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Does Wine Intake During Initial Pregnancy Cause Problems In The Fetus?

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Posted on Thu, 3 Apr 2014
Question: Hello, I am 28 weeks pregnant with my first child. The perinatologist found a possible septum primum ASD on ultrasound at 25 weeks. I also saw a fetal cardiologist to confirm, but she was unable to confirm yet as the baby's spine was causing too much shadowing. I see her and the perinatologist next week for a repeat echo. They recommended a MaterniT21 test, which was negative for Down Syndrome, and negative for all other screens. My question is if there is an ASD, if my drinking alcohol before I knew I was pregnant could have anything to do with it. It was an unplanned pregnancy, and before I found out right at about 2-3 weeks post conception, I had 3-4 glasses of wine most nights. I immediately stopped after the positive pregnancy test. Also, I was wondering if alcohol this early in the pregnancy could have caused other problems. Everything else on the 20 week ultrasound appeared normal, so I just want to be reassured that everything is okay. I understand any effects on the developing brain would have occurred with continued drinking later than 2-3 weeks post conception? With the brain measurements all appearing normal, and the corpus callosum intact, is it unlikely that there is any mental damage done that early? Also, what is the likelihood of any signs of FAS with the above scenario? Or is it most likely an isolated possible heart defect. Second question, I have just started feeling short of breath as the baby is starting to push up on my diaphragm. And have also had a bad cold this last week. I am definitely having trouble sleeping at night due to breathing issues, and anxiety of feeling like I'm suffocating. I have pretty much avoided all meds throughout the pregnancy, whether they are considered safe or not until this last week, I took some sudafed, and maybe up to 2 benadryl tabs at night. How safe do you consider sudafed and benadryl at the start of the third trimester? Should I try to limit the time to two weeks if needed for insomnia, or is it really and truly safe in your opinion? Thank you!
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (40 minutes later)
Brief Answer: Likely to be isolated defect. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for trusting us with your health concern. Taking wine during first three weeks after conception before knowing you were pregnant, chances are it probably won't harm your baby. Since you did not take any alcohol after the pregnancy was diagnosed the cardiac defect found is likely to be an isolated defect. The chances of developing FAS are higher if mother takes alcohol throughout the pregnancy. It’s difficult to predict the impact of drinking on any given pregnancy because some women have higher levels of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol. But taking alcohol in the first half of Ist trimester is less XXXXXXX as compared to second half. The chances of having any defects in the brain development and FAS are very low. Both sudafed and Benadryl are pregnancy category B drugs and are safe for use in third trimester. You can continue taking it till the symptoms are relieved. Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Rakhi Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal

OBGYN

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 14043 Questions

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Does Wine Intake During Initial Pregnancy Cause Problems In The Fetus?

Brief Answer: Likely to be isolated defect. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for trusting us with your health concern. Taking wine during first three weeks after conception before knowing you were pregnant, chances are it probably won't harm your baby. Since you did not take any alcohol after the pregnancy was diagnosed the cardiac defect found is likely to be an isolated defect. The chances of developing FAS are higher if mother takes alcohol throughout the pregnancy. It’s difficult to predict the impact of drinking on any given pregnancy because some women have higher levels of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol. But taking alcohol in the first half of Ist trimester is less XXXXXXX as compared to second half. The chances of having any defects in the brain development and FAS are very low. Both sudafed and Benadryl are pregnancy category B drugs and are safe for use in third trimester. You can continue taking it till the symptoms are relieved. Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Rakhi Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal