It can happen to anyone. Perhaps you already know that you’re pregnant, but a friend told you it’s ok to have a glass of wine early in pregnancy. Maybe you weren’t trying to get pregnant at all, but now your period is late and you can’t stop thinking about the drinks you shared with your partner last weekend. Whatever the case may be, you may be worried about the damage that drinking during pregnancy can cause.
You’ve probably got a lot of serious questions running through your mind right now. So, take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Today, we’re exploring what can happen if you drink early in and during pregnancy. Keep reading to learn more!
Can Alcohol Affect a Pregnancy Test?
If you’re experiencing pregnancy symptoms, the first step is to take a pregnancy test. However, if you’ve been drinking recently, you may be wondering if the alcohol in your system could affect your results.
Alcohol itself doesn’t affect pregnancy test results. However, drinking alcohol can cause dehydration, which will make you want to drink more water. Excess water can dilute your urine and make it difficult for the pregnancy test to detect your hCG levels[1], which could lead to an inaccurate result. If you’ve been drinking recently, you may want to wait until your fluid intake returns to normal before taking a pregnancy test.
Don’t want to take this first step alone? Consider visiting CHOICES! We offer free pregnancy tests and free ultrasounds so that you can confirm your pregnancy in a confidential, compassionate environment.
What if I Drank Before I Knew I Was Pregnant?
The good news is that a little drinking early in pregnancy is unlikely to cause any harm[2]! However, it’s crucial to stop drinking immediately once you know that you’re pregnant. The sooner you stop drinking, the healthier your baby will be[3]!
It’s always wise to reach out to your doctor with any questions or concerns. Be sure to attend regular prenatal checkups to monitor the health and development of your pregnancy.
How Much Alcohol Can You Drink While Pregnant?
Although a small amount of alcohol early in pregnancy doesn’t usually cause harm,
it’s crucial to stop drinking to prevent any alcohol-related problems from developing later on. There is no “safe amount” of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. Even if you don’t drink often, drinking a lot in one sitting can cause serious harm[3]. Additionally, there’s no “safe kind” of alcohol to drink during pregnancy—this includes beer, wine, and mixed drinks[4].
Alcohol appears to be the most dangerous during the first three months of pregnancy, but drinking at any point during pregnancy is still very risky[3]. The best thing to do is to avoid alcohol entirely for the rest of your pregnancy!
Can Drinking Alcohol Cause a Miscarriage? How Much Alcohol Causes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
Drinking any amount of alcohol during pregnancy can lead to severe consequences, such as miscarriage and fetal alcohol syndrome.
- Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol during pregnancy can cause miscarriage[3].
- Drinking heavily (more than 2 drinks a day) increases the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome[3].
- Binge drinking (more than five drinks in one sitting) significantly increases a baby’s risk of sustaining alcohol-related damage[3].
These conditions are totally preventable if a baby isn’t exposed to alcohol before birth. If you want to maintain a healthy pregnancy but cannot stop drinking, there are ways to get help! Contact your doctor or local alcohol treatment center to get started.
Can I Drink if I’m Planning on Getting an Abortion?
Even if you’re considering abortion in Colorado, you should still avoid alcohol. Alcohol thins the blood, which can interfere with your body’s ability to clot and control bleeding[5]. Because of this, drinking before or after an abortion increases the risk of excessive bleeding[5] and other serious complications, which would require emergency treatment.
We encourage you to explore all of your pregnancy options and receive an ultrasound before an abortion. This will help you to make the most informed decision for your health and future!
Unplanned Pregnancy Support in Woodland Park, CO
We get it—an unplanned pregnancy can be stressful enough without the fear that something has already gone wrong. You aren’t in this alone. CHOICES provides free pregnancy services so that you can get the care and support you deserve!
To schedule your appointment at whatchoices.com, send a text to (719) 694-3201 or give us a call at (719) 284-2300.
Please be aware that CHOICES does not provide or refer for abortion services.
Sources
- Common foods and drinks: What can affect a pregnancy test result? Clearblue. (2022, September 29). Retrieved from https://www.clearblue.com/pregnancy-tests/what-can-affect-a-pregnancy-test-result#
- Alcohol and Women. ACOG | American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2021, December). Retrieved from https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/alcohol-and-women
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2022, January 10). Alcohol and pregnancy. MedlinePlus. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007454.htm
- Alcohol and Pregnancy Questions and Answers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, November 14). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/faqs.html
- Ballard, H. S. (1997). The Hematological Complications of Alcoholism. Alcohol Health and Research World. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6826798/#