Pregnant after heavy drinking

[Babygirl01]

Hi everyone,
I need some advice or just reassurance. I have a daughter who is almost 3 years old. I breastfed her for 2 and a half years, and during that entire time—including my pregnancy and the preconception period (as she was a planned baby)—I didn't drink a single drop of alcohol.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about having a second child, but my husband isn’t really on board. We’ve had unprotected contact, but without ejaculation inside. Also, this month I tracked my ovulation daily, and all the tests came out negative.
Because of this and other personal issues, I was dealing with some anxiety and a very low mood. I was convinced there was absolutely no chance I could be pregnant. Since stopping breastfeeding a few months ago, I had been drinking occasionally, but this past month it was significant. I drank quite a bit in several days. Specifically, about a week ago (last Wednesday), I drank a bottle and a half of wine in one day, and on other evenings, maybe every 3 days, I had like 3 glasses.
Today, 3 days before my period is due, I took a pregnancy test and it's positive. I have almost no symptoms at all (unlike other months when I was hoping to be pregnant and had symptoms, but wasn't).
To add to my anxiety, I have a history of miscarriages before my first daughter. For her pregnancy, I had to take a specific medical treatment that helped me sustain the pregnancy, even if all tests looked fine everytime. Now, I am torn. I absolutely want this baby, my husband is ok with this as well, since it already happened, but I don't know what to do. Should I start the treatment immediately, even with the alcohol I consumed? Or should I avoid the treatment and just see what happens, considering the risk?
I am reading terrifying things online and I am consumed by guilt and fear for the baby. I know there are many stories out there, but I am so anxious right now. Has anyone else been in a similar situation regarding alcohol in early pregnancy?

You’ll be absolutely fine. Go and see the doctor to start whatever miscarriage treatment you need.

Definitely start the treatment! You'll be absolutely fine. It took me and my husband ages to conceive so both times I got pregnant I'd had social occasions where I'd drunk waaaay too much. 🤭 I've got two very healthy daughters aged 10 and 8.

Very common to have had a lot of alcohol in very early pregnancy. I was on holiday before I had my missed period and had cocktails etc. I believe the risks come from drinking heavily throughout pregnancy. Don't google any more about it. Congratulations!

My DS was born in September after a particularly boozy Christmas. He’s a great kid - well now young adult. He was always well behaved, bright, fairly sporty - even as a teen he was mostly lovely. Calm down and fingers crossed for your pregnancy.

I didn't realise I was pregnant and drank a lot at a hen weekend. My daughter was fine. It is very common for people to drink during early pregnancy.

I drank a bottle and a half of prosecco the night before I found out I was pregnant with you youngest. She's now 7 and thriving, absolutely no issues. Don't beat yourself up, you didn't know and now you do you won't have any alcohol. It'll be fine.

I’m another one who had drunk a lot in early pregnancy and baby was absolutely fine.

Congratulations and good luck!

I might be wrong on this, but doesn't the risk increase once the placenta is fully formed and functioning at three months? Until that time, there's not complete fluid transfer between mother and baby. So early pregnancy drinking will not harm the baby, how many millions of women have done this. Stop googling and try to calm your mind and I wish you a smooth nine months ahead x

Just googled... Maternal blood flow into the placenta begins flowing through and supplying nutrients at weeks 10 to 12 of pregnancy.
Before this point, the early embryo gets its oxygen and nutrients from a temporary structure called the yolk sac and from secretions in the uterine lining .

So there's no blood alcohol exchange

that's dangerous misinformation

I can’t comment on your individual pregnancy but this thread is shaping up to be very blasé about the risks of alcohol in pregnancy.

OP, that’s a lot of booze. Leaving the pregnancy aside, do you have an issue with alcohol?

I'm more concerned you need to get some therapy and sort yourself out tbh

True, that gives me some peace of mind. What scared me is that the internet says it can damage the cells even in early stages... I will schedule a doctor's appointment. Thank you all for the reassurance.

My parents ran a dental practice and one of the nurses there who was 23 didn’t know she was pregnant until she gave birth in the middle of the night. She missed work because she had stomach pains which she thought were because she had gotten drunk and fallen down the stairs the night before (!). The pains were actually labour. Mum and baby were completely fine. She had gone on nights out throughout pregnancy. Whilst there’s no safe amount of alcohol that’s been established to consume whilst pregnant, foetal alcohol syndrome is caused by chronic alcoholism. Remember also the guidelines only became stricter recently in history. Please don’t worry about the alcohol although I understand it’s really hard when you’ve had a history of losses. I would arrange starting the medication and don’t worry about the alcohol. Wishing you all the best xxx

Nope. I do not. I had a bad few weeks. Made some bad decisions.

I generally don’t drink regularly but I love Christmas!!! I start the celebrations in early November mulled wine etc , cosy evening drinks , both my girls conceived at Christmas , one after a long boozy weekend ! Don’t worry ❤️

It's pretty standard to have consumed 'lots' of alcohol in the first 2 weeks of conception, not sure many of us would be around if it had any impact on the overall pregnancy.

https://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy/your-baby/the-placenta-what-it-is-and-how-it-works_40005564

I think not

As a matter of fact I am going to therapy, as I struggled with anxiety lately. I am for sure also concerned with what will happen to the pregnancy. As a matter of fact this is what I focus most on right now...

I think there might be a lot of conflicting information posted to this thread and it's a tricky, emotive subject. I'd just focus on the stories of other women who (like me) accidentally boozed too much before realising they were pregnant and then thought "Ooh gawd" before switching to Becks Blue for the next 9 months. 😉

Thank you. I'm guessing everything went ok for you, right? I'm trying to focus on actual stories people shared and facts - the general approach appears to be that if you drink in early stages you either miscarry or have a normal pregnancy. Didn't really find any articles saying that consumption so early can cause damage to the the embryo development. I will discuss with my doctor and pray.

Yes, 100%. I was the second person to reply (with two healthy daughters). Agree it's best to speak to your GP. I'm sure they'll have heard a lot of similar stories.

The internet is an idiot.

Science and doctors say for a fetus to be damaged by alcohol there has to be an actual fetus, not just a bunch of cells that are there in the first month or two.

Of course there are many reasons not to drink heavily when trying to conceive to do with your own health but the health of the fetus isn't one of them.

You'll be fine.

Congratulations!

For what it's worth I only found out I was pregnant with my youngest at 13 weeks. During the first 3 months it had had been my brother's wedding and I'd drank loads. My kid is now 10, captain of the football team and top of his class.

It's fine.

I mean it's dangerous to imply, as your response does, that it's fine to drink liberally until the placenta is formed. That's just not true.

OP will probably fine - not the first or last to drink heavily before finding out she's pregnant. But she should stop now and take the relevant vitamins.