HELP! Found out about pregnancy at 25 weeks and have been drinking HEAVILY

[urgenthelp1]

First of all, I am sober now since finding out. I know that I have a problem and I am starting IOP therapy next week. I promise I am getting help.

I have PCOS, on birth control, and very irregular periods.
I have been drinking daily, and heavily, for the majority, if not all of my pregnancy since dealing with grief in late January.
I am so scared that I have caused irreparable damage to my baby.

Can anyone give me ANY bit of hope that this baby might be okay? Does anyone know of anyone where a similar situation has happened and everything turn out okay?

I am now 27 weeks. I have had an anatomy scan, and everything looks okay from what they can see, aside from the baby measuring a little behind in length. Weight is normal for gestational age, and organs look normal as well.

I am absolutely distraught and disgusted with myself and cannot sleep due to the constant anxiety and worry over what I have done. Please reassure me.

I know it's easier said than done but please do try to give yourself a break: you didn't know you were pregnant, and with irregular periods (and presumably no symptoms) it's understandable that you'd not realise, especially on birth control. I know you feel terrible but you really aren't to blame.

Obviously nobody can know the future, but if everything was OK on the anatomy scan, that's a great sign. Xx

I would try to put this to the back of your mind if you can.
If baby has FAS, worrying about it won't change the outcome.

You have done the right thing by knocking it on the head when you found out you were pregnant, do not beat yourself up.

I know it's difficult not to worry but a huge well done that you are managing to stay sober now. Every day from now on that your baby gets to develop with zero alcohol in your bloodstream is going to increase his or her health. You are doing brilliantly. Try to fix your thoughts on that positive. Stress, worry and sleeplessness release chemicals into the bloodstream which can also affect your baby so it doesn't do any good to dwell on the past. Lots and lots of pregnancies go undetected for months and the mums smoke and drink and sometimes do other drugs all completely oblivious. It happens allthe time, you aren't a unique case. You are ok. Don't blame yourself, just focus every day on doing everything in your power to keep your baby healthy from now on. There's another 15 weeks of development before your baby is born and if that can be alcohol-free that will be amazingly beneficial.

Ho OP, I found out I was pregnant at 18 weeks and like you had been drinking heavily as well as smoking. I was also worried throughout the pregnancy.
My baby is now a 6ft teen, he’s a lovely, bright boy who’s done well in his GCSE’s and thankfully hasn’t suffered any problems at all.
I know it could have been a different outcome but I hope this helps.

I found out was pregnant at 26 weeks and 4 days. The week before I was on my cousins 40th weekend away and drank e. heavily. My daughter is fine. You will be fine but speak to midwife for assurance

I have a family member who was adopted. His birth mother took heroin whilst pregnant.

He is now a healthy, 6 foot tall strapping chap in his late 30s, with a degree, a good career, and 2 young children of his own.

The human body is amazing. And congratulations! 🎊

All you can do is let your midwife ( and later health visitor ) know so that your baby can be carefully monitored in case of learning difficulties/ not reaching milestones.

I’m sure it’s so difficult not to worry - I was worrying incessantly for a while because I had a few pina coladas every week when we had the heatwave in June just before I knew I was pregnant at 4 weeks. Like you, I stopped instantly.

If your anatomy scan is good, I would take comfort in that. Also I was adopted and my birth ‘mother’ was an alcoholic and was addicted to cocaine and I turned out just fine. I was born a few weeks premature but there are pregnant woman out there who engage in much more risky behaviour so I wouldn’t worry. I think the scan indicates you’re just fine ! X

I didn’t know I was pregnant until about 20 weeks, and had been partying all along. The baby, who’s now 20, was absolutely fine, though I did worry at the time.

Well done for stopping — as others have said, you weren’t to know.

We know now that there is no safe amount of alcohol to consume in pregnancy, but equally, many many people born in the 50s and 60s were born to daily drinkers who drank throughout and were just fine. The likelihood of FASD is actually very small, even when mum is a heavy drinker.

It's entirely likely that your baby is completely unaffected. Even babies/ children with fetal alcohol syndrome can be of normal intelligence and have good outcomes with informed support from the beginning (often the support needed is somewhat similar to that for children with ADHD).