How much alcohol is too much?
Alcohol and pregnancy don't mix. That's because is it known to be harmful to a developing baby- even though no one knows EXACTLY what harmful effects even the smallest amount of alcohol has on a developing baby. All public health officials in the United States recommend that mothers-to-be play it safe by steering clear of alcohol entirely.
"We don't really know what a safe level of alcohol consumption is for a pregnant woman — and it's probably different for every woman because no one metabolizes alcohol in the same way," says Pam Phipps, research manager of the fetal alcohol and drug unit in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. "Since it's impossible to identify a safe dose, we advise abstinence." So do experts at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
What effects could alcohol have on my baby?
When you drink, the alcohol quickly travels through your bloodstream to your baby. Your baby may end up with higher levels of blood alcohol than you have. Basically, if you are getting drunk, your baby is getting drunk- and the effects of drinking can be MUCH greater on your baby than you.--- I mean, think about it: you wouldn't give your newborn a shot of vodka, would you?
Drinking endangers your growing baby in a number of ways: It increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. As little as one drink a day can increase the odds for low birth weight and raise your child's risk for problems with learning, speech, attention span, language, and hyperactivity. And some research has shown that expectant moms who have as little as one drink per week are more likely than nondrinkers to have children who later exhibit aggressive and delinquent behavior.
The most severe result of alcohol use is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), a permanent condition characterized by poor growth, abnormal facial features, and damage to the central nervous system. Babies with FAS grow poorly in the womb or after birth, or both. In addition to abnormal facial features, they may have abnormally small heads and brains; heart, spine, and other anatomical defects. The central nervous system damage may include mental retardation, delays in physical development, vision and hearing problems, and a variety of behavioral problems.
Frequent drinking (seven or more drinks per week, including mixed drinks, wine, and beer) or binge drinking (five or more drinks on any one occasion) greatly increases the risk that your baby will suffer from FAS. But babies whose moms drink less can also develop this syndrome. And babies exposed to alcohol in utero — even if they don't have full-blown FAS — may still be born with some of these birth defects or later exhibit a number of mental, physical, or behavioral problems.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, fetal exposure to alcohol is one of the main preventable causes of birth defects and developmental problems in this country. More than 10 percent of women in the United States drink during pregnancy, and one in 30 pregnant women drink frequently or binge drink: The babies of all these women are at risk. So whether you have a severe drinking problem or a more moderate one, if you find yourself unable to completely give up alcohol, it's vital to get help as soon as possible. Talk to your provider about counseling or treatment options.
What about "nonalcoholic" beer and wine?
The term "nonalcoholic" is a bit misleading when it comes to the supposedly alcohol-free versions of beer and wine. In fact, all "nonalcoholic" beers and many nonalcoholic wines do contain some alcohol, typically less than half a percent. While few would say that the trace amount of alcohol in an occasional glass of nonalcoholic beer is going to harm your baby, it's something to be aware of — especially if you drink these beverages often or in large amounts. So before you drink up, read labels carefully and remember that "nonalcoholic" and "alcohol-free" aren't interchangeable terms: Drinks labeled nonalcoholic can contain trace amounts of alcohol, while those labeled alcohol-free can't.
