Can Pregnant Women Drink Alcohol

10/03/2012 Wellness

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A recent barrage of news headlines about a new Danish study on drinking alcohol during pregnancy sparked controversy and created confusion. As an OB/GYN, what surprised and concerned me was that some of the headlines I saw almost encouraged pregnant women to drink. Here are some media examples:

The new study suggested that light to moderate drinking early in pregnancy, up to 8 drinks a week, has no effect on intelligence, attention or self-control in children at the age of 5 years. But even the authors of the study urged women to err on the side of caution, stating that despite their findings, additional studies should be done to investigate possible effects of drinking while pregnant.

There are 2 important things to keep in mind in regards to this study. First, the amount of alcohol in a standard drink varies from country to country. Often times, drink sizes in Europe are much smaller than in the United States. Alcohol content in drinks also varies. According to the study, Danish women who had 1-8 drinks a week were drinking less actual alcohol than their American counterparts due to drink sizes. The second thing to look at is what role genetics plays. Everyone is different in the way they metabolize alcohol so one study does not fit all. Also, this study did not evaluate other potential harmful effects of alcohol on pregnancy such as birth defects and stillbirth.

So, what are the potential effects of drinking alcohol during pregnancy?

For years, organizations like the March of Dimes and American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have advised pregnant women to abstain from drinking alcohol during their pregnancy. Alcohol easily passes through the placenta and is broken down much slower by a baby than an adult and can stay in the blood much longer. The alcohol is excreted in the baby’s amniotic fluid, which the baby then drinks. Thus, the baby is potentially exposed to repeated doses of alcohol which could increase the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). March of Dimes says up to 40,000 babies are born every year with symptoms of FASDs, including behavioral and learning disabilities as well as defects to the baby’s organs. Most women understand that heavy drinking during pregnancy is dangerous, but many don’t realize that moderate to light drinking can still harm the fetus. It can also lead to stillbirths and miscarriages. Avoid drinking alcohol while pregnant. Some obstetricians might tell their patients that few drinks every now and then do not appear to be detrimental to a fetus. But there is a fine line that can be crossed and we have no way of knowing what that line is. Every patient is different. A weekly cocktail might not have an affect on one baby while it could lead to symptoms of FASD for another. As an OB/GYN, I recommend to my patients that they do not drink any alcohol throughout their pregnancy and while nursing. My advice is to do everything you can to protect your baby.