I find this topic very interesting because I have realized that there is some confusion on if pregnant women can drink alcohol or not. As nutrition students we have learned that pregnant women should not drink any amount of alcohol at anytime because there is no clearly defined safe level of alcohol consumption available.
Stay Away From the Martini While Pregnant
One day my friend asked me if she could drink alcohol while pregnant, and of course I immediately said “no way!” Her other friend (which is a nurse by the way), was also over at the same time and she told her that one drink is completely safe. I was actually shocked. Ok, if one drink is considered safe then what kind of drink is it? Beer? Wine? Rum? Vodka? And how much is a drink exactly? I was confused and I started to doubt my own knowledge and what we had been taught in class. She is a nurse, maybe she was right? No, I realized. I was right, and any amount of alcohol can be dangerous to your unborn baby. It seemed like my friend was favouring having a drink while pregnant, and I told her I wouldn’t risk it!
It just goes to show you that if you are pregnant, you are going to get many people of all expertise telling you what you can and cannot do. Alcohol in any amount is unsafe to your baby because the alcohol passes through the placenta to the fetus where it can interrupt normal growth and development. Would you actually risk having a drink for your baby? I know I wouldn’t. Drinking does not mean that much to me and it should not mean that much to you.
Adverse Effects of High Amounts of Alcohol
High amounts of alcohol is classified as several drinks per day or more, and is strongly related to these possible characteristics in your baby:
- Abnormal mental development and growth
- Behavioural problems
- Mental retardation
- Aggressiveness
- Nervousness
- Short attention span
- Growth-stunting
- Birth defects
- Impaired organ development
- Development of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
The consumption of four or more drinks per day, or occasional episodes of consumption of five or more drinks in a row is considered to be heavy alcohol intake during pregnancy. This will increase the risk of:
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth
- Infant death within the first month after delivery
Low Intakes of Alcohol
Adverse effects of alcohol are mild or undetectable when intakes are low, or if intake exists but are infrequent. However, it is still wise to avoid alcohol altogether when pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
I do realize this is a glum topic, but I felt like it needed to be addressed. I do realize a lot of people know the risks of alcohol intake during pregnancy, but there are some people out there (unfortunately my friend is one of them), that do not completely understand the risks involved. NO amount of alcohol is safe, and your baby is worth more than a drink!
Sources
Brown, J. (2008). Nutrition through the lifecycle. Belmont, USA: Thomson Wadsworth
Hi Emma,
I’m glad to read that you stuck up for what we have been taught. I think addressing these myths is helpful to let everyone know they should always talk to their doctor or ask for a second opinion if something doesn’t sound right. It also takes a really caring individual to find out the truth & follow up with the friend. Way to go!
Hey!
Thanks for your comment! It was a really sticky situation, but sometimes you have to stand up for what’s right. Sometimes professionals can make mistakes, right?
Thanks again for your comment!
Emma
Hey Emma
Your Nurse friend should read your blog! very informative, I’m not looking forward to the restrictive lifestyle that needs to be adapted during pregnancy
Keep up the good work!
Gillian
Thanks Gillian!
Pregnancy is definitely going to be a life-changing experience. It’s exciting, but kind of scary at the same time. It’s scary when you know you have a baby growing inside you and you have to do so much to protect the baby.
Very interesting information. This is what I always thought too, since this is what we learn. However, I find it really challenging to explain this concept to someone whose mother did drink during pregnancy because then they justify it by saying “they turned out ok.” Then, how are we supposed to respond?
Emily Q.
Emily,
I know exactly what you mean! My mom’s friend actually drank heavily while she was pregnant. Her baby turned out healthy, but she cried non-stop and was just such a handful as a child. Now, the girl is 23 years old and she claims she is an alcoholic. I’m not saying those two are linked, but it seems like alcohol can have effects on an individual as a baby, and possibly in the future as well.
Emma
Hey Emma!
I agree with what you told your friend.
Maybe she could have a drink and not hurt her baby, but it could also be a big mistake that changes the rest of her and her baby’s life. Plus, once she’s crossed that path once, who’s to say she wouldn’t want to have a drink another time (putting them both at risk again)!
Should women who are lactating avoid drinking as well?…
Isabel,
Great question!!
Alcohol consumption during lactation should also be avoided. Alcohol during pregnancy and lactation can alter the macronutrient composition of milk and will alter the baby’s nutrients consumed. This will affect the babie’s development. Babies also drink less milk and have disturbed sleep patterns.
A great rule of thumb is to abstain from alcohol until pregnancy and breastfeeding is complete.
Emma
Thanks for that info!
If drinking during pregnancy was okay, then there won’t be those posters where it says its dangerous to drink during pregnancy in many restaurants. I find it interesting and wrong how when people who accidentally get pregnant and have a shotgun wedding consume alcohol at the wedding banquet. This is not always true but its something to think about. Even in movies. Maybe the bride deceives guests by drinking grape juice or something, but these things are never really known. It is important to not let pregnant women drink alcohol and I think you have stated your position very strongly and justly. Good job
Karan,
Thanks for your support. I always see those types of things on movies as well. It reminds me of an episode of Friends when Rachel finds out she is pregnant and spits out her wine at Monica’s wedding. Has anyone seen that? Anyway, even though one sip probably won’t hurt the baby, it is always a great idea to be extra cautious!
Emma
Great post Emma!
Drinking when pregnant is such a touchy subject. Who’s to say that someone who is only going to drink one glass won’t reach for another. I know that some people do have self control, but there’s always that small chance that they could slip and risk the baby’s life. No amount of alcohol is worth risking the health of your baby.
Alison,
I completely agree. It makes you wonder how alcoholics cope while pregnant and lactating. How do they stop completely when they are addicted to alcohol? Do they continue to drink a little bit anyway? These are some scary questions, and my advice is to control your alcohol consumption before you become pregnant, just in case you think it may get out of control during the pregnancy. Alcohol should be consumed in moderation anyway, but of course that is not always the case in some individuals.
Emma
Hi Emma,
I love your Blog. I worked with a Pre-Natal Nutrition Program all summer, and we talked about many of the same issues that you are focussing on. The group was mainly devoted to mothers who have higher risk pregnancies and were from lower income families. Many of the women in the group during the time I was there were women our age or even younger. It shocked me at some of the things they were talking about, such as situations with alcohol and drugs while they were pregnant or before they knew they were pregnant. I felt like it didn’t really phase them what kind of damage they could have done/be doing to their baby.
One of the concerns (minus the birth defects and other horrible complications) was that their babies would be born pre-maturely and underweight. The goal of the program was to reduce the number of low-birth-weight babies (as we discussed in class). To accomplish this we talked about ways to eat healthy during a pregnancy, what to avoid and why, and we also provided them with a meal and grocery vouchers. At least there are support groups and programs that can help with some of the issues you have been talking about.
Good luck with the rest of your blog.
Krista.
Hey Krista!
It shocks me too that some girls are getting pregnant so young and they are so naive! They think it’s ok to drink alcohol and do drugs while pregnant, and it’s the babies that will suffer.
It’s nice to know there are places where young mothers can go for help. I’m sure there are some young girls that do not have any support from their families because of their pregnancy.
Thanks Krista!
Hi Emma,
I’ve always heard that a little bit of alcohol is okay during pregnancy, but now I realize how this message could be taken too far and when you think about, why would someone want to consume anything that they know is not beneficial and potentially harmful to their baby? I’ve also heard a lot of different things about caffeine, from eliminating it altogether and then in one of your previously posted videos, the woman suggests no more than 3 cups of coffee a day. But isn’t that the same amount recommended for all people? There’s so much miscommunication and confusion. Your blog helps to explain a lot of these issues
Hey Kendra!
See, I wasn’t sure either if alcohol was ok or not. I always got mixed information too. After researching about it, I realize one cup is different for everyone, and alcohol affects everyone differently. I know with me, I sometimes feel buzzed after one beer.
It’s always good to be safe than sorry.
Caffeine! Yes, I am definitely going to be talking about caffeine too, because there is some confusion on this topic as well. Thanks for reminding me