QuestionI am 30 years old and am currently 6 weeks pregnant. I found out a week ago through a home pregnancy test that I am pregnant and the doctor's office confirmed it today and estimated the 6 weeks.
I drank fairly regularly through the whole first 5 weeks of the pregnancy--up through the time I found out I was pregnant one week ago. I had been having an average of 2 flutes of champagne each day after work and also on the weekend evenings. A couple of nights it was 3 flutes. In addition, two days before I found out I was pregnant I had 3 hard alcohol drinks at a party, and over the Thanksgiving weekend I had probably 3 glasses of wine each night for the three nights of that long weekend. I was not drunk nor think any of this was "binge" drinking, however it is still a considerate amount of drinking.
I am very concerned that I have done damage to the fetus, and that it may have some sort of fetal alcohol effects or drop in IQ because of this. I have read various things online. Some things say this is a crucial period in the development in the brain and that it could have serious effects. However some say that the baby is getting its nutrients from a "yolk sack" for the first few weeks and not sharing anything with the mother early on and little effect is likely.
I need an honest opinion. I do not want to continue the pregnancy if it is likely I have done damage to the baby---I am seriously considering the option of terminating.
Can you tell me if this is true about the fetus not sharing what the mother drank/ate up to a certain point, and up to what point does the fetus begin to share what the mother eats and drinks?
What is the chance of it being affected if I keep it? Also, I'm not sure the doctor's estimate of 6 weeks is accurate, based on my menstrual cycle. If I'm farther along or less along than 6 weeks what difference might that make?
The doctor did not give me much clarity on the physiology of this (and just told me not to worry about what I've already done, which does not help with my decision) and now I am even more concerned than before I went.
AnswerHi,
Alcohol is easily passed along to the baby, who is less equipped to eliminate alcohol than the mother. That means an unborn baby tends to develop a high concentration of alcohol, which stays in the baby's system for longer periods than it would in the mother's. And moderate alcohol intake, as well as periodic binge drinking, can damage a baby's developing nervous system.
A few drinks before you knew you were pregnant, most likely will not harm your baby.
It's untrue that the baby and mother don't share anything until a certain point. The baby shares everything with the mother, and the first 6 weeks is the most vital stage, it's the stage where the baby develops everything.
I can't be sure if any damage has been done, sorry.
It's really your decision of what you want to do, I can't help you with that one. Good luck!
