Why are women condemned for having a glass of wine during pregnancy, especially when healthcare providers may suggest the benefits of consuming wine? Yes, you read that right. Your midwife may suggest that you satisfy your craving for one glass of wine.
It has been long known that prenatal alcohol exposure can have detrimental effects on the developing fetus. This can include, but is not limited to learning difficulties, microcephaly (smaller than normal sized head), poor attention span and cleft palate. However, there is limited research that can actually determine how much or how little will have an effect on the baby. With that knowledge, it may be assumed that there is a lower risk of complications with the mild to moderate consumption of alcohol. Some healthcare providers have even indicated the benefits of wine consumption during pregnancy. Some may advertise that the antioxidants that red wine can provide could prevent your child from developing heart diseases related to cholesterol.
Recently performed cohort studies in which they observed a population of pregnant women and tried to make an association between their level of consumption and certain factors (i.e. trimester, age, social status) was conducted from 1970 until 2012. Those studies concluded that there is not enough evidence to support that there is an increased risk of complications with fetal development with mild to moderate prenatal alcohol consumption. They assessed women in their first and third trimesters who consumed a reportedly low amount of alcohol and compared their outcome of low birth weight and preterm labor to a group of pregnant woman who did not drink during that time. Interestingly, there was no significant difference in risk for fetal abnormalities in the two different groups. Because of this, it is hard to conclude that low consumption of alcohol can cause birth defects.
Although, just because there is no evidence to support the association of low consumption of alcohol to birth defects, I think all expecting moms should be very cautious and mindful that alcohol consumption during pregnancy is not confirmed to be safe. This is especially true because we are all different and our bodies respond differently to things we allow to enter our bodies. What may be mild for me (assuming
Did you Know?
- 1981-US Surgeon General issued a public health advisory that birth defects are a consequence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
- 1989-Congress mandated that alcohol products contain a warning label about alcohol and potential birth defects.
- There is no research to support that Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is inherited or results from genetic factors. Alcohol is the causative factor for this disease.
More from the Experts (Article references):
- http://www.beingtheparent.com/red-wine-during-pregnancy/
- Flak, A. L., Su, S., Bertrand, J., Denny, C. H., Kesmodel, U. S., & Cogswell, M. E. (2013). The Association of Mild, Moderate, and Binge Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Child Neuropsychological Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 38(1), 214-226. doi:10.1111/acer.12214
- Crawford-Williams, F., Steen, M., Esterman, A., Fielder, A., & Mikocka-Walus, A. (2015). “My midwife said that having a glass of red wine was actually better for the baby”: A focus group study of women and their partner’s knowledge and experiences relating to alcohol consumption in pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 15(1). doi:10.1186/s12884-015-0506-3.
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Janet F. Williams, Vincent C. Smith, the COMMITTEE ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE. Pediatrics Oct 2015, peds.2015-3113; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2015-3113
