PREGNANCY and ALCOHOL question?

Question

okay.....im not sure what to do because this is happening to my friend, and she is afraid to ask her doctor!

well, she just turned 21 a couple of weeks ago, and hasnt really drank that much, but she did go out partying on her birthday and had a few drinks.
NOW, she just found out she is pregnant.....I think she is only about a month or so along, and she is really upset because if she knew she was preggers she would have never drank anything!!

SO, do you think that her drinking will effect the baby?

Answer 1

If she is one month along, and the few drinks were ingested two weeks ago, the timing suggests she and baby are just fine. For the first two weeks after conception, the zygote is not yet implanted. This means that the embryo is not yet sharing the mother's bloodstream (or anything in it). Timing suggests that the only one affected by your friend's alcohol intake was your friend, and not the baby. Of course, now that she knows, she should not indulge in alcoholic beverages.

Answer 2

My coworker's girlfriend didn't figure out that she was pregnant until she was 7 months along. Sounds strange, but no one could tell, and since her cycle has been VERY irregular (as in, skipping months at a time) since she was a girl, she didn't think much of it. A little moody, and her body hurt...

Our little social cluster went out to the bars a few times. She's not much of a drinker, anyway, but she got buzzed and had a good time. When we found out she was pregnant, and SO FAR along, my heart sank as I immediately thought of everything I had ever seen her drink.

My "niecey-girl" was born a healthy weight with absolutely no complications. She is a bright, alert infant that sleeps well and is physically ahead of schedule as far as abilities are concerned.

It is definitely unwise to drink when pregnant, but this was a slipup...MANY people don't know that they're pregnant right away, and I'm sure that many of them have unknowingly drank while pregnant.

Have her tell the doctor, to be sure, and not continue drinking - however, I wouldn't be worried too much about what has happened so far. Just tell her to talk to the doctor, stop drinking (and smoking, if applicable), and to keep an eye out for anything abnormal after the baby is born.

Everything should be fine.

Answer 3

Of course a woman should never drink alcohol when they are pregnant. But in all honesty, I think that a couple of drinks once is not going to do much. I am not advocating drinking while pregnant. But sometimes women don't find out for a while that they are pregnant, and have had some alcohol in the meantime. Back in the day, women used to smoke and drink throughout their pregnancies, if that gives your friend a little piece of mind. I think she should tell her doctor, however. Its good for them to know everything. They won't judge her. That is not their job. But they can help to set her at ease or to give her any necessary information.

Answer 4

Prolonged alcohol abuse during pregnancy can result in fetal alcohol syndrome but one night of partying is unlikely to cause any long term problems.

I did the exact same thing. Had the hugest night of my life, came home throwing up in the garden bed and everything and found out less than 2 weeks later I was 6 wks pregnant with my first child (unexpected of course!)

When I told my doctor he laughed and said everything would be fine and it was! He even encouraged me to go and have a drink once and a while to relax.

Tell your friend to relax and not to worry about things she cannot change....


Oh and BTW, when I unexpectedly fell pregnant again I found out a week after going to the theme park and riding on all the rollercoasters and my sons as healthy as can be!!

Answer 5

I'm not a doctor or an expert, but I found out I was pregnant with my son when I was already at around 19 weeks. I wasn't showing and was on the Depo shot, so wasn't having my period anyways. However, the whole first 19 weeks I partied, smoked cigs, drank...obviously when I found out I stopped all that, but he turned out perfect; perfect weight, and had never had any developmental problems whatsoever.

Good luck to your friend. Everything will be fine.

Answer 6

I was partying like a rock star until I found out I was 3 months preggers. Make sure she talks to her doc, she'll feel so much better and she needs to be comfortable to talk to him about anything!! Mine said that unless you are drinking day after day the baby should be okay. I'm sure that now she will be careful and take care of herself and her baby.

Answer 7

There's really no saying...alcohol can affect babies but that doesn't mean it always does. My sister-in-law drank while she was pregnant (she didn't know she was pregnant yet) and her baby turned out fine. Other women have one drink of alcohol and their baby has problems. She should really tell her doctor and make sure she stays healthy and alcohol free from now until she's done breastfeeding. Good luck!

Answer 8

She needs to tell her doctor about the drinking. The sooner the better. It is possible that this could affect the baby but I don't know how much. The only way she is going to find out is by telling her doctor. Tell her that she shouldn't beat herself up about it. She didn't know she was pregnant so its not like she went drinking knowing she was pregnant. Tell her to calm down, be truthful with her doctor and pray for her child's health. Good Luck!

Answer 9

Just tell her not to drink anymore. I was drinking heavily for the first 3-4 weeks of my pregnancy but i didnt know i was pregnant. I dont drink mixed drinks either, i used to have shot's of vodka followed by a sip of coke or lemonade so i was usually pretty trashed on the weekends also i was smoking marijuana. My baby is fine and healthy, he is doing very good so she should be fine, just tell her not to drink anymore.

And also tell her not to feel guilty, many women drink while they are pregnant cause they arent aware they were pregnant, it's very common!! Her little one will be fine!!

Answer 10

Your friends baby will be fine. As long as she doesn't make this a habit throughout her pregnancy. This happens to lots of women in the first few early weeks of pregnancy, when detection is minimal. She and her baby will be fine. Probably no need to alarm the Dr. unless this is a habitual habit for her. Good luck to her!