Alcohol Consumption During Early Pregnancy: Risks & Concerns

Question
Hi,

I have got 2 questions :
1.I just found out that I was pregnant . My period was due on September 13, so the foetus would have been 2 weeks old at that time . On that date I drank 3 beers and 2 days before I had another 3 beers . I am extremly worried about it . I am not sure if drinking 3 beers is called binge drinking. I read that occasional binge drinking is dangerous and I am not sure I i am in that category.

2. My second question is about pain . I had menstrual-like pain for about 3 days even dough I was pregnant . Is this normal?

Answer
What was the first day of your last period? Your next period was due four weeks after your last period. If you had a period due on September 13, tnen you were four weeks pregnant at that time (two weeks after conception). At that stage, we cannot determine how much alcohol is detrimental to a growing fetus. We just don't know. Most likely, the three beers you had will not cause any damage. Often, at this early stage of pregnancy, you can miscarry but the alcohol will not cause congenital anomalies. If you do not continue to "binge" drink thoughout pregnancy, you will not develop "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome".  You can have some cramping pain in early pregnancy. It should not last long and you should not have any bleeding with it.