“How Much Alcohol Is Ok During Pregnancy?”

 How Much Alcohol Is Ok During Pregnancy?

Is There A Safe Limit To Alcohol During Pregnancy?
Many women wonder if it is ok to drink alcohol during pregnancy. The jury is still out on this, with no uniform consensus existing about a safe limit of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. You may find different doctors have different opinions about the safety of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

Certainly ideas about drinking during pregnancy vary from doctor to doctor as much as they vary from person to person and country to country. In the United States for example, most doctors adopt a zero tolerance policy, suggesting women abstain from alcohol consumption entirely during pregnancy. In some European countries however, doctors have a more relaxed approach and may suggest a woman enjoy a small glass of wine or two throughout their pregnancy.

One thing is certain… drinking alcohol during pregnancy does pose some risk to your unborn baby. The truth is researchers are not quite sure exactly  how much alcohol is safe or unsafe during pregnancy. While it’s true in times of old many women used alcohol throughout their pregnancies, today most health experts recommend that women abstain from alcohol consumption entirely throughout their pregnancy because they cannot identify an amount of alcohol that is 100% safe during pregnancy.

No one knows exactly how much alcohol may or may not be safe during pregnancy. Complicating the issue is the fact that all women metabolize alcohol at different rates, thus what may be “safe” for one woman may not be for another.

There are many problems that can arise from regular consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. Let’s talk more in detail about these so you can make an informed decision about alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Effects of Alcohol on Your Baby During Pregnancy
During pregnancy drinking alcohol will affect your baby in some way, even if in small amounts. Alcohol is passed easily onto the growing fetus through the placenta. There are many studies suggesting routine consumption of alcohol leads to an increased risk of the baby developing Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in severe cases.

Babies born to mothers who drink occasionally may be at risk for FAE. This syndrome is characterized by difficulties with attention span, learning ability and sometimes hyperactivity in young children.

FAS is a more serious complication associated with heavier drinking during pregnancy. While completely preventable, this condition may lead to serious behavior problems during childhood, mental retardation, growth and motor development problems and even heart defects in young children.

Some studies suggest that even a small amount of daily alcohol can increase a woman’s risk of FAE, developing a miscarriage, or giving birth to a baby with facial malformations.

To Drink Or Not To Drink…
Most doctors promote abstinence because they cannot recommend a safe level of alcohol consumption for women during pregnancy. For many women this is easy as they often develop a repulsion for alcohol during pregnancy. Hormone changes in the body often make alcohol unappealing, much like garlic and other strong foods become unappealing during pregnancy. This may help make the decision easy for you.

Some doctors will suggest a very small glass of wine on a special occasion may be ok during pregnancy. You should consult with your healthcare provider to decide whether the risks outweigh the potential benefits of having a glass of wine during pregnancy.

There are many different attitudes about drinking during pregnancy. Some women are comfortable having a small glass of wine once a week, while others feel even a sip is potentially devastating. It is important you consider your personal beliefs and the health of your baby before deciding whether to have a glass of wine or not during pregnancy.