Pregnancy Drinking: Good Idea? Bad Idea?

Navigating through the unknowns of pregnancy can be especially challenging for new mothers. For 10 months, mothers are faced with making decisions on every level-- from choosing a name, to choosing a doctor, to deciding what foods feel best in your body-- pregnant mothers can find themselves having questions and concerns.

One concern and question that comes up very often for pregnant women is the topic of alcohol: Is drinking during pregnancy okay? This much debated and highly controversial topic resonates differently amongst different doctors and certain cultures. In Europe, drinking during pregnancy is not frowned upon nor discouraged. But in the U.S., many patients find themselves abstaining and terrified by the notion of alcohol intake, and the detrimental affects it may have on their unborn child.

Well, we asked three of our renowned Parents Ask experts where they stand on drinking during pregnancy. All three had very different opinions and philosophies. Hopefully, however, their answers will guide you to make an informed decision.

The BREAKDOWN:

Robert Sears, MD- "Completely ABSTAIN from alcohol use during pregnancy."
-Exposure can create health risks to the unborn child such as fetal alcohol syndrome or mental retardation
-There is no proven or known amount of alcohol that can cause these problems; in fact, for some women the amount is small, while others intake can be more. Therefore, abstaining all together is always recommended.
-Bottom line, it's just not worth the risk. Stay away.

Jason Rothbart, MD- "Complete abstinence from alcohol is NOT always necessary."
-Dr. Rothbart concurs with Dr. Sears that excessive alcohol use in pregnancy can be dangerous, and shouldn't be used during first trimester (or first twelve weeks).
-Occassional use, however, especially late in the 3rd trimester, is harmless.
-Dr. Rothbart says he tells at least one patient daily (near their due date), to "go home, take a bath and have a glass of wine." Bottom line: wine is a relaxant and it can be helpful!

Scott Cohen, MD, FAAP- "I agree with both Dr. Sears and Dr. Rothbart."
-Avoiding alcohol altogether is the safest route but not entirely necessary either.
-Alcohol use during pregnancy has been shown to cause low birth weight, behavioral and intellectual problems, and in some (excessive) cases, mental retardation and facial abnormalities.
-If you're worried about any of those factors, then you're best to abstain from using it.

Want to know more? Check out all of PREGNANCY related stories HERE!

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Tiffany Thornton
2 months ago

First off, let's take a look back into the past FAS was not even a known issue until the 1970's. Pregnant women drank all the time (both in U.S. and Europe) and how many people do you know with FAS now? I don't know any. Also, with that said, I have five children and drank with all of them until I found out I was pregnant (6 to 8) weeks. I had 8 pound twins; 9 pound daughter, 8.8 pound daughter and a 10.9 pound daughter. During each of my pregnancies, I also had the glass of wine or German beer from time to time. None of my children suffer from any severe issues and actually, have unbelievable talents/minds. So if I was a test example: five kids, mom drank nightly with all prior to knowledge of pregnancy (and other things when i was younger) and had drinks occasionally throughout each pregnancy yet no traces of any alcohol related issues.....what are the odds?

erin.ingram
5 months ago

 Stay completely away! You never know how much is too much so it is best to play it safe especially when it is concerning the life (or lack thereof) of your child. I have seen the devastating effects of fetal alcohol syndrome in children at a daycare I used to work at and it is truly awful. The struggles these kids have to suffer through just because of their selfish mothers are awful and it is so preventable. Whatever you take into your body when you are pregnant, your child does too so if you drink so does he/she. If you smoke so does he. Awful! I could go on forever! Just read the article and Dr. Rothbart is an idiot. Why risk your child's health, wellbeing, and future just so you can relax?!! Complete disregard for human life! I didn't like Dr. Cohen's answer much either. "IF you're worried" ...?!... So if you're not it's okay and if your child ends up having a horrible disease that WILL affect him for the rest of his natural life -which is considerably lower than most- then thats okay because you weren’t worried about it in the first place... Arg!

Pregnancy Drinking: Good Idea? Bad Idea?

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