is any 1 else worried about this?!

i have been reading articles about fetal alcohol syndrome and it sounds terrible, i was drinking loads before i found out i was pregnant and was drinking maybe 2 baileys a week and 2 glasses of wine since then as i was told it would be fine, now ive found out otherwise and im worried for my baby, how would you find out if damaged had been done before babies born? i should probably stop reading all this material as it makes you worry about everything but i just want him to be ok, does any one know how high the chances would be of me causing this problem even tho i have now stopped drinking completely as i know the 1st 3 months are the most important and i have been drinking on and off all that time even tho small amounts since finding out i was pregnant apparently this is just as bad, please help

[Super_sally888]

Hi Emmie,

You know there's always a risk.  The level you were drinking was not that major.  But the important thing is that you've done the right thing by stopping drinking now. Am sure there are many babies that have survived as much with no problems.  Did you know in the past our mothers and grandmothers were encouraged to have their evening cocktail even while pregnant as it was thought to help them relax.  Times have changed, or course and now we are super hung up about just about everything to do with pregnancy.

I reckon you need to stop worrying about what you did in the past.  It's over and done and can't be changed.  Focus on the here and now and doing what you should from here on.

Anyway sounds from your previous U/s that your baby's in good condition.

Enjoy your pregnancy.

Take care

Sally

[emmiemac]

im begining to think im paranoid maybe because its my 1st im just over worried i know many babies have survived worse but just seems like now days you have to be that much more careful, even my mum was under the illusion that 1 or 2 drinks are safe, but i supose if you feel comftable in doing that yourself then whos to tell you its wrong?! i think we all know what are bodies accept i know for me the 1 thing i crave the most in the morning is the only thing that still makes me violently sick.....COFFEE but i still try! im definatley making this my last cup dont think babys keen, bless him. any way hows things with you are you feeling well?

[Heather3418]

Let me give you a "horror story" that was really par for the day when I was pregnant with my kids.  The first one was 37 years ago.  (yeah I'm old...LOL)

Back then the OB's would encourage the mother to take a drink of wine about once or twice a day.  Like Sally said, they thought it would keep the mother relaxed and the blood from being too thick.  Unknowingly, I also drank in the first 6 weeks. Also not knowing it would be bad for my baby, I smoked marijuana before I knew I was pregnant. I was only 16 when I became pregnant.  Back then you didn't even know you were pregnant until you were at least 6 weeks along.  The "rabbit had to die."  Of course, having a sixth sense about my baby's health and my health, I stopped drinking and smoking marijuana as soon as I learned I was pregnant.

I smoked cigarettes throughout the entire pregnancy.  (Back then the doctor's smoked in their patient's room and smoking allowed in their office waiting rooms. No kidding!)  Also not knowing that it could be harmful to the baby.  My only complication of pregnancy was pre-eclampsia.

I thank the Lord my baby was born healthly.  Almost 9 pounds of healthy and 22 1/2 inches long.   Six hours of labor and 2 pushes and that boy flew out...yeah flew out.  The doctor barely caught him.  Guess I'm built right for having babies.

Today, you ladies having little ones, are lucky to know that these things are actually bad for your developing baby and YOU.  You have the advantage of knowing there are less birth defects, caused by drinking and smoking.  Fetal alcohol syndrome is a scary thought.  Please trust me when I say, yeah you shouldn't drink, but alot of women from my day, thought drinking was okay during pregnancy.  Very few babies were ever born with fetal alcohol syndrome.  So I hazard to guess, that since you stopped drinking, all will be fine.

Worrying about your baby is absolutely normal.  Women have been worrying since the beginning of childbirth times.  You are not alone.  I am glad to hear that once you learned you were pregnant, that you took every action to ensure that you and your baby will be healthy.  Keep up the great work, little mother.  I feel sure that everything will be fine.  Really I do.

Heather