https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 05 Apr 2026 03:17:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/atrial-septal-defect#post-2245464 Fri, 24 Jul 2015 20:40:01 +0000 yin 2245464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While my kids do not have ASD, I sometimes feel similarly with their food allergies. I wonder if I had done something differently, then maybe they would have less or none at all. I often get blamed by others (family members and sometimes stranger) that I didn't do enough during pregnancy or that I didn't introduce the foods earlier. Although difficult, I try to move on and not place any blame on myself or anyone else. Instead I focus on keeping my kids safe from their food allergies and try to educate others when I can. It's tough being a parent. We shouldn't beat ourselves up over the small details. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/atrial-septal-defect#post-2245450 Fri, 24 Jul 2015 20:12:02 +0000 Tanjowen 2245450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My niece had corrective surgery for an atrial defect, and my sister has never drank in her life. I think it's coincidence and mom guilt is a terrible thing - you didn't do anything wrong! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/atrial-septal-defect#post-2239278 Fri, 17 Jul 2015 11:49:48 +0000 KatieBklyn 2239278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was born with an ASD (surgically repaired at age 4) and I also did some light drinking - one small glass of wine with a meal, no more than once or twice a week - during the second and third trimesters. My son's heart is completely fine. (We did a fetal echo just in case because of my history with ASD.) My mom abstained completely during her pregnancy with me. ASD is really just one of those things that happens sometimes! I wouldn't waste any energy on feeling guilty. It really isn't your fault! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/atrial-septal-defect#post-2239262 Fri, 17 Jul 2015 11:31:26 +0000 blackbird 2239262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you can drive yourself crazy with thoughts like this. It's not the wine, then it's cheese. Was it the ice cream you had? The broccoli you didn't wash? A cheeseburger? Did you run too much? Not enough?</p> <p>Or was it just biology? So many cells are dividing and something got missed. Just do what feels right to you </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/atrial-septal-defect#post-2239261 Fri, 17 Jul 2015 11:24:13 +0000 reverie 2239261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While I don't think a handful of drinks here and there in the last 6 months of pregnancy caused anything, I choose to mostly abstain because it's not worth it for me to think about otherwise. I had two sips of wine last time and to be honest, with the amount of heartburn I have while pregnant I can't really picture enjoying a drink anyway! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/atrial-septal-defect#post-2239256 Fri, 17 Jul 2015 11:17:26 +0000 hellobeeboston 2239256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think there is any way a very tiny amount of alcohol caused this. My OB and MFM and others docs I have met all say a little alcohol is OK. Think about our parents who were all drinking and smoking during pregnancy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/atrial-septal-defect#post-2239251 Fri, 17 Jul 2015 11:09:29 +0000 MrsKoala 2239251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really think that this is entirely coincidental and most likely your occasional drinking and your son's defect are not at all related. That being said if you feel more comfortable abstaining, do it. Try not to feel guilty about something that you likely had no control over. I drank similarly to you during my last pregnancy and I'll do it the next pregnancy. The risks are so minimal to me with the amount that I consumed (sips of beer once a month or a glass of wine, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/atrial-septal-defect#post-2239249 Fri, 17 Jul 2015 11:07:14 +0000 mrbee 2239249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That sounds like an extremely low level of drinking. If drinking that little caused ASD, then the country would be awash with cases!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/atrial-septal-defect#post-2239246 Fri, 17 Jul 2015 11:04:41 +0000 Truth Bombs 2239246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like the risk is low that the two are correlated but given your history, I would probably just abstain. I completely abstain from alcohol during pregnancy anyway. Yes every now and then I would love a glass of wine, but it's really not a huge sacrifice for the sake of piece of mind that you are doing everything in your power to keep your baby as healthy as possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/atrial-septal-defect#post-2239239 Fri, 17 Jul 2015 11:00:58 +0000 travellingbee 2239239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't imagine that would be the reason. But I always completely abstain from drinking for the entire pregnancy anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/atrial-septal-defect#post-2239234 Fri, 17 Jul 2015 10:56:16 +0000 littlebug 2239234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>D is 2.5 and we are waiting to schedule surgery to correct his atrial septal defect, which was diagnosed at 9m after the ped heard a murmur. </p> <p>During my pregnancy with D, I occasionally had a glass of wine or a beer - I can probably count on 2 hands how many drinks I had over the course of my last 2 trimesters; I completely abstained during the 1st trimester. I drank with the blessing of my OB, who stated that a single glass of wine or beer now and then was perfectly fine during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.</p> <p>The other night I mentioned to my husband that I can't wait to get through my 1st trimester and have a glass of wine. He asked if I thought that my drinking during pregnancy could have caused D's ASD. AT the time I said no. But the more I've thought about it, the more concerned I've gotten.</p> <p>I did some research today and most of the studies I've found say pretty clearly that low-to-moderate drinking (one study even said occasional binge drinking!) had no statistically significant impact on ASD diagnoses. One said that drinking during the 1st trimester nearly doubled the risk, but I didn't drink during D's 1st and I probably had 2 drinks during the first 4 weeks of this one before I knew I was pregnant (we weren't trying with this one). </p> <p>So even though the evidence I'm finding suggests that my low levels of consumption would not have caused ASD, I've got a guilty conscience. I'm going to ask my doctor about it at my appointment next week, but I'm just wondering what other people think. Would you completely abstain during this pregnancy? </p>