There is no amount of alcohol that is known to be safe during pregnancy, and therefore alcohol should be avoided completely during pregnancy. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can interfere with the healthy development of the baby. Depending on the amount, timing, and pattern of use, alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) or other developmental disorders. If you consumed alcohol before you knew you were pregnant, stop drinking now. You should continue to avoid alcohol during breastfeeding. Exposure of alcohol to an infant poses harmful risks, and alcohol does reach the baby during breastfeeding.
Alcohol Effects During Pregnancy
- A 2002 study found that 14-year-old children whose mothers drank as little as one drink a week were significantly shorter and leaner and had a smaller head circumference (a possible indicator of brain size) than children of women who did not drink at all (8).
- A 2001 study found that 6- and 7-year-old children of mothers who had as little as one drink a week during pregnancy were more likely than children of non-drinkers to have behavior problems, such as aggressive and delinquent behaviors. These researchers found that children whose mothers drank any alcohol during pregnancy were more than three times as likely as unexposed children to demonstrate delinquent behaviors (9).
- A 2007 study suggested that female children of women who drank less than one drink a week were more likely to have behavioral and emotional problems at 4 and 8 years of age. The study also suggested similar effects in boys, but at higher levels of drinking (10).
- Other studies report behavioral and learning problems in children exposed to moderate drinking during pregnancy, including attention and memory problems, hyperactivity, impulsivity, poor social and communication skills, psychiatric problems (including mood disorders) and alcohol and drug use (2).
New data from a survey of over 24,000 pregnancies demonstrate an association between an average weekly consumption of 7.5 units (12 gms of alcohol) or more and a five-fold rise in the risk of spontaneous abortion during the first trimester (7-11 completed weeks of gestation) as compared with women taking 1.5 units or less per week. There was no link between alcohol intake and abortion during the second trimester (3). Alcohol and preterm delivery
There is no proof that heavy drinking by the father can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. But men can help their partner avoid alcohol by not drinking during their partner’s pregnancy.
Alcohol During Pregnancy
From 1991-1995, the rate of pregnant women who reported any drinking during the previous month increased from 12.4% to 16.3%; four times more pregnant women reported frequent drinking in 1995 (3.5%) than in 1991 (0.8%). In this study, “frequent drinking” was defined as having 7 or more drinks per week or 5 or more drinks on a single occasion (also known as “binge drinking”) during the month prior to the interview.
In 1999 and 2000, the numbers were slightly lower. In the 18-25 age group, 10.1% of pregnant women reported past-moth use of alcohol (4.8% of which reported binge drinking). In the 26-44 age group, 14.0% reported drinking (3.1% reported binge drinking).
