So, Drinking During Pregnancy is Alright Now?
As someone who has been on the pregnancy/nursing roller coaster several times, I can say with all certainty that I have never, eva, eva, eva, had my doctor tell me it was fine to drink during pregnancy or lactation. I’ve heard — and read — that beer helps to increase milk supply, but I’ve been lucky not to have that issue, so I personally don’t vouch for it.
For months, years even, pregnant women and nursing moms are told to steer clear of alcohol. It’s on the news, it’s even on the scary posters in the OB-GYN’s bathroom where they list all the dangers of fetal alcohol syndrome/poisoning — do not drink.
This is why this particular study threw me for a loop. ABC News reports:
Drinking low to moderate amounts of alcohol during pregnancy may not have any damaging developmental effects on children five years later, according to new research published Tuesday.
But, the authors stressed, pregnant women should still err on the side of caution and avoid alcohol altogether, since no safe level of alcohol consumption has been established.
In a series of five studies, Danish researchers statistically evaluated how different levels of drinking during pregnancy affected the five-year-old children of 1,628 women. They compared women who drank 0, 1 to 4, 5 to 8 and more than 9 drinks per week while they were pregnant and assessed their children’s IQ, attention span and their capacity for what are known as executive functions, which include organization and planning.
Children whose mothers reported having 1 to 4 or 5 to 8 drinks per week while pregnant did not perform any worse on tests measuring IQ and executive functions. Binge drinking, which meant having 5 or more drinks in one sitting, also did not have any significant negative effect on children five years later.
Drinking more than nine drinks per week, however, was linked to five-year-olds’ lower attention span.
In the study, the researchers defined a drink as having 12 grams of pure alcohol. In the U.S., a drink is considered to have 14 grams of pure alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
So, in short, it’s been proven that it’s more than likely fine to drink during pregnancy, but don’t take their word for it because if something happens to your baby, that’s on you? I think I’ll just continue to err on the side of caution.
Weigh in, Clutchettes: Would you ever drink during pregnancy? If you already have, did you see any adverse effects in your baby’s development?
I’m just going to go with what has been told for years. I am sure when it’s time for me to have mine it will be hard because I love me a drank, yes a drank, but for my child to have every possibility of coming out of it’s 9 month home as healthy as ever I will sober up mighty quick fast and hurry. I don’t think it’s wise to drink alcohol or smoke, though I’ve known women who have and nothing has happened to their kids I also know women who have and their child suffered for it. I”m not about to think my luck is that good.
As someone who has been through several miscarriages, I probably wouldn’t just because of the hell I went through after each loss. I remember endless sleepless nights thinking I’d done something wrong. Was it the cough syrup? I knew I shouldn’t have gone shopping! It’s horrific. I know that in other countries women have been told that an occasional drink is probably okay. And think of all the centuries when people drank alcohol because the water wasn’t fit to drink! Still, I’d be too adraid to try it.
Other cultures have a completely different relationship with alcohol. We’re from the French Caribbean and my mum definitely drank a few while pregnant. Everything in moderation.
What of the women who drink and party hard until they find out they’re 3 mo pregnant (after the baby’s brain has developed no less) and then another 28 weeks later have a completely healthy baby?
I’m studying to be an oBGYn now and I’m finding more and more that our bodies are absolutely wondrous and resilient and protecting with our worst treatment.
Yeah. The “definitely don’t drink while you’re pregnant” rule is def more of a US thing. However, just as you can have a normal baby without spina bifida without taking folic acid supplements but it’s standard procedure for women in the US to take the supplements for prevention, I feel the same way about alcohol. To me it’s just not that serious that a woman can’t lay off alcohol for 9mos (and maybe even during breast feeding).
When my sister was pregnant, her doctor and midwife told her that a glass or two of wine a week was just fine. Just stay away from the hard stuff.
I first heard this in a women’s studies class I took a while back. I kept thinking about fetal alcohol syndrome so it was quite counter-intuitive for me at the time. The professor was talking about women being incarcerated for drinking while pregnant. She maintained that there was no solid link between drinking moderately and problems arising for the future baby. She also said that other issues like proper nutrition were far more important in having a healthy baby. I guess she was probably right