alcohol first three weeks!

[born_to_sew]

My period was due on Dec. 26th, but it still hasn't arrived and, given other symptoms, I'm fairly confident that I'm pregnant.

I attended many holiday parties in December and drank quite a bit (especially on New Year's Eve when I really went overboard!) until the weekend of Jan. 2nd/3rd, when I realized that my period was a week overdue and I started paying attention to signs that my body's been giving me. I haven't touched a drop of anything since then...

Now I'm horrified to think I may have been drinking during the first 3 full weeks of pregnancy. I've read that the fetus' brain begins to develop and that many other important organs (heart, liver, eyes, etc.) form after just a couple of weeks. If I really am pregnant, could my baby be at risk for alcohol-related birth defects or neurodevelopmental disorders? How significant is the risk? If so, can any screening be performed in the first trimester?

Please, I'm desperate to know what to do. Thanks!

[bebe05]

same thing w/ me,i had  some drinks last christmas & new year's eve,without knowing that im already 3 weeks pregnant.the sad news is that until now my 7th week they cant still find the heart beat & doctor gave me 2 weeks more or else they will do a d&c,w/c scared the heck of me.im so guilty,blaming myself for the possibility of losing my pregnancy.let's just be possitive & pray hard,becuzz its only in God's hand.Let us let God moves in his mysterious ways.BEST OF LUCK TO US!take care

[Tarobinc]

Agree with Tramaddi.  You might also considering taking an early pg test, if you haven't already.

Just remember, you are not the first woman to do this nor will you be the last.  A lot of women don't know about their pregnancies early on.  

Below is advice I found:

"My OB told me that she has never seen a baby born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) that was a result of the mother drinking up until she knew she was pregnant (I'm talking about the first 4 to 5 weeks). FAS typically will develop as a result of continuous drinking throughout the pregnancy. So of course stop drinking now (I'm sure you already have) and try your best to not worry. As your pregnancy progresses normally, it will begin to put your mind at ease."

[tramaddi]

I wouldn't freak out many a woman has done the same and as long as they didn't continue it everything turned out ok. But you should proabably start taking prenatal vitamins asap.  Good luck