Help me. I drank a lot during my first trimester!

[Anonymous]

Also, don't let the age thing worry you either. The odds of anything age-related being wrong are pretty low too. I also had a surprise pregnancy at 40 after years after being told I couldn't get pregnant on my own. What a surprise that was! It took my until after 20 weeks that I started feeling OK -- that is, not being a worried mess -- about the pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did, too, and my baby was early for unrelated reasons, and has delays. Of course, I always freak out about FASD. I found out at about 4 weeks in. I have researched it a lot, and while it is very unlikely your child would actually have FAS -- that is pretty recognizable at birth and the diagnosis is pretty strict, requires small percentile, small head, etc. -- FASD is blurry. There are so many kids with ADHD that it is impossible to pull out the case in most cases.

One issue that does bother me is the whole "nature's way of protecting the baby" -- we are animals and its not like we evolved to drink alcohol. At the time this all evolved, there was probably no need to insulate the baby from tertrogens. So there is that.

I did find, OP, that there is a nutritional component to FAS, they think -- most women who are well nourished and hydrated do not seem to be at risk.

A reproductive system that protected the baby from teratogens would always be evolutionarily advantageous, alcohol or no alcohol! There are many teratogens that are not alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old is your other child ?

He is almost 4, and is a pretty much an angel. He was such and easy baby, and so far (knock on wood), has been a super easy toddler. lol, we were so looking forward to him starting preschool, and not having the daycare expense anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did, too, and my baby was early for unrelated reasons, and has delays. Of course, I always freak out about FASD. I found out at about 4 weeks in. I have researched it a lot, and while it is very unlikely your child would actually have FAS -- that is pretty recognizable at birth and the diagnosis is pretty strict, requires small percentile, small head, etc. -- FASD is blurry. There are so many kids with ADHD that it is impossible to pull out the case in most cases.

One issue that does bother me is the whole "nature's way of protecting the baby" -- we are animals and its not like we evolved to drink alcohol. At the time this all evolved, there was probably no need to insulate the baby from tertrogens. So there is that.

I did find, OP, that there is a nutritional component to FAS, they think -- most women who are well nourished and hydrated do not seem to be at risk.

That's very interesting, thanks for sharing that info. I'm definitely well nourished, and I'm SUPER hydrated. I drink at least a gallon of water a day, and besides water, the only other thing I drink is hot tea, and vodka sometimes (obviously, not anymore though). I get kidney stones a lot, so I make sure to drink tons of water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did, too, and my baby was early for unrelated reasons, and has delays. Of course, I always freak out about FASD. I found out at about 4 weeks in. I have researched it a lot, and while it is very unlikely your child would actually have FAS -- that is pretty recognizable at birth and the diagnosis is pretty strict, requires small percentile, small head, etc. -- FASD is blurry. There are so many kids with ADHD that it is impossible to pull out the case in most cases.

One issue that does bother me is the whole "nature's way of protecting the baby" -- we are animals and its not like we evolved to drink alcohol. At the time this all evolved, there was probably no need to insulate the baby from tertrogens. So there is that.

I did find, OP, that there is a nutritional component to FAS, they think -- most women who are well nourished and hydrated do not seem to be at risk.

That's very interesting, thanks for sharing that info. I'm definitely well nourished, and I'm SUPER hydrated. I drink at least a gallon of water a day, and besides water, the only other thing I drink is hot tea, and vodka sometimes (obviously, not anymore though). I get kidney stones a lot, so I make sure to drink tons of water.

I think you're fine. Just focus on eating/drinking healthy from here on out. Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is my understanding: Embryos don't share a blood supply with their moms - and the embryo doesn't become a fetus until week 9. So you are probably o.k. Now that you know that you are pregnant - abstain completely. Congratulations!

Alcohol crosses over the placenta. Drinking during the first trimester causes the most severe problems. The more you drink the more risk to the embryo/fetus/baby. Alcohol exposure for embryos is also a problem,even though it's called FAS.

The risk associated with light-to-moderate drinking has an association with how well the mother metabolizes alcohol and with genetic variations.

OP, talk to your doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is my understanding: Embryos don't share a blood supply with their moms - and the embryo doesn't become a fetus until week 9. So you are probably o.k. Now that you know that you are pregnant - abstain completely. Congratulations!

Alcohol crosses over the placenta. Drinking during the first trimester causes the most severe problems. The more you drink the more risk to the embryo/fetus/baby. Alcohol exposure for embryos is also a problem,even though it's called FAS.

The risk associated with light-to-moderate drinking has an association with how well the mother metabolizes alcohol and with genetic variations.

OP, talk to your doctor.

Of course OP should talk to her doctor. I am sure many many women have talked to their doctor in the exact same situation. I know I did. What do you think the doctor is going to say? Its obviously undetectable until birth unless major issues are present. Do you think the doctor is goignt o recommend terminating? No. They are not. They are going to tell you the limited amount they know about the actual risk -- no more information than is present here -- and tell you to be healthy for the rest of your pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did, too, and my baby was early for unrelated reasons, and has delays. Of course, I always freak out about FASD. I found out at about 4 weeks in. I have researched it a lot, and while it is very unlikely your child would actually have FAS -- that is pretty recognizable at birth and the diagnosis is pretty strict, requires small percentile, small head, etc. -- FASD is blurry. There are so many kids with ADHD that it is impossible to pull out the case in most cases.

One issue that does bother me is the whole "nature's way of protecting the baby" -- we are animals and its not like we evolved to drink alcohol. At the time this all evolved, there was probably no need to insulate the baby from tertrogens. So there is that.

I did find, OP, that there is a nutritional component to FAS, they think -- most women who are well nourished and hydrated do not seem to be at risk.

A reproductive system that protected the baby from teratogens would always be evolutionarily advantageous, alcohol or no alcohol! There are many teratogens that are not alcohol.

like what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is my understanding: Embryos don't share a blood supply with their moms - and the embryo doesn't become a fetus until week 9. So you are probably o.k. Now that you know that you are pregnant - abstain completely. Congratulations!

Alcohol crosses over the placenta. Drinking during the first trimester causes the most severe problems. The more you drink the more risk to the embryo/fetus/baby. Alcohol exposure for embryos is also a problem,even though it's called FAS.

The risk associated with light-to-moderate drinking has an association with how well the mother metabolizes alcohol and with genetic variations.

OP, talk to your doctor.

Of course OP should talk to her doctor. I am sure many many women have talked to their doctor in the exact same situation. I know I did. What do you think the doctor is going to say? Its obviously undetectable until birth unless major issues are present. Do you think the doctor is goignt o recommend terminating? No. They are not. They are going to tell you the limited amount they know about the actual risk -- no more information than is present here -- and tell you to be healthy for the rest of your pregnancy.

It often takes far longer than birth to detect problems that result from use of alcohol when pregnant. Often problems aren't detected until mid to late ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is my understanding: Embryos don't share a blood supply with their moms - and the embryo doesn't become a fetus until week 9. So you are probably o.k. Now that you know that you are pregnant - abstain completely. Congratulations!

Alcohol crosses over the placenta. Drinking during the first trimester causes the most severe problems. The more you drink the more risk to the embryo/fetus/baby. Alcohol exposure for embryos is also a problem,even though it's called FAS.

The risk associated with light-to-moderate drinking has an association with how well the mother metabolizes alcohol and with genetic variations.

OP, talk to your doctor.

Of course OP should talk to her doctor. I am sure many many women have talked to their doctor in the exact same situation. I know I did. What do you think the doctor is going to say? Its obviously undetectable until birth unless major issues are present. Do you think the doctor is goignt o recommend terminating? No. They are not. They are going to tell you the limited amount they know about the actual risk -- no more information than is present here -- and tell you to be healthy for the rest of your pregnancy.

It often takes far longer than birth to detect problems that result from use of alcohol when pregnant. Often problems aren't detected until mid to late ES.

Right, but at that point, it is difficult to pin the cause down, or to even know if they are alchohol related. A huge amount of kids have learning issues and social issues without having any alcohol exposure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did, too, and my baby was early for unrelated reasons, and has delays. Of course, I always freak out about FASD. I found out at about 4 weeks in. I have researched it a lot, and while it is very unlikely your child would actually have FAS -- that is pretty recognizable at birth and the diagnosis is pretty strict, requires small percentile, small head, etc. -- FASD is blurry. There are so many kids with ADHD that it is impossible to pull out the case in most cases.

One issue that does bother me is the whole "nature's way of protecting the baby" -- we are animals and its not like we evolved to drink alcohol. At the time this all evolved, there was probably no need to insulate the baby from tertrogens. So there is that.

I did find, OP, that there is a nutritional component to FAS, they think -- most women who are well nourished and hydrated do not seem to be at risk.

A reproductive system that protected the baby from teratogens would always be evolutionarily advantageous, alcohol or no alcohol! There are many teratogens that are not alcohol.

like what?

Like caffeine. And arsenic. And lead. And German measles. And atropine. And... Google "teratogens".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did, too, and my baby was early for unrelated reasons, and has delays. Of course, I always freak out about FASD. I found out at about 4 weeks in. I have researched it a lot, and while it is very unlikely your child would actually have FAS -- that is pretty recognizable at birth and the diagnosis is pretty strict, requires small percentile, small head, etc. -- FASD is blurry. There are so many kids with ADHD that it is impossible to pull out the case in most cases.

One issue that does bother me is the whole "nature's way of protecting the baby" -- we are animals and its not like we evolved to drink alcohol. At the time this all evolved, there was probably no need to insulate the baby from tertrogens. So there is that.

I did find, OP, that there is a nutritional component to FAS, they think -- most women who are well nourished and hydrated do not seem to be at risk.

A reproductive system that protected the baby from teratogens would always be evolutionarily advantageous, alcohol or no alcohol! There are many teratogens that are not alcohol.

like what?

Like caffeine. And arsenic. And lead. And German measles. And atropine. And... Google "teratogens".

Ok, yes, but these aren't things that prehistoric man would have encountered, right? Amd we haven't evolved much since then because we adapt. So I am not sure there is any evolved protection.

[Anonymous]

OP, you will likely be just fine. My drinky friends and I loved to send around scientific articles about drinking during pregnancy--the bottom line was that you needed to drink a LOT, like a bottle a day, every day in order to cause problems. Of course, no doctor in their right mind is ever going to tell you that and some people can't wrap their minds around the concept of moderation, so the advice about drinking is super conservative.

Good luck, and congratulations on your pregnancy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did, too, and my baby was early for unrelated reasons, and has delays. Of course, I always freak out about FASD. I found out at about 4 weeks in. I have researched it a lot, and while it is very unlikely your child would actually have FAS -- that is pretty recognizable at birth and the diagnosis is pretty strict, requires small percentile, small head, etc. -- FASD is blurry. There are so many kids with ADHD that it is impossible to pull out the case in most cases.

One issue that does bother me is the whole "nature's way of protecting the baby" -- we are animals and its not like we evolved to drink alcohol. At the time this all evolved, there was probably no need to insulate the baby from tertrogens. So there is that.

I did find, OP, that there is a nutritional component to FAS, they think -- most women who are well nourished and hydrated do not seem to be at risk.

There is NO WAY any alcohol affected your baby if you found out at 4 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is my understanding: Embryos don't share a blood supply with their moms - and the embryo doesn't become a fetus until week 9. So you are probably o.k. Now that you know that you are pregnant - abstain completely. Congratulations!

Alcohol crosses over the placenta. Drinking during the first trimester causes the most severe problems. The more you drink the more risk to the embryo/fetus/baby. Alcohol exposure for embryos is also a problem,even though it's called FAS.

The risk associated with light-to-moderate drinking has an association with how well the mother metabolizes alcohol and with genetic variations.

OP, talk to your doctor.

Of course OP should talk to her doctor. I am sure many many women have talked to their doctor in the exact same situation. I know I did. What do you think the doctor is going to say? Its obviously undetectable until birth unless major issues are present. Do you think the doctor is goignt o recommend terminating? No. They are not. They are going to tell you the limited amount they know about the actual risk -- no more information than is present here -- and tell you to be healthy for the rest of your pregnancy.

It often takes far longer than birth to detect problems that result from use of alcohol when pregnant. Often problems aren't detected until mid to late ES.

Right, but at that point, it is difficult to pin the cause down, or to even know if they are alchohol related. A huge amount of kids have learning issues and social issues without having any alcohol exposure.

point being -- because FASD relies on documentation about drinking during pregnancy -- it is super hard to get any reliable statistics about it. So, the answer is, nobody really knows. And no doctor could possibly tell you the relative risk in any certain terms -- i.e., there is a 50% chance of an issue... We just don't have the working information to do that.

Bottom line, op, it is very unlikely to have full blown FAS. Nobody knows how likely FASD is or how severe it may be. I drank for the first four weeks heavily -- I had a drinking problem -- and I had only that information to comfort myself. Doctor was not able to provide any further reassurance. It is what it is. Obviously many women have been in the same boat.