Know anything about alcohol fetal syndrome? Or abortions?

[Apple]

Hei kaikki.

Well, I highly suspect that I am pregnant (very sore breasts, no period, recent sexual activity). Thing is, I didn't realise I was pregnant until I missed the period. But I have been drinking alcohol! I'm petrified I have given fetal alchohol syndrome to my fetus. The pregnancy was a complete mistake/accident BTW, otherwise, clealy I would have avoided the alcohol. Now, how much did I drink?

Well, during the week of sexual activity, I drank a moderate amount. But I'm discounting this - I'm assuming that alcohol only damages the fetus when it is actually attached to the womb lining and reciving your blood supply - for 7 days after conception, I'm led to believe, the fetus isn't attached yet. Perhaps as little as 3 days from conception, or as much as a 9 days afer conception, I went out with my friends on a saturday night. I generally don't drink much - I perhaps drank several small glasses of wine, and a vodka and cranberry juice. Then nothing, until a week later, I went out again on a saturday night and drank two small (400ml) Karhu beers. After that, my period was late, I suspected I was pregnant, and haven't drunk anything since.

Now, after alot of panicked searching on the internet, it appears that ANY alcohol will induce alcohol fetal syndrome. And it is obviously clearly very sensible to avoid alchohol, but what about those women who don't realise that they are actually pregnant???? There is precious little info on the chances of getting it, if you drank like the above (like I did). But I read somewhere that half of all pregnancies are unplanned, and clearly, Finland isn't exactly a dry country......so I'm guessing there are alot of women out there who have done as I have, ie had a few drinks before they knew they were pregnant.

I was wondering if people here would be able to share any info on the matter. Did you drink before you knew you were pregnant?

Which leads me on to....

I will probably opt (due to the aforementioned drinking) for a early medical abortion.

Anyone had an early medical abortion (the one were you swallow some pills two days apart) here in Finland?

Please, I really need some help, please PM me.

And please, I don't want any men hijacking this thread claiming that abortion is immoral or whatnot. I'm not interested in that. This is my body and until you know what it feels like to have something alien growing inside you without your consent, then hold the critisim. Yes, we used contraception - and please bear in mind that no contraception is 100%.

[scoobymcdoo]

I didn't find out I was pregnant until I was 6 weeks pg. I wasn't expecting to get pregnant so raced in a triathlon which included swimming in the River Thames (rife with Weils disease and pollution). I also went to a party and drank quite a bit. I also did 2 different 5km races.
Sophie is now 2.5yrs old, extremely bright and very very healthy.
There will be plenty of people who have been in your situation; a few parties and then realising they might be pg...and to be honest, the amount of alcohol you drank is not a lot. Heavy, constant drinking is more the cause of fetal alcoholism. http://www.ivillage.co.uk/pregnancyandb ... 85,00.html What matters now is that you have stopped.
Good luck with your decision, I wouldn't base a few nights out on your overall decision making though.

Hannah

[Apple]

Thanks for the link and the reply! Wow, a triathlon?! Yeah, I know its not much, and I clearly realise that there must be so many women out there who have had a few drinks prior to knowing that they were pregnant.......but still. I don't want my fetus to have any abnormalities! And i'm worried that the drinking occured at some incredibly crucial time of development....Even if there is a tiny chance....you know? And the abnormalities might be very subtle...an increased risk of depression for example..... oh well.

[karen]

I got pregnant a couple of weeks before Christmas and went to multiple parties, got loaded many times before I knew. My baby was fine and yours will be, too.

No advice or opinion on the other matter, but I'd give you a big hug.

[Hank W.]

Its not like you've been pickling your liver is it? Thinking statistically if you look at Finnish people and if you look at Finnish drinking habits we must then be a nation of abnormals. No wonder we're so depressed. Babies get "I got a mommy who reads too much internet syndrome". For advice check out your local Neuvola so you get someone who speaks English. They're there to do their job you know?

And get the guy in question to face up to his duties.

[EP]

Those amounts have not had any effect on the baby. But do the pregnancy test, and then go to a doctor to discuss the matters. Alcohol damage on babies require steady, and quite heavy drinking. Heavy-using.

The absolute "no-alcohol during pregnancy" has not even been around for a very long time. 20-30 years ago people drank a lot less than nowadays, but pregnant women could make toasts on New Years and Juhannus and 1st of May, and it didn´t even come to their mind that it would have some effect.

[Mook]

Mmmm. they baby alcohol thing has gotten a bit extreme lately.

Anyhow, I have one friend that drank a couple of glasses of wine, fairly regularly during pregnancy and everything was OK. (the rationale being that it helped her to relax). The stress of worrying about this probably has more effect than the coupel of glasses of wine that you had.

[Hank W.]

The absolute "no-alcohol during pregnancy" has not even been around for a very long time. 20-30 years ago people drank a lot less than nowadays,

Haven't you seen those "home doctor" books that prescribe alcohol and wine to pregnant mothers to "strengthen the blood" (and some 100-200 years ago the populations were pickled)

[Apple]

Hello!

Well, I've been for a cycle ride, and I've somewhat calmed down. Yes, you are all right - it is probably nothing much to worry about. I mean, my mum smoked when she was pregnant with me, and I'm sure the 'no alcohol' policy wasn't around then either.

Thanks Karen for the offer of a big hug - I need one!

I'm going to see the nurse tomorrow at the student health centre and we'll take things from there.

And the father - well he rang just now, but I was too chicken to tell him! We've been together for 5 years now, and he really wants kids, so its not that bad, but still! How'd you tell a guy he might become a potential father? And over the phone hardly seems the best way.

yeah, I'm a hypochrondriac at the best of times, so when I heard there was this zero tolerance alcohol thing, I panicked...well I'm clearly not drinking now, but you know. It is a worry!

Thanks.

[mago]

Those early pregnancy days can be nerve racking.

My wife went through the same sort of emotions when she discovered she was pregnant. She had a couple of nights out before she knew she was pregnant as well.

So many people have gone through the same situation and had the most perfect babies they could ever ask for. So congratulations and hope you feel better that everything you are going through is normal

Good Luck

[mago]

How'd you tell a guy he might become a potential father?

I have the email that notified me safely stored on the computer
I was MIA in Bangladesh and the missus thought she'd never hear from me again, wish someone had been filming my reaction when I checked my inbox.

[EP]

Haven't you seen those "home doctor" books that prescribe alcohol and wine to pregnant mothers to "strengthen the blood"

I had totally forgotten. 30 years ago a doctor ordered a pregnant friend of mine to have a little cognac every day because she was a little anemic. And that meant every single day. I was glad there was nothing wrong with my blood because I hated the taste of all hard liquors (still do). But if a doctor would have ordered me to sip Marli´s sweet apple wine I would have loved to do that. Maybe KELA would have payed my ALKO bills?

[Mook]

I had totally forgotten. 30 years ago a doctor ordered a pregnant friend of mine to have a little cognac every day because she was a little anemic.

In Ireland you'd have been told to have a half of guinness every day...

[ScubaGirl]

I drank pretty heavily on 2 different occasions during my first weeks of pregnancy before I knew or even suspected I was pregnant. I was also terrified about what harm I may have done once I found out I was expecting a baby, but my first visit to the neuvola wiped all my worries away. My daughter is very healthy, happy and incredibly sharp.

If your SOLE reason for an abortion would be because you're afraid of any harm you might have done to the baby, then I'd suggest you wait until you have all the facts. I'm sure that this little bit of drinking hasn't caused any damage & that those warnings you read about are only to frighten women into not drinking during pregnancy. Of course you shouldn't drink once you suspect you're pregnant, but if you did it before there were any signs, I wouldn't worry too much.

Just telling you that from my own experience, I could not imagine my life now without my daughter. I am so in love with her it is absolutely indescribable. I also considered abortion, but I am sooooooooooooo happy I didn't do it. I look at her now and I'm ashamed I ever even considered it. Please don't take this as me saying you shouldn't do that, I'm only sharing my own story with you. I'm a single mom with no family here and even though it's very tough at times, I would NEVER turn back the clocks to change anything that's happened. She's the greatest gift I've ever received. And no, I'm not religious whatsoever. I'm just a mommy who is head over heels in love with her daughter

Best of luck to you with whatever you do

[Apple]

Well thanks everyone.

So its pretty common that the woman has had a couple of nights out before she suspected that she was pregnant? I'm somewhat relieved. I know that things will work out either I keep the fetus or not - but somehow, I haven't really bonded with the fetus yet, so I'm somehow more inclined to opt for the abortion. I haven't had any strikes of lightning just yet. It mostly feels like something vaguely alien has hijacked my body. I just want to be me.

Anyway, I'm sure things will become clearer in due course -- right now, I'm 50/50 between the two options. I'm terrified of having a baby, and I'm terrified of having an abortion. In general, just terrified really. I'll try and pluck up the courage and speak with the father tomorrow.