There has been a trend over the past decade towards an attitude of moderation when it comes to drinking during pregnancy. For a while it was frowned upon if a mother was seen with any alcohol ever throughout her pregnancy, and this was most likely in response to the media’s attention on fetal alcohol syndrome. However, several studies showed that occasionally drinking throughout pregnancy did not harm the developing fetus so pregnant women once again started to be seen in public having a glass of wine every now and then without having to suffer the angry, judgmental stares of fellow patrons. However, new research from the University of California at San Diego may send the pendulum swinging back towards prohibition for pregnant women.
Alcohol Poses Highest Risk to Fetus During Second Half of First Trimester
The findings of the UC San Diego research were published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research and included data from 992 women over a 27-year period. The results were clear that there was no minimal threshold of alcohol consumption before a negative effect was seen on the health of babies. They found that the latter part of the first trimester posed the greatest risk to the fetus from alcohol consumption. During this period, with each additional alcoholic drink per day the risk of the following factors, each early signs of fetal alcohol syndrome, increased by the following amount:
- 12-percent increase in smaller head circumference
- 25-percent increase in lip disfigurement
- 16-percent increase in below average birth weight
Author of the study, Dr. Christina Chambers, points out these results are in line with the surgeon general’s guidelines to steer clear of alcohol altogether while pregnant. She points out binge drinking seemed to have little effect on the baby’s health, instead the total amount of alcohol throughout the entire pregnancy was the largest factor in fetal alcohol syndrome signs.
How Is This Study Different Than Those in the Past?
Why should the results of this study be taken anymore seriously than past studies that have come to the opposite conclusion you may ask? Most of the previous studies that concluded a moderate approach to alcohol was safe during pregnancy were based off the mother’s memory of how much she had drank while she was expecting. The UC San Diego study actually touched base with women frequently throughout their pregnancy to get up-to-date information rather than relying on the strength of someone’s long-term memory.
Do you think occasional drinking is okay during pregnancy? Let us know below what you think the appropriate amount of alcohol is while pregnant
