As social media reports and conclusions swirl around this topic, you may have read that some amount of alcohol is a low-risk choice in pregnancy. However, if you ask the medical community, there is no acceptable level of risk when it comes to drinking alcohol. Doctors, midwives, pregnancy guides, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the CDC, and other health authorities categorically state that no amount of alcohol has been proven safe during pregnancy. It can be tough to think about 40 weeks without a single drink, but it’s worth it for the peace of mind that you’re protecting Baby’s health.
What are the risks of alcohol?
When you’re pregnant, your baby is totally dependent on you for all of the nutrients that they will need to grow and develop.
Alcohol is a beverage containing ethanol with zero nutritional value. It’s also classified as a carcinogen, or cancer-causing substance. Drinking impairs your balance and decision making, which may mean you are more likely to fall or engage in other risky behaviors. While pregnant, this could be even more dangerous for you or Baby. Drinking makes it hard for your body to absorb certain vitamins, which can be especially problematic when it comes to regular drinking.
Oxygen and nutrients flow to the bloodstream through the placenta, so when you drink alcohol, some of that alcohol will get absorbed and go to the baby. Everybody has enzymes that break down alcohol, but these enzymes are found in different quantities in different people, so some people take longer than others to get the booze out of their system. Chances are, a developing baby won’t have nearly enough enzymes yet to process that alcohol. Exposure to alcohol can lead to an elevated risk for various forms of stunted development, stillbirth, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs).
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are permanent defects and disabilities that can appear in children whose mothers drank alcohol while pregnant, and the symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on the case. Children with FASD may display any number of the following symptoms:
- Small eyes, upturned nose, and a smooth area between the nose and upper lip
- Learning disabilities, mild to severe
- Heart problems, issues with other organs
- Distinctively small head
- Vision and hearing problems
- Below-average height and weight
- Poor fine-motor development, coordination
If you’re unable to stop drinking once you discover you’re pregnant, there is help available. Talk to your healthcare team. Not only will this benefit you and Baby, it will mean early identification and support for any challenges they may experience.
The bottom line
Simply put, nobody knows how much alcohol it takes to negatively impact a pregnancy, so ACOG and many other organizations take a hard stance against any alcohol use. While you may think this is extreme, your healthcare provider does not want to guess with your health or your baby’s lifelong well-being. Internet folks don’t have any responsibility or accountability should something go wrong in your pregnancy, while your healthcare providers definitely do. You should talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about alcohol or need help stopping alcohol use during pregnancy.
For more information and support, visit:
- Please visit the Alcoholics Anonymous website at www.aa.org
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s treatment referral line at 800-662-HELP (4357) or https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Read more
Sources
- Steven M Day. “Alcohol consumption during pregnancy: the growing evidence.” Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. Volume 54, Issue 3, page 200. Web. 3/12/2015.
- “Alcohol and Pregnancy” ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Feb 2023. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/infographics/alcohol-and-pregnancy
- “Alcohol” WHO. World Health Organization, June 28, 2024, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol
- Butts M, Sundaram VL, Murughiyan U, Borthakur A, Singh S. The Influence of Alcohol Consumption on Intestinal Nutrient Absorption: A Comprehensive Review. Nutrients. 2023 Mar 24;15(7):1571. doi: 10.3390/nu15071571. PMID: 37049411; PMCID: PMC10096942.
- “Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.” U.S National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus, n.d. Web.
