Alcohol - Unaware Pregnant?

Question

First of all, I'm not pregnant, but I have do have a question...

I am of legal age to drink and I do go out with my friends and drink. I have a boyfriend and we are as safe as two people can be, but I am not dumb enough to pretend that anything is 100% unless you just don't have sex.

My question is... if I unintentionally get pregnant (I am doing everything I can not to), and I had been drinking, will this cause harm to my baby? Also note, if this were to happen to me, I would stop drinking all together as soon as I thought that I might be.

Smart answer I know is to not have sex, but I really am looking for an answer to the effects on a baby in the first month of pregnancy when the mother has consumed alcohol prior to knowing.

Or not to drink too... Thanks to everyone that has some input. It's just always something in the back of my mind because I know how awful I would feel you know?

Answer 1

While the first tri-mester of pregnancy is the most important time to avoid alcohol (and tobacco, and chemicals, and medications, etc.), One instance of alcohol in the system is unlikely to cause problems with the pregnancy, according to many experts. Think about how many women accidentally conceive while intoxicated! But this is a hotly contested issue. Some people say that even alcohol use BEFORE the pregnancy can have ill effects!

Here's what the March of Dimes had to say:
"When a pregnant woman drinks, alcohol passes swiftly through the placenta to her baby. In the unborn baby’s immature body, alcohol is broken down much more slowly than in an adult’s body. As a result, the alcohol level of the baby’s blood can be even higher and can remain elevated longer than the level in the mother’s blood. This sometimes causes the baby to suffer lifelong damage."

Answer 2

I would suggest to stop drinking at the first sign you might even think that you are pregnant. Yes, alcohol CAN harm a fetus, but it doesn't always. But, I mean, I think you're fine. Plus, if something would happen you already have the knowledge & know that you would stop drinking. I would just do what you're doing. Take your precautions with regard to pregnancy & you answered your own question with stopping asap after finding out.
But, drinking prior to pregnancy can harm the fetus, but moreso the chances of getting pregnant or harming your body (aka the environment the baby lives in).
Don't worry. You already sound intelligent & caring enough to know what you're doing.

Good luck! =)

Answer 3

I have four children! And am married! Have had that situation before. Had an "oops" and had ocasional drinks, like when out to dinner etc... then found out i was pg. there was no harm done to my baby. And the doctor told me, that 1-3 drinks every so often won't harm the baby. Its the constant everyday drinking in copious amounts that will effect the unborn. And if continued through pregnancy the baby will/ or could be born with fetal alcohal syndrom (not good). So if your really conserned talk with your doc. If you plan on getting pg, a rule of thumb is to live as if you are incase you do get pg.

Answer 4

I think it can be very dangerous depending on the quantity and frequency. I have 4 (almost adult) children. All conceived after marriage but I don't think there was a single one I didn't drink with prior to finding out I was pregnant. Each is their own person. a couple with higher than average IQ but they have a hard time with authority. the other 2 are of average intelligence but have issues of their own. They all do average in school, communicate well and would be considered normal by an outside observer.Any number of shortcomings can be attributed to my drinking while pregnant or they could just be the independent personality of each of these people based on genetics and environment.

your best be would be, if not abstinence on both fronts, responsibility. Don't drink to excess. Take extreme caution when engaging in behaviour that could make a baby (wink wink)

Answer 5

I realized I was pregnant two days after a Christmas party where I definitely drank too much. My doctor said, of course, to stop drinking. But, she also said not to worry. If she had $1 for every woman who called with that story, she would've retired to Hawaii by now!
She even said one glass of red wine here and there won't hurt anything. They just say NO alcohol because too many people would take advantage and overindulge.
So, if it happens once, everything will be fine. But, from then on, take care of your baby and stop drinking!

Answer 6

First, unless you are a HEAVY drinker, your baby will most likely be ok. However, studies have shown even the smallest of alcohol can cause fetal developement problems.
So, guess the correct answer on this one is First: Don't have sex and Second: Don't drink.

Answer 7

Having a few drinks..or even several before realizing that you are pregnant will not cause long term harm to the baby. I know several women that have gotten rip-roaring drunk before finding out and stopped drinking as soon as they found out and had perfectly healthy babies. If someone was to cintinue drinking after finding out, that is when it can cause problems. I had a few drinks before finding out that I was pregnant with my son and he is healthy...smart as a whip.

Answer 8

Yes, it could potentially harm the fetus. Sadly, as little as ONE drink can harm the fetus. However, many women drink through their entire pregnancies and it doesn't harm the fetus at all. No one knows why. I suggest you err on the side of caution, and stop drinking the instant you SUSPECT you may be pregnant.

Answer 9

Think about it this way.....for years and years throughout human life...all the way back to BC times....women drank and didn't have the ability to take a 'pregnancy test'. They may have missed a period and wondered, then confirmed when they started to show or get nauseous. We have the ability to take a test the minute we miss a period. Unless you are drinking heavily, every day, I think you're ok.

Answer 10

as long as you are not an alcoholic do not worry, but by all means no alcohol after you find you bare pregnant, all my cousins drank until they were two or three mths and they had normal to above normal kids! even drugs did no effect if they quit soon as they learned!