Looks like the cliché "there's always an exemption to the rule" will no longer be applicable to expectant mothers in their entire course of pregnancy as alcohol, according to experts, is a big no-no to drink.
While the conventional notion says that a small amount may be permitted to pregnant women, this new study suggests that alcoholic beverages in any amount, in any form, including wine and beer, and during any trimester are strictly not allowed. "The smartest choice for women who are pregnant is to just abstain from alcohol completely," University of Texas Health Science Center professor Dr. Janet Williams advised.
Studies reveal that abnormal deficiencies such as congenital anomaly and intellectual deficiencies might occur. One known complication is the fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, a group of conditions causing different abnormalities, from mild to severe. Williams further stated that continuous research would show that "alcohol has subtle yet important lasting effects on academic performance, attention, behaviour, cognition, memory, language skills and visual and motor development."
"What we are finding now is that even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome," Dr. Jennifer Wu revealed, an OB-GYN at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York. "A baby's brain and central nervous system is exquisitely vulnerable to what we call teratogens -- things that can cause damage -- and alcohol is one of them,"
In every 10 women who are pregnant, one is drinking alcohol and nearly 3 percent admitted to drinking a variety of alcoholic beverages at the same time. While some pregnancies are determined late, "women of childbearing age who drink alcohol should consider their pattern of drinking," Center for Better Beginning's paediatrics professor Christina Chambers advised. "Avoid binge drinking and avoid pregnancy as long as they are drinking. If pregnancy is planned, then alcohol can be discontinued."
The study was published Monday, Oct. 19, in the journal Pediatrics.
