FAS

[WinkyWinkola]

My friend has just told me she's 11 weeks pg. She's pleased and so's her DH.

She said she had no idea until she thought she'd not had her period for some time. She did a positive test on Monday night.

It was unplanned but she's happy BUT she's now bricking it because she says she's had the most alcoholic season of her life. She works in PR and is always out on boozy lunches anyway but she said the run up to and during Christmas was particularly toxic in terms of alcohol consumption.

I didn't say anything but she's worried about FAS and I want to reassure her.

Can anyone tell me if her baby is at risk?

God love her, she must be worried. I am sure there are thousands of women every year who do exactly the same, probably worse. No-one can guarantee a healthy baby but I am sure the chances are very slim of her baby having FAS. I would class FAS as a result of Alcoholic Mothers but I am no expert.

TBH there's no absolute way of knowing, as the research cannot definitively say that any use of alcohol is safe.

I can tell you that I had a similar boozy season before I knew I was 8 weeks PG . I was on holiday from work for most of that period, and barely had a booze-free day. I also had a number of huge booze binges in that period. needless to say, DD is fine.

She's comforting herself that for the first few weeks the baby won't have been attached to her via cord + placenta and so won't have been exposed to alcohol. I've no idea about this notion either. I'll do some googling.

My GP said FAS not likely in a mother who's had an alcohol binge (eg over christmas)- much more likely to occur in alcoholic mothers. Risk of m/c more likely, but having got to 11 weeks, good chance she won't.

I celebrated my 30th then 3wk later found out i was 6wk pregnant, not entirely same as i just had the one heavy session!
Im sure they will be fine, She needs to not beat herself up about it..