Drank because I thought I’d miscarried - but I hadn’t. Now worried sick

[IJustNeedToSleep]

Hi,

I’m currently eight weeks pregnant - when I was seven weeks, we had an early scan and we were told we had a 90% chance of miscarriage. Although there was a heartbeat, it was measuring eight days behind (conceived through IVF, so dates can’t be out, so this was very bad) and the yoke was huge (also a very bad sign).

Two days later I lost a lot of blood and a 9cm clot with lumps in it and I presumed that was it.

My last pregnancy ended in miscarriage and I’ve been a ball of anxiety through this one so when I thought I’d miscarried, I thought it would be ok to have a drink. I drank a decent amount on two evenings, not just one or two glasses of wine - I was 100% sure that I’d miscarried.

I went in for a scan on Monday (bang on eight weeks) and to our shock, the baby was still there, it still had a strong heart beat and it had caught up - now only measuring four days behind.

We we’re overjoyed (emotionally exhausted from the rollercoaster of emotions and anxiety, but overjoyed)…. But this quickly turned to fear because of how much I drank.

I know there are so many cases of people drinking a bit before they know they’re pregnant, but eight weeks just seems so late and such a critical developmental time and I’m beside myself with worry about what the long term effects could be.

We’ve been trying for almost four years now and I 100% abstained from alcohol for about four months before even starting IVF and I haven’t touched a drop whilst going through the process and then when I learnt I was pregnant. So I’m just so angry at myself and I’m so scared.

Did anyone else do the same and do you have any reassuring advice? Also, does anyone know if there are any tests you can do to see if the baby had been affected?

Huge thanks

First congratulations. I think you'll be perfectly fine and baba will be too. Look at how many women have gotten blotto and known they were pg and their babies were fine.

I would imagine the anxiety of worrying will do more harm to you and baba than the alcohol…please don’t torture yourself…baby will be fine. Congratulations ❤️

Absolutely this

Congratulations

Agreed⬆️ I didn't find out I was pregnant till 13weeks and I spent weeks 7-9 hammering the 30 degree heat and cocktails on holiday :)

All was fine and you can't help it change it. Congratulations and good luck :)

It will be okay, OP. Focus that energy into taking care of yourself from now on. I didn't know until 7 weeks first time and was drinking at a reunion of friends. "Baby" is now a great big lumbering 8 year old and all was fine. I understand your worry but it's not very likely to have caused any damage. This is a super-anxious time anyway, especially with your history, so you're going to have a lot of free-floating anxiety - try not to peg it to feelings of blame and guilt against yourself, that won't do your little one any good at all.

Foetal alcohol syndrome is caused by sustained drinking through pregnancy. I couple of blow outs like you had happens to
millions of women with no ill effects.
congratulations and try to do nice relaxing things

Don't worry about it. Probably placenta hasn't even taken over yet. And congratulations!

Congrats op. Believe it. And have a lovely Christmas! X

I found out I was pregnant the first time at 8.5weeks. I had been on two holidays in that time, one was to Amsterdam and the other I had many many cocktails and a lot of wine. I also drank several times whilst at home, once not a little amount either. Bub was fine and is a healthy thriving little boy now. I was also worried because this was a surprise pregnancy and freaked out massively about FAS, but others have mentioned this linked more to prolonged drinking throughout pregnancy. Wishing you a healthy happy pregnancy x

At 8 weeks the foetus is still getting its nutrients from the yolk sack and the placenta hasn't taken over. So please don't panic, the chances of your baby being impacted are tiny.

You have absolutely nothing to worry about. Honestly and truly. Don't let this unnecessary worry cloud these joyous days. Congratulations.

You'll be absolutely fine. I went on a drinking holiday to Prague when I was 8 weeks pregnant with my first. (I had no idea I was pregnant at the time)
He is now a completely healthy 9yo.
I think the biggest risk with drinking in the first trimester is miscarriage. So if you haven't miscarried there's not much to worry about. It's later on in the pregnancy that alcohol starts to affect development and can cause FAS.
Many women do not realise they are pregnant yet during the first trimester. As long as you aren't some full scale alcoholic you shouldn't worry. Obviously in an ideal world its best to take no risks and nor drink at all at any stage of a pregnancy.. but yes this happens to many women that they've drank in the first trimester before they realised.. and in the vast majority of cases the baby is completely fine

You'll be fine - the drinking (if loads) could have caused a miscarriage, but it didn't. That's the only risk at that early stage

Thank you all SO much. I can’t tell you how much that has helped to put my mind at ease.

I really appreciate your comments and advice.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.

xx

DGPP is correct, congratulations OP. Please try and enjoy your longed for pregnancy.

Bit late now but my BF and I went on her sisters hen do years ago and she was smoking and drinking until the cows came home, all without realising she was a month or so pregnant. Baby is now 8 YO and totally healthy. Hope all turned out well for you

To echo what others have said, I would try and put this out of your mind, stressing about this is probably worse then the drinking! I remember my nan saying something like in her day the pregnancy only really was happening if you had missed 2 or 3 periods!! The placenta hasn't taken over yet too so that's another positive. I do get the worry though, I remember being pregnant aith DS and googling before I ate stuff and avoiding tonic water and pineapple yet if I have another one wouldn't worry half as much

Congratulations ❤️

I thought I was on my period with this pregnancy so I went out and drank, and also took ibuprofen for a headache. I drank 2 large glasses of wine and 2 cocktails. I had taken several tests and all negative so thought it was fine to have a drink to drown my sorrows. I think on another night I had a beer too.

a week later I tested again because my period never got as heavy as usual, and it was positive! I felt sick thinking about the drinking. I called the midwife triage line in a panic and they said they couldn’t say if all would be ok, but just to stop drinking now.

I am now 30 weeks and all good so far, all scans and screening have been perfect so I am not worried. I hope this helps.

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to come back and thank you all for your reassuring advice.

I’m happy to say my baby is now 6 months old and an absolute joy. He’s absolutely perfect (could sleep a little more….! But we’re working on that!).

It wasn’t an easy pregnancy and I was really anxious, but he’s here! So thank you for your kind words.

x

Oh I’m so delighted to hear that! What a lovely update. Enjoy your beautiful boy 💕💕💕