Alcohol & Pregnancy

[mbrenn]

After missing my first period, I took a pregnancy test and it came back negative. 2 months on, still no period and I've retaken a test to find out I am pregnant.
In the past couple of months I have had 2 nights out drinking and now i'm scared I've damaged the baby.
Does anyone know the impact I could have caused and am I right to be so worried?

[Ethel]

Don't worry. Although it is true drinking alcohol in pregnancy may affect the baby, it is highly unlikely after two drinking bouts.

Think of all the women you know who have drunk in pregnancy and had perfectly healthy babies.

[redcrx]

also think how many women dont find out they are pregnant until their first period is late, thats at least 2 very important pregnancy weeks that they wont have known to avoid alcohol and anything else advised against.

congratulations!

[stonekicker]

i'm sure that plenty of women out there have had a few nights out without realising that they are pregnant. alcohol affects foetuses when it is a sustained, heavy intake - leading to some developmental, physical and psychological problems, but i'm sure if you had a couple of nights out that this won't affect you or the baby in this way. now that you know, all you can do is be sensible and not drink any more and things will turn out ok. try not to worry and if you can't get it out of your mind, next time you see your gp or a midwife, tralk to them about it. good luck!

[mbrenn]

Thank you for putting my mind a bit more at ease.

[ethandron]

when i was pregnant with my first child some 28 years ago, there was little or no advice about not drinking when pregnant. i actually went out for a drink at lunchtime with my co-workers when i broke the good news to them! my baby was a beautiful bouncing perfect little boy.
it's a really good thing that we know more now than we did then about what can potentially harm an unborn baby, but i really wouldn't worry about your 2 nights out, i'm sure you and baby will be fine.

[Dollie]

I'm grinning mbrenn, as my lovely daghter in law didn't find out she was pregnant till she was 14 weeks. She thought she had missed periods with coming off the pill and it taking time to settle down. She was worried sick because she had been on some real 'girlie night out' binges during that three month period. Docs assured her she would be fine and she was. We got an extremely healthy grandaugther six months later with no illness or disability whatsoever. Good Luck x