'm not advocating drinking in pregnancy, 20 years ago it was considered safe to have a couple of units, even earlier they suggested half a pint of Guinness daily! Try to relax and stay off the alcohol now

Pregnancy after loss is anxiety inducing I understand. ❤️

Caffeine is something you need to reduce, try decent decaffeinated coffee and redbush tea

DP didn't know she was pregnant until she went into labour, and drank throughout. DD turned out fine.

Obviously an extreme case, but loads and loads and loads of people have no idea they're pregnant at the point you are at. Given that half of the population isn't walking around with foetal alcohol syndrome, chances are you're fine.