Do you know much about drinking during pregnancy?

Question

My wife drank moderately heavily one night and on occasion lightly in the weeks following conception. She was not aware that she was pregnant at that time.

We are both worried by the long lists of serious effects that can be found on the net and we're not feeling too much better after reading the research.

Does anybody have any personal experience of this, even if it's only anecdotal? We can't reverse what has happened and my wife won't touch another drop, but we want to put our minds at ease if that is possible.

Answer 1

my docotr reassured me that in the 1st few weeks before you find out that u shouldn't worry about your drinking. just bring it to thier attention

Answer 2

I had 2 hen nights, one in Tenerife and one in the UK. On both occasions I was pretty much steaming drunk. Then was my wedding at which I had a couple of drinks. The next day I found out I was pregnant. Really didn't think I would be because it was our first month of trying. After that I didn't drink at all. Our beautiful son was born exactly 8 months later perfectly healthy.
I wouldn't advise drinking at all when pregnant but I'm pretty sure that no harm will have been done at this stage.
Now that your wife knows she is pregnant she should give up the booze completely, try and eat well and take a prenatal supplement.
Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 3

I was a typical out of control binge drinker, I went out every friday, saturday and sunday night and got absolutely hammered. (not at all impressive, actually quite embarrassed to admit).It was a typical sunday that I got hammered and the next day at work realized that I was 2 weeks late, did a test and blamed the results on the drinking, thought the alcohol made the test positive.WRONG!!! This would have made me 5 weeks so I would have been out every weekend since conceiving.Through the whole pregnancy I stopped binge and heavy drinking but on a friday and saturday night I would have 1 double vodka redbull. My pregnancy was fine, my daughter was fine and she is now 2 and there have been no effects on her. I do believe if you do drink through your pregnancy its down to the individual as long as its not out of control drinking. This time I'm 6 months pregnant and from the day I found out I was pregnant I haven't touched a drop of alcohol. The only reason I haven't is because I really don't fancy any. If I did I am sure I would be having a nice Malibu and coke right now.

Answer 4

With my 1st child I drank heavily before I found out I was pregnant & she is now 2 & perfectly healthy, only the odd cold! With my 2nd pregnancy I drank heavily one night before I found out I was pregnant, I had twins & they are now 10 months old & also perfectly healthy, one cold each so far!

Well done to your wife for giving up the drink, try not to worry, your baby will be fine. I saw a story on a morning show once & it was an extreme case of the mother drinking everyday throughout her pregnancy & her son was born with serious abnormalities but this was a rare case & she was drinking for the whole 9 months! Tell your midwife, she will tell you your baby will be fine, it's very common for women to drink when they aren't aware of the pregnancy & they go on to have a healthy baby!

Answer 5

Women are advised only to drink a certain amount in pregnancy - its something like a few glasses of wine a week. You'd have to check with your doctor.

If she didn't know she was pregnant I wouldn't worry - many women do things like smoking, drinking etc before they find out they're pregnant and the baby is fine. Its only prolonged heavy drinking and smoking throughout pregnancy that can cause problems.

Years ago pregnant women were advised to drink Guiness during their pregnancy for the iron! I think that things have just gone a bit too cautious these days. You can't eat this, can't drink that. Our mothers were never told any of this and we all seemed to turn out fine, LOL!

I don't know the exact amounts because I'm virtually teetotal and to be honest even the smell of alcohol has been making me heave throughout my pregnancy, so I haven't really touched the stuff.

Answer 6

I didn't know i was pregnant around christmas time and with all the festivities going on and being childless i went out probably every day for the whole christmas and new year period, i had actually gone off drink and not thinking it was like me i proceeded to try every drink in the pub in a vain attempt to find something i liked!!! needless to say it didn't work and i got too drunk, found out i was pregnant about 2 weeks after and i was so worried that something would be wrong but he is nearly 6 now and absolutely fine, please don't worry this is supposed to be a joyous time everything will be fine don't punish yourselves for something that might not even happen!! Good luck and Congrats

Answer 7

I drank like a fish before pregnant and after conception just like your wife (sort of out socializing not a lush or anything)I did not know I was pregnant and everything was fine.
It is if you are an alcholic and drink heavy for years and during whole of pregnancy it is a major problem.
Your wife has stopped drinking now so she will be ok and so will baby please do not worry and I know easy said than done.
Mention it to the docotr on her next check up just for reasurance and stop looking on the net it will make you feel even more guilty than you already do and worry you 100 times more.

Answer 8

yes, the exact same thing happened to me...I had several drinks while I was pg (but didn't know it)...the good thing is the baby will be fine and many women go thru this. I ask my ob in my very 1st appointment and she said that it was no problem and nothing is going to be wrong with the baby as long as you don't keep drinking during your pg. A glass of wime in a special ocassion won't do any harm either...just be verycareful in the 1st trimester, is the most critical...actually my dr said that if she had charged a nickle for everytime a woman asked this she'd be a billionare now. Good luck and congrats on the baby

Answer 9

Dont get me wrong im not proud of it and i am not "bigging myself up". When i found i was pregnant the first thing i done was had a vodka. i found out when i was 4 weeks and was so confused as wether to have the child i went into some sort of denial and carried on drinking everynight (vodka). When i decided i wanted the child i still didnt stop although i did cut down. I now have a beautiful 2 year old son who is and was perfectly normal & healthy. before having him (the last few weeks) i was stressing cause i thought i would have harmed him.
I beleive i am extremly lucky not to have done anything to him.
If i have another one i would not drink.
The point is u hear so many stories good and bad ones. i beleive it all depends on the individual.

Answer 10

I would not worry on that score. Continuous drinking has been proved to affect the size of babies but the occasional tipple used to be enjoyed by many women before the gurus started making noises about this, without ill effects. I know many women who had the odd glass of wine including myself whilst pregnant and their babies were fine.
Obviously alcohol is a drug and can filter through the placenta and predispose a child to alcoholism, which is why it is not recommended. Your wife had better relax and not stress her baby by torturing herself unduly.Think positive both of you. What is done is done and worrying about it will not change anything.
If your wife is well and has had no problems, I am sure your baby will be fine and your GP will tell you the same.
Good luck!

Answer 11

I drank at my 30th and partied for 2 or 3 weeks with different circles of friends then went on hol. Was 12 weeks gone before I noticed. Baby is fine and now 7 months old. Heavy too!!!! Its binge drinking and continual drinking heavily through pregnancy thats the big problem. You'll be fine. Best wishes.