Page 2 | 18 weeks pregnant and binge drinking!

Summergal1 · 2024-05-14T19:37:08+00:00

Hello everyone. I am FREAKING out. I found out I’m about 18 weeks pregnant and have had many episodes of binge drinking. what I can recall: 11 & 12 weeks about a bottle of wine within 3 hours one Friday and one Saturday + two glasses of champagne! Week 13 - a case of the four pack wine cocktail again within probably 2-3 hours week 17- a bottle of wine again 2-3 hours do you think I have caused FAS? :(

pastaforever · 14/05/2024 22:42

Honestly @jannier it's you I'm concerned about. You seem very unhappy and quite mean. Also, what do you think a GP is going to do about it? A scan can't tell you anything. If you're going to be judgemental at least try to be accurate.

likepebblesonabeach · 14/05/2024 23:11

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Are you really questioning why some has fun?
The op clearly didn't know she was pregnant and has mentioned drinking on 4 weekends out of 18 so approx once a month, hardly partying to excess. What a miserable life you must lead if you think this is too much fun.
Congratulations op on your pregnancy

supersonicginandtonic · 14/05/2024 23:12

@Soontobe60 I beg your pardon? I've worked in substance misuse for over ten years and work closely with the specialist substance misuse midwives. I am also a qualified SEND teacher and know that FASD conditions are very hard to diagnose as the symptoms can present very similarly to other conditions and disorders. Not once did I say all the babies of the mums I support are fine, I said often they are. Some sadly are not but I am talking about mums who drink significant amounts daily who cannot just stop as soon as they discover they are pregnant.
There is also a difference between alcohol dependency and binge drinking. I'm presuming you know this?
What I was trying to do was reassure the OP who didn't really binge drink on any occasion. The most she drank was around ten units so only just considered a binge.

HedgehogB · 14/05/2024 23:19

Try to relax. A friend of mine teaches midwifery at a major hospital and I was concerned as I drank a few times in the early weeks, unaware I was expecting. She has said repeatedly (in her 30 years’ experience) that FAS is seen only among mothers who drink a LOT ie a bottle of vodka in one go. Again and again. What has happened to you is not great, but very unlikely to have caused longstanding harm. The very early weeks are ironically safest as the placenta isn’t yet formed, limiting the transfer of alcohol. Best wishes for your pregnancy. X

Original poster

Summergal1 · 15/05/2024 00:34

supersonicginandtonic · 14/05/2024 23:12

@Soontobe60 I beg your pardon? I've worked in substance misuse for over ten years and work closely with the specialist substance misuse midwives. I am also a qualified SEND teacher and know that FASD conditions are very hard to diagnose as the symptoms can present very similarly to other conditions and disorders. Not once did I say all the babies of the mums I support are fine, I said often they are. Some sadly are not but I am talking about mums who drink significant amounts daily who cannot just stop as soon as they discover they are pregnant.
There is also a difference between alcohol dependency and binge drinking. I'm presuming you know this?
What I was trying to do was reassure the OP who didn't really binge drink on any occasion. The most she drank was around ten units so only just considered a binge.

Thank you for this. Your words have helped a lot I'm sorry for some harsh responses back. There will always be those lol - I expected some back lash for myself.

OP posts:

Original poster

Summergal1 · 15/05/2024 00:35

HedgehogB · 14/05/2024 23:19

Try to relax. A friend of mine teaches midwifery at a major hospital and I was concerned as I drank a few times in the early weeks, unaware I was expecting. She has said repeatedly (in her 30 years’ experience) that FAS is seen only among mothers who drink a LOT ie a bottle of vodka in one go. Again and again. What has happened to you is not great, but very unlikely to have caused longstanding harm. The very early weeks are ironically safest as the placenta isn’t yet formed, limiting the transfer of alcohol. Best wishes for your pregnancy. X

Thank you!!

OP posts:

Randomthought · 15/05/2024 00:38

Well the good news is you got through the morning sickness stage and didn’t even realise 🤣

Original poster

Summergal1 · 15/05/2024 00:45

Randomthought · 15/05/2024 00:38

Well the good news is you got through the morning sickness stage and didn’t even realise 🤣

lol! With all this worry I didn't even think about that

OP posts:

Iridescentdragon · 15/05/2024 01:01

You can only make decisions with the information you have at the time.

I've not idea about FAS but you shouldn't feel guilty about what has happened. You didn't know you were pregnant, you couldn't have factored that into any decisions you made before you found out.

Congratulations and I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well

Breezy1985 · 15/05/2024 01:10

Try not to worry. I found out about my son 6 weeks before he was born at full term. I was 19 and had many weekends and nights out during the unbeknown to me pregnancy.

He is and always has been perfectly healthy, he's 18 now and just fine.

Original poster

Summergal1 · 15/05/2024 03:29

Iridescentdragon · 15/05/2024 01:01

You can only make decisions with the information you have at the time.

I've not idea about FAS but you shouldn't feel guilty about what has happened. You didn't know you were pregnant, you couldn't have factored that into any decisions you made before you found out.

Congratulations and I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well

Thank you for your kind words

OP posts:

Original poster

Summergal1 · 15/05/2024 03:29

Breezy1985 · 15/05/2024 01:10

Try not to worry. I found out about my son 6 weeks before he was born at full term. I was 19 and had many weekends and nights out during the unbeknown to me pregnancy.

He is and always has been perfectly healthy, he's 18 now and just fine.

Wow! That must have been a journey lol I have heard it this happening a lot actually! I could not imagine!! Thank you for your experience means a lot

OP posts:

Original poster

Summergal1 · 15/05/2024 03:30

Iridescentdragon · 15/05/2024 01:01

You can only make decisions with the information you have at the time.

I've not idea about FAS but you shouldn't feel guilty about what has happened. You didn't know you were pregnant, you couldn't have factored that into any decisions you made before you found out.

Congratulations and I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well

Thank you so much!

OP posts:

readyforroundthree · 15/05/2024 06:30

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I seriously question why people like you are on a 'support' forum.
Do you actually think before you type or are you one of the few on here who get off on making others feel like shit? How sad.

ontheflighttosingapore · 15/05/2024 06:33

supersonicginandtonic · 14/05/2024 20:46

@Summergal1 first of all try and calm down, stress isn't good for the baby.
Don't feel bad you didn't know you were pregnant so you cannot change what has happened.
Ignore the poster saying see your GP, the amounts you have posted are not concerning and not out the normal limits and not something I would call binge drinking.
In regards to FASD, I'd say it is very unlikely. I work with mother who are dependent on alcohol and rarely are their children affected. The chances if your baby being affected are tiny.
I'd advise you to speak to your midwife about it, she will help you out your mind at rest. She will also be able to help with any anxiety that you are having.

Are you a doctor ? If no then you should be giving advice like this.

Commonhousewitch · 15/05/2024 06:43

My best friend did this - she found out at 16 weeks - having gone through her own wedding, honeymoon and various weekends away/nights out- drinking a lot more than you. Baby was very healthy (has just graduated)- it is very worrying though-welcome to the world of maternal guilt

supersonicginandtonic · 15/05/2024 07:40

@ontheflighttosingapore in what way? I've not said anything that is not true though have I?

Tailfeather · 15/05/2024 07:53

Many of my friends were partying before they found out. One was 5 months!! She used to complain how tired she was and how wine was making her feel really weird, but she pushed on through!! (We would be at dinners, weddings etc). She was also lugging heavy loads and horse-riding every day. Her son is my godson snd is 11 now, bright as a button and absolutely no issues.

Tailfeather · 15/05/2024 07:53

PS Congratulations!!!!

Freysimo · 15/05/2024 07:54

Please see your GP. They're not there to judge. Personally I couldn't stomach alcohol in early pregnancy, in fact it was one of my first signs I was pregnant!

jannier · 15/05/2024 08:41

readyforroundthree · 15/05/2024 06:30

I seriously question why people like you are on a 'support' forum.
Do you actually think before you type or are you one of the few on here who get off on making others feel like shit? How sad.

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Ok...so in your opinion I should say carry on binge drinking it's fine....the op says she's been doing it a lot. And rather than get reassurance on babys health from a GP take comfort in the medical opinion of MN.
Any one who binge drinks is not drinking to medical advice and should review it.

readyforroundthree · 15/05/2024 08:48

jannier · 15/05/2024 08:41

Ok...so in your opinion I should say carry on binge drinking it's fine....the op says she's been doing it a lot. And rather than get reassurance on babys health from a GP take comfort in the medical opinion of MN.
Any one who binge drinks is not drinking to medical advice and should review it.

Show quote history

That's not what I'm saying and you know it. If she had known she was pregnant then clearly she wouldn't have been drinking.

Interesting that you seem triggered by my response calling you out, but there's lots of other posters who have said your comment was out of line.

a222 · 15/05/2024 08:56

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she’s hardly drank every day has she? this is such a needless and spiteful comment lmao

Hoolahoophop · 15/05/2024 09:33

Speak to your midwife, there is a lot of medical research out there looking at the link between alcohol consumption in pregnancy and brain development in children. Advising you that it 'will be fine because my friend drunk more' or 'you have damaged your child through your irresponsible behavior' will not help you or your child. Especially if you suffer from anxiety. Knowledge is power. Do your research, look at actual statistics and understand what the risk are, and how you can spot issues. Nobody here can give you advice as they do not have enough information on your specific case.

jannier · 15/05/2024 10:00

readyforroundthree · 15/05/2024 08:48

That's not what I'm saying and you know it. If she had known she was pregnant then clearly she wouldn't have been drinking.

Interesting that you seem triggered by my response calling you out, but there's lots of other posters who have said your comment was out of line.

Show quote history

Your comment is the only one that has come up on my notifications.
I was talking binge drinking in general not to do with pregnancy it's not good for a man either anybody who binge drinks is advised not to.....as stated in the last bit of the comment you quoted.