Forum Health

Is smoking and drinking during the first 3 weeks of pregnancy really that bad?

37 replies · page 1 of 2

Laura
Hi there,

I've been trying to get pregnant for a few months now and it just hasn't happened. I smoke and only drink when I go out or to parties, and sometimes quite a lot. I had actually quit, but when I couldn't get pregnant, I just started again. Now I'm a week late, so I might be pregnant. If I am, that means I've smoked and drunk quite a bit for about 8 days out of the first 3 weeks of pregnancy. I'm worried this might have consequences for my pregnancy—is that true?

Replies

Page 1 of 2

  1. Iza #2

    It's of course never really good for you, but if I remember correctly, the embryo isn't 'connected' to your blood supply for the first few weeks. It's still just a clump of cells that feeds off the yolk sac that's attached to it. Later on, the embryo will implant itself and the placenta will form, which will be in contact with your body. I wouldn't worry too much, but just to be safe, you could give your midwife or GP a quick call.
    Good luck

  2. Ilse Guest #3

    Hi Laura,

    This is probably not the answer you want to hear. What Iza said isn't entirely true; alcohol can indeed be harmful before the embryo is connected to your blood supply.

    However, the major risks of alcohol (such as fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS) are linked to frequent binge drinking throughout your entire pregnancy. So you don't need to worry too much about that.

    You might consider behavioral problems at a later age, concentration issues, etc. Fortunately, the link here is quite small, and you can still do a lot during pregnancy to reduce the chances of this happening (healthy eating, enough exercise, no coffee, etc.). So don't think that your child will now have behavioral problems; the chance of this is only minimally increased.

  3. Laura Guest #4

    Thanks for your replies! So alcohol is worse than smoking in the first 3 weeks? Because I actually smoked more than I drank.

  4. D.C.B & G Love♥♥♥♥ #5

    No worries, I used to drink and smoke too... not much though, I was just a social smoker, but still: hmm... when I didn't know I was pregnant with my first 6 years ago and we found out I was already 3.5 months pregnant... so it probably wasn't too bad, and I haven't smoked or drunk since then.
    Now with the second one, I don't smoke or drink either... I haven't smoked for a long time anyway, and I'll start drinking again when I'm no longer pregnant!

  5. Anonymous Guest #6

    From the moment you should be "late" for your period, it's very wise to avoid smoking and drinking. But before that time, the blood connection isn't established yet, so it really can't do any harm. I got this from one of the most respected child neuropsychologists of our time (Prof. Swaab). So no, I wouldn't worry about it. Still, I'd quit alcohol and cigarettes as soon as possible (but I guess you're already doing that) since they pose many risks (yes, behavioral problems later in life, ADHD, lower birth weight, etc.).

    So let it go! Enjoy!

  6. Olivia-Anna #7

    I gave birth to my daughter 5 months ago and since I'm breastfeeding, I only have a glass of wine after feeding. But 3 weeks ago I realized I missed a pill and since then I've been feeling just like I did when I was pregnant, just different and mood swings and sometimes nauseous. Had a party yesterday and didn't dare to drink! I'm afraid I'm pregnant again, or it's all in my head. I'm really going to do a test otherwise I'll stay unsure.. Now just have to tell my husband..

  7. felicia Guest #8

    drinking and smoking are bad when you're pregnant, but think about it too: when your baby's lungs are developing and you smoke, they'll be affected every time you take a puff. It's really sad. Babies already have a higher risk of cancer and lung diseases after birth because their hearts and lungs were damaged in the womb by the tar in cigarettes. They also swallow your nicotine through the amniotic fluid since it gets into the fluid and the baby drinks it.

  8. becca Guest #9

    They do say it's bad, but I won't say that. With my first pregnancy I really lived healthily. I said that if I stopped the pill I'd also stop smoking. A year later I was pregnant. Never drank alcohol, quit smoking, took vitamin pills, stayed out of the sun... and what do you know, a baby with abnormalities! Not that I don't love her... with or without abnormalities she's my child and I love her.... 3 years later I was pregnant again, I smoked, went in the sun, didn't drink alcohol and what do you know.... a perfectly healthy baby.... with my 3rd pregnancy same as the 2nd and what do you know, another healthy baby... I love my kids so much, all three, but this just shows again.... smoking in general is bad but in terms of pregnancy gynecology also plays a big role. If people think smoking is bad I can understand that but then be honest and wear a mask when you go outside because the fumes from cars and factories aren't exactly healthy either and you breathe that in too! And regarding smoking during pregnancy, I have to add that if I smoked 5 it was a lot! Hopefully you find this useful.. greetings

  9. felicia Guest #10

    Hi Becca, I don't agree with you, and honestly, it comes across as a bit childish to me. Your comment that if you stay healthy, the baby might still have issues is true, but at least you know for sure it's not your fault—you couldn't have done anything about it. But just imagine for a moment how your baby is suffocating in the womb because you just have to smoke.

  10. felicia Guest #11

    Not knowing for sure that my babies are almost suffocating in the womb is unpleasant, but well, it could also manifest later when the child is 30 and suddenly gets cancer. That could come from the mother smoking in the womb. Usually, you don't see that damage at birth but rather much later. And do you think that's a nice idea, letting your child drink nasty nicotine and carcinogenic substances from your amniotic fluid? It feels like breathing through a straw for your child in the womb, which I find quite sad. With every puff you take, it's a bit childish about that mask; you choose not to wear it, you have to go outside to smoke or not smoke is a choice you make, and unfortunately, a choice that only you can make for your child. Your child doesn't choose to get all those carcinogenic substances and suffocate in your womb! Greetings, Felicia

  11. felicia Guest #12

    And those factories are just there and don't come as close to your baby as your cigarette smoke does. And the thing is, those factories aren't intentionally harming your baby, but you have a choice! You're not a factory; you're consciously choosing to let your baby breathe in your smoke because you feel you absolutely need to keep smoking. That's the difference. A childish example of those factories. Greetings, Felicia

  12. myrte Guest #13

    I'd also like to say something about this. I find it shameless, those pregnant women smoking—it's disgraceful, especially with all the information on the packs about the damage you're doing to your baby. You don't want to take those risks for your child, do you?

  13. sonja Guest #14

    Oh my, that's so selfish when you're making excuses to keep smoking while an innocent baby is growing inside you, a baby on the way, and I always get nauseous from women like Becca who try to justify why smoking might be okay. If you're mature enough to choose to have a baby, you should also take responsibility for the baby's health and be mature enough to think about the baby's well-being. It's been mentioned here a few times, but I'll say it again: how can you keep smoking and associate it with being sociable when your baby is struggling to breathe in your belly? And...

  14. sonja Guest #15

    And don't forget that your baby in your womb also inhales the smoke you breathe in, and that part goes right to the baby's brain. That part doesn't get any oxygen either, while that's very important. All the toxic substances from your cigarette end up in the baby's bloodstream. It then goes to the brain, lungs, kidneys, etc. How can you think it's nice to just enjoy your cigarette? You enjoy while your baby suffers. I think the baby wants to get out of that cramped space as quickly as possible. There are videos made of a baby in the womb of mothers who smoke. You see the baby shrink and curl up with every puff. Your belly baby resists that smoke and can't even flee or move aside because he or she doesn't have much space. Such a sad face, I can tell you. And with all that information on the packs, you know consciously what you're doing to your baby. It's true what someone here wrote: you often don't see the consequences at birth; they often show up later. You, as a smoking pregnant woman, give your baby an 80% chance of cancer when he or she is an adult. Terrible, I think. And to all smoking pregnant women who say their child is fine despite the smoking in the womb, I'd like to say: Isn't it bad enough that your baby lacks oxygen in your womb? And that your baby basically chokes? Greetings, Sonja

  15. Dreamer #16

    Well Laura, you got your answer. Yes, smoking and drinking can have an effect! So quit as soon as possible if you think you might be pregnant, and in my opinion, even before that, when you're trying to conceive!

    Can you forgive yourself if your child has a condition due to your (conscious) smoking/drinking during pregnancy?

    The fact that someone replied saying it doesn't matter, it almost always does! (asthma, allergies, weak immune system, premature birth, etc.) And yes, it doesn't have to be harmful, but would you want to take that risk?

  16. felicia Guest #17

    Hi Dreamer, I just wanted to say how nice it is that I'm not the only one who feels this way. Very well said! I'm glad to have your message. Greetings, Felicia.

  17. Anonymous Guest #18

    It's obviously not good to drink or smoke when you're pregnant.
    But I think this happens more often. There are several women who had a drink or smoked before they realized they were pregnant.
    And not because they don't want to change their habits, but just happened to be at that one party. Don't stress too much; stress isn't good either.
    Enjoy your pregnancy and try to live as healthily as possible for the rest of it.

  18. lieza Guest #19

    I used to smoke, but when I got pregnant I couldn't do it anymore. I felt so guilty, so incredibly guilty after every cigarette. I couldn't sleep from the guilt towards my unborn baby, such an innocent little baby. So when I tested positive, I first smoked 2 half-cigarettes, really only 2 halves per day, nothing more, whereas I always used to smoke a pack a day. I went from a pack to 2 halves, but suddenly after 2 days I felt so incredibly terrible that even these 2 halves gave me a rotten feeling. I imagined how I was polluting my uterus, the baby's house, with my cigarettes. It just made me scared, so I just stopped right away. I gave the pack to my brother and really never touched a cigarette again. And how good did that feel, finally being free from the guilt, sleeping peacefully. I gave up something I had been addicted to my whole life, specifically for my baby. How good did that feel? I thought my child could later be proud of me and grateful that I stopped that bad crap for him. Ladies, believe me, light cigarettes or regular ones, they all contain carcinogenic substances. It's just that the aroma machine makes it taste like a light cigarette, but the crap inside that causes lung cancer etc., that crap is in every cigarette, light or regular. So don't switch to light cigarettes, they cause the same percentage chance of diseases. Only the aroma and taste are lighter, but benzene and all that other crap is in every cigarette. So if you want to think about yourself as a mother with a good feeling, just stop. Greetings, Lieza.

  19. lieza Guest #20

    By now, my son is 3 years old, and when I look at his smiling, happy little face, I think: that’s why I’m so happy I didn’t let him suffocate in my womb.
    Greetings, Lieza

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