Pregnant and drunk?

Question

My friend who is 15 is one month pregnant and she's been getting drunk almost every weekend! What can I tell her to make her realize that what she's doing is sooo harmful to her baby! I don't want to be mean cuz she's been going thru alot but I want to get the point across to her. Thanx

Answer 1

You need to talk to her somewhere/sometime you can speak privately. Make sure she is not drunk when you talk to her.

Tell her that she is putting her child at risk for a wide range of birth defects and problems, most likely fetal alcohol syndrome. Tell her that children born with fetal alcohol syndrome often need special care for their entire lives. It is a LIFELONG disease that can cause severe mental and physical defects. Defects that are 100% preventable! If she thinks that becoming a mother at 15 is hard, it is going to be unimaginably hard to become a mother of a child with fetal alcohol syndrome.

Tell her that if the baby is born with fetal alcohol syndrome, it is highly likely that social services will intervene on behalf of the child.

Remind her that her baby is completely reliant on her, that the baby is the innocent life that is being punished by her antics. And remind her that you are always there for her, for whatever she needs (except as drinking buddy, of course). She is probably feeling very alone right now and drinking as an attempt to escape.

If you talk to her and can't get through to her, talk to her parents. Her siblings. Her other friends. Call your local social services agency and ask them if they have any programs/information that may help you get through to your friend.

By the way, is your friend keeping the baby? Is the father around?

Answer 2

At this point if you've already told her and if you have either A) told her parents to intervene or B) can't tell her parents becuase they don't care (which I imagine may be the case since she's 15 and already pregnant) then turn her A S S in to the cops. Not only is she making terrible decisions for herself, she's harming another life. Do you know how children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome act? Have you see what the affects are? If she isn't listening, she's ignorant and selfish. What she is doing definately calls for a nice knock on the door from a cop. If these people aren't set straight now, what will this do for their children they give birth to or the rest of the world? Do we really need one more pregnant drunken 15 year old girl who doesn't give a rats A S S about anyone but herself? If she's doing this for other reasons (like hoping it will abort the baby) or if she's really freaked out, then getting her help from a counselor might help.

Answer 3

Talk to her about "fetal alcohol syndrome" and the damaging effects it can have on her baby's brain. I know it is hard being a young mother (I had my first child at 18) but that is no excuse to be harming her baby. She may not quite understand everything that alcohol can do to the fetus, but in the end it is her decision. She will do what she wants to do. It helps for her to have all the facts, though.

Answer 4

This is the only thing I can think of that will allow you to give your friend the wake-up call she needs, and prevent her from knowing that you were behind it. Call Child protective services. I don't know where in the world her parents are, but she needs someone to step in. Not for her sake, but for this baby that could die, or be mentally retarded. Put in an anonymous call, tell them the situation. Or you could go to your school counselor and tell them, again anonmously. You MUST do something, first thing in the morning. If she is going to act this irresponsible then she needs someone to step in after this baby is born as well. Good luck.

Answer 5

It is not illegal for a woman to drink while pregnant. However, it can be harmful. Warn your friend that while drinking may seem a temporary escape, life will be very hard raising a child who has disabilities due to fetal alcohol syndrome. I would also consider telling her parents. I know you don't want to hurt her, but this advice would really be helping her. The good news is, there's still a good chance her child is okay - but she must stop now.

Answer 6

Talk to her about all the harmful affects of alcohol and tell you are concerned for her and the baby, thats about all you can do, if that doest work you could also try talking to her parents, or a counselor at school who could talk to her.

Answer 7

Tell her "Look I'myour friend and I will tell you the truth, you've been getting drunk lately and you shouldnt because you have a baby in you and you can kill the baby by drinking!"

Answer 8

With an issue so serious, I think you have to give her an ultimatum: She does it again and you tell her parents and you call the police. Hopefully she'll see how serious you are and that will get the point across.

Answer 9

scare her with the truth! alcohol is the number 1 thing that causes deformities! and if she wants that baby to look and be "normal" then tell her to stop drinking!! no one would want a baby with deformities if they can prevent it in the first place!

Answer 10

tell the 15 yr old floozie to lay off the booze, since it's illegal for her to drink anyways. advise her about the idea of birth defects including ADHD.