While women have always been told to stay away from heavy alcohol drinking during pregnancy, some studies suggested that it’s OK to have an occasional glass of wine.
But, a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics is telling women to put down that glass immediately! And, if you're wondering, one in 10 women drink alcohol while pregnant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.
“What we now are finding is that even small amounts of alcohol throughout the pregnancy can increase the risk of a spectrum of this fetal alcohol spectrum disorder,” Dr. Jennifer Wu from Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City told CBS News. (She wasn't part of the new findings.)
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) is a broad term used to describe the “range of effects that can occur in someone whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy,” according to AAP. This can include babies born with a small head size, vision and hearing problems, as well as learning disabilities. Other cases lead to issues with the heart, kidneys, or bones. Drinking throughout a pregnancy makes these risks 65 times more likely.
"The research suggests that the smartest choice for women who are pregnant is to just abstain from alcohol completely," said Dr. Janet F. Williams, a lead author of the report.
Please SHARE this important information with all the expectant mothers you know, as well those planning to conceive!
