Heavey Drinker, just found out I was 6 weeks pregnant?

Question

I'm a heavy drinker 5-6 drinks per day of hard alcohol. I had no idea I was pregnant. I stopped drinking immediately of course. But I am so worried of the damage I may have already done to my baby. What are the chances all will be fine if I stop drinking now? I have read that the begining of your pregnancy is the most dangerous time to drink.. is this true?

Answer 1

yes there is a good chance that the baby will be perfectly fine!...you did stop drinking so thats a really good thing! the begining is the most important BUT i personally think itll be okay!! just keep it up on not drinking!:p :)



mommy of 3!

Answer 2

Yes, it is true that the beginning is the most dangerous time to drink because the most vital organs form at this time. During the 6th week, the heart is beginning to form. However, as long as you stop right now you will probably be okay. The neural tubes, which will later become the nervous system and the brain, begin to close at this time, and development of the brain is just beginning. It's a good thing you didn't find out any later though. I would recommend talking to your doctor about prenatal vitamins, etc., to ensure your baby has a healthy development. And finally, congratulations! Celebrate the news rather than worry about birth defects; most women discover that they are pregnant around this time so you aren't alone and your situation is not uncommon!

Answer 3

The first three months of your pregnancy are the most critical. Your baby is most likely fine, as long as you stopped drinking immediately after you found out you were pregnant. Make sure you talk to your doctor about your excessive daily drinking habit though. He/she might want to run further tests than normal. Usually anything you have done before you found out you were pregnant doesn't have an effect on the baby but better to be safe than sorry. Make sure you stay away from the booze for you and your baby's sake. Doctors used to say a glass of wine here and there was ok during pregnancy, but new studies have proven otherwise, that there is no "safe" amount of alcohol you can consume during pregnancy. Be careful and take care of yourself from now on out. Good luck and congrats.

Answer 4

why would you drink 5-6 drinks per day of hard alcohol anyway?

but anyway, when i first got pregnant, i had no idea either. i was drinking and partying. & then found out i was 1 month pregnant, & STOPPED COMPLETELY.

I am now 37 weeks, and my pregnancy has been good. the baby is healthy.i wouldn't worry about it much.

but the question now is, are you going to be drinking like that after the baby arrives? i hope not. not to be judgmental but my father was an alcoholic. & growing up in that kind of environment is not fun.

i hope being pregnant changes your views on things, like it did for me.

Answer 5

Yes, it's not good. Have you ever heard of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? Look it up and read about it. It's truly sad! Don't be one of those. Your baby deserves a healthy life. You are the only one that can provide it. You are one of the lucky ones to have been able to conceive a child. Don't blow it. Think of all the people that can't have their very own child. I have five precious little wonders. Giving birth is the most beautiful experience in the world! I think you should attend AA meetings while going through this pregnancy. It would be of great help to you and your baby before the big day arrives. Good luck!

Answer 6

Firsth of all, Stop Worrying! Your baby feels the same emotions that you do, so calm down. Stressing out will only make things worse. There is nothing that you can do about it now, so there is no point in worrying about it.

If you don't drink, smoke, do drugs, etc from here on out, and if you take your prenatal vitamins, eat healthy, and stay calm, your baby will probably be fine. Not every baby whose mother drank during pregnancy ends up disabled or with Fetal Alcohol Syndrom.

BUT, if you continue to drink, with every drink you are increasing the risk that something will be wrong with your baby. SO STOP NOW! Go into detox if you have to.

You can talk to your doctor about prenatal testing and about ultrasounds to check the health and development of your baby. Be honest with your doctor. He or she can help.

Remember that none of this is your baby's fault, don't punish him or her for your mistakes. You have a responsibility to do all that you can to assure your baby's health and happiness from here on out. You no longer have the excuse that you don't know. Every drink you take from now on is intentionally to hurt your baby. I'm sorry if that sounded harsh.

Answer 7

no worries! i was in the same situation as u, i got pregnant at the end of last year when i had a lot to celebrate (college graduation, xmas, and NEW years, and on vacation!) and i was drinking A LOT. and i ONLY drink hard liquor, (well sometimes wine.) the body does everything it can to protect the baby in the first 8 wks. the real danger comes if you continue to drink on a reg basis after that. this same situation happens to hundreds of women a year the body knows to protect the child.

i raised the issue with my doc on my first appt and he said i had nothing to worry about alcohol defects take much longer to manifest and are done over the course of pregnancy.

Answer 8

Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy:

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause physical and mental birth defects. Each year, more than 40,000 babies are born with some degree of alcohol related damage. Although many women are aware that heavy drinking during pregnancy can cause birth defects, many do not realize that moderate—or even light—drinking also may harm the fetus.

In fact, no level of alcohol use during pregnancy has been proven safe. Therefore, the March of Dimes recommends that pregnant women do not drink any alcohol—including beer, wine, wine coolers and hard liquor— throughout their pregnancy and while nursing. In addition, because women often do not know they are pregnant for a few months, women who may be pregnant or those who are attempting to become pregnant should abstain from alcoholic beverages.

Women who continue to drink alcohol, even in small amounts, while attempting to become pregnant, may reduce their chances of conceiving, according to recent studies.

A recent government survey indicated that, between 1995 and 1999, alcohol use among pregnant women decreased. In 1999, 12.8 percent of pregnant women reported having had at least one drink during pregnancy, compared to 16.3 percent in 1995. However, the rates of binge drinking (more than five drinks on one occasion) and frequent drinking (more than seven drinks per week) did not decline and remained high (2.7 percent of pregnant women reported binge drinking, and 3.3 percent reported frequent drinking). The survey suggests that about 130,000 pregnant women consumed these risky levels of alcohol in 1999. Women who binge drink or drink frequently greatly increase the risk of alcohol-related damage to their babies.

Answer 9

Read Pregnany For Dummies. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it helps. Most people drink until they find out they are pregnant. With any luck you stopping when you did is going to make a helluva difference. Be honest with the doctor. AA is going to be a savior for you if you enter now. You will learn how to turn your cravings for alcohol, and not jump for your bottle when baby is driving you batty.

Answer 10

There is no use beating yourself up for things you can't change. The best thing you can do now is to do what you are doing and not drink. Tell your doctor about your past drinking and be honest. Your doctor will probably be able to do more to make sure your baby is developing alright throughout your pregnancy. But he can't do that if you aren't completely honest with him.