Worried about alcohol and drugs before realising I was pregnant

[GeorgiasBaby]

Advice/support desperately needed! I’m 7 weeks & 2 days pregnant - I did not find out I was pregnant until literally a few days ago. I’m freaking out so much, this wasn’t planned and I’ll be completely honest throughout the last 7/8 weeks I’ve been a bit of a riot, I’ve been on holidays and to a festival and to parties where I’ve drank alcohol (not loads) but I’ve also taken a concoction of recreational substances (various). I am spiralling in my head, what if I’ve caused damage!! How would I know? What do I do?! I obviously want to keep my baby as does my partner, just to be clear I am not a drug addict nor do I have issues with drugs or alcohol but I definitely have been a little wild prior to finding out I’m pregnant. I’m really upset and I’m so so so anxious and scared. Obviously Google hasn’t helped, I feel so silly.

What kind of responses are you expecting? This is honestly awful.

Speak to your midwife. Explain. And don’t try and cover things up - if you have an issue with alcohol or drugs this will affect your unborn far more than a binge.

Oh come off it. She didn’t know, it’s not like she did it on purpose.

OP, I’d suggest you’re honest at your booking in appointment and they can advise you.

I don’t have an issue with drugs or alcohol I’ve just recreationally taken them in the weeks leading up to finding out I was pregnant. I HAD no idea AT ALL. Obviously I’m not okay about it, obviously I’m not ever going to do that moving forward. I feel physically sick about the whole thing and I’m really scared and upset.

What drugs have you taken? You’d be surprised to find out that alcohol tends to affect babies more than any drugs. Most don’t have an impact. Also in the first few weeks if you’ve damaged ‘baby’ or what is essentially a cluster of cells, you will simply miscarry. At that stage any cell can become another cell. And if too many are damaged spontaneously abortion happens.

Ive barely drank, I never drink to get drunk I hate it. I guess that’s why I opt for other things when at parties or festivals. It’s been cocaine & ketamine if I’m honest. I’m obviously ashamed, I really didn’t know about it, it wasn’t planned. I’m panicking profusely. I have my first appointment with a midwife on June 2nd, I believe I’ll be 9 weeks by then.

Cocaine has virtually no effect. Look it up.

don’t know about ketamine - I’ll have a Google. You’ll be fine.

The placenta doesn't form until a bit of time into the pregnancy so the mothers blood won't be connected with the placenta until 10-12 weeks.

A lot of the risk at the start would be risk of miscarriage rather than risk of damage to the baby.

Also you can drink whilst pregnant and it is safe to do so. It's binge drinking which is a problem. Doctors in the UK advise no alcohol because it's not clear where the limit is and it will be different for each person. In Europe they think a few units is fine.

So don't panic just yet. Im not an expert though so definitely speak to a doctor.

I'm guessing she expected some helpful and non judgemental responses. It is not awful at all. Many people, me included, have used recreational drugs. Naturally if we learned that we had unknowingly been pregnant we would worry a lot. OP I would try to remember that many many women have taken drugs and alcohol not knowing they were pregnant and have had trouble free pregnancies.

I’m looking for support and advice clearly? I know it’s awful, I’m aware it’s not ideal - it wasn’t intentional. I had no idea.

I only think to say maybe the best thing is to speak to your dr as you have only just found out your pregnant for the best advice on the rec drugs and alcohol and if everything will be ok? What drugs was it? If ok to ask?

Im sure as from now, you wont do that again during your pregnancy and going forward.

Your not the first person to find out you're pregnant a few weeks down the line of having nights out, myself included, although it wasnt drugs, I thought i had a hangover for 3 weeks after a night out with my now husband..turned out i was 3 weeks pregnant, boy i felt so bad! ❤️

Should I try and see a midwife earlier than my first appointment which will be on June 2nd? I will of course be completely honest about everything. Just to clarify, I am not some sort of reprobate and drain on society, I have a degree and a good job and a stable life and partner, I’m just a little wild sometimes but not in a way that would be considered alarmingly so. I’m really really really shocked and upset and horrified with myself despite having no idea whatsoever. I feel ashamed.

I drank two bottles of wine and some cocktails (big day out!) before I found out. So many people do. And alcohol is more harmful than drugs. Risk of drugs early on is usually risk of miscarriage.

FWIW doctors / nurses won’t be any help - they can’t have any more idea than you if any damage was done and you’ll be noted as a drug taker. Personally, I wouldn’t risk telling them.

No. See above. They won’t see you. And they won’t help you beyond marking you down as an illegal drug user. I’d be careful of SS involvement then.

OP please try not to worry, everything will be fine.

Like a PP said, the placenta isn’t formed that early so nothing is passing from your blood to baby, take a breath and try and relax x

Don't worry OP I don't think you are a drain on society 🤣 plenty of people do coke or ketamin on nights out.

Hopefully, there might be a doctor or nurse along to confirm but my understanding is that until the placenta is formed and attached to your bloodstream there will be limited impact.

You definitely don't need to worry about the first 4 weeks (2 non-pregnant, 2 pre embryo implanting). So it's only the last 3 weeks which are relevant.

You'll need to start taking folic acid though if you are keen to continue pregnancy. I think it would be worth an early chat with a doctor or nurse anyway.

I am not worried about the alcohol part if I’m honest, I have not been drunk it’s more so the recreational drugs. Do you know which test it was specifically that she paid for to get done? If I was found to have caused damage then I would probably terminate the pregnancy as it is not fair on the child. My head is completely spiralling just now.

And who exactly are you to judge behind your keypad? Your reply ‘is honestly awful’ and is actually the minority here so perhaps have a read and educate yourself on how to respond helpfully.

sending love @GeorgiasBaby and there is some useful advice here already. Try not to worry yourself- you won’t be the first or last woman to do this x

Oh stop trying to scare and shame OP. SS don’t get involved until it’s the worst of the absolute worst. They certainly won’t be interested in a woman in a stable relationship with a stable job, who lets her hair down sometimes.

I wouldn't risk it. I'd definitely seek medical advice and decide from there . And then make your decision The sooner you know what the possible outcomes are the better you will be able to make a decision .

There is absolutely no test that will tell you this. The pp is talking bollocks. At 12 weeks you can have the test for genetic and chromosomal abnormalities such as Downs, Patau’s etc

Honestly, you’ll be fine. I went through what you did and my daughter is now 10 and literally top of her class. Actual alcoholics who drink through pregnancy? 1/3 have babies with FAS and 2/3 are fine. Alcohol is more damaging than drugs in pregnancy and you’re very early on anyway. Enjoy your pregnancy and your baby.

You will just have to tell your midwife at booking. They are surprisingly non judgemental I find.

Although I implore you not to use ketamine ever! It has devastating effects on the bladder. I’ve just spent 6 months with a nephrostomy bag (not from drug use) and having to have bladder surgery and wouldn’t wish this on my own worst enemy!

Not trying to shame anyone - I’ve been there. The doctors and nurses can’t reassure any more than anyone else can.

Bless your heart. Don’t worry about that very insensitive, judgemental poster above. You didn’t know you were pregnant, these things happen. Please stop beating yourself up and try to focus on what you can do now. Eat well, take pregnancy supplements and try to give yourself a break. Stress is known to have a negative impact on the foetus so you need to try and be calm about this and look forwards