9 weeks pregnant over NYE...

[rxp]

[we only found out at 13 weeks - I had not one drop to drink after NYE as I wasn't interested in drinking]

...and I drank quite a bit of champagne. As it had been the holidays I had been drinking a bit over Xmas too. My partner says that I hadn't been drinking a lot (I was feeling sick most of the time, and I agree that I had not been going crazy) but the fact that I did drink at all...it makes me sick to my stomach. I was in utter shock and disbelief when we found out as it was unplanned and entirely unexpected (there is a whole back story to why we found out so late including a negative pregnancy test, a chronic hormonal condition which causes lack of/irregular periods and being on medication that had the same side effects listed as some pregnancy symptoms - even GP did not suspect anything) and at first I was driving myself crazy...to the point of strongly considering abortion. We decided to go ahead with the pregnancy after weeks of agonizing about it. I am 35 and will be a FTM after years of being on the fence.

I had my first scan late, baby seemed very active and things seem to be progressing as they should. But of course, you can't really know if the alcohol will have had a detrimental effect until much later on.

I am now at 19 weeks and freaking out again. I know no one can tell me if I have harmed my child or not, but I am so so terrified again, to the point of considering abortion again (although I don't think I could do it at this stage - even though I am extremely pro choice no matter what).

I have looked through the board and there are so many posts like mine and there is a lot of reassurance from others but I've been stressing the whole morning and just need somewhere to put all of this angst.

My friend had a very boozy Christmas party before finding out she was pregnant. Her son is fine. Although obviously not recommended, it must happen very often. X

Don't panic, just don't drink any more. A lot of mother's drink in the early weeks as they don't know they are pregnant and go on to have healthy babies.

Here is an extract from a Danish Study:

A 2012 Danish study examined the effects on 5-year-olds whose mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy, categorized as follows:

• Low consumption: One to four drinks a week
• Moderate consumption: Five to eight drinks a week
• High consumption: Nine or more a week
• Binge drinking: Five or more drinks during a single occasion

Researchers who knew nothing about the maternal consumption of alcohol during the pregnancy examined the 5-year-old children of those pregnancies. They performed tests on IQ, attention span, and executive functions such as planning, organization, and self-control. They were unable to tell any difference between children whose mothers drank low to moderate amounts of alcohol and those who abstained completely during pregnancy.

This does not mean of course that you should continue to drink.

I drank in the early weeks (one glass of red wine every week before I knew I was pregnant and a few weeks after) and my child has gone onto be very successful with no medical issues at all.

So don't freak out and talk about aborting. Pregnancy doesn't have to be perfect.

You don't share a blood supply with the baby until the placenta develops at 10ish weeks so any alcohol before that is unlikely to have affected the baby. My friend had a 'miscarriage' just before 12 weeks and went on a huge 2 week bender only to find out it wasn't a miscarriage after all. Her son has just turned 17 and is a healthy strapping lad.. it's not recommended of course but unless you are an alcoholic its very unlikely the baby will have any lasting affects.

I found out I was pregnant first time round after an incredibly boozy week off. I had really overdone it and didn’t even recognise pregnancy symptoms as I was hungover most days.. my DS is 2 now and the cleverest, funniest little boy. Don’t beat yourself up.

An old work colleague of mine didn't realise she was pregnant until a few weeks before baby was due (long story). All throughout her pregnancy she'd gone out every weekend drinking and had even been on holiday where she drank every night. Her son was born and has grown up to be perfectly healthy. Obviously, this type of behaviour when pregnant is not to be recommended and the poor woman was desperately worried but I'm just trying to give you some reassurance.

Oh I found out I was pregnant after a boozy new year and Christmas. It won't have harmed the baby. Moving forwards.....