If you’re expecting and you actually care about the thought: what to drink during first trimester of pregnancy. You will see numerous beneficial facts on this particular topic, as well as tips, suggestions, thoughts, and answers to be able to questions concerning pregnancy, appropriate nutrition and diet programs.
Pregnant women are strongly urged not to drink alcohol during pregnancy.
Drinking alcohol while pregnant has been shown to harm the baby as it develops in the womb. Alcohol consumed during pregnancy can also lead to long-term health problems and birth defects.
Information
When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it travels through the bloodstream and reaches the baby’s blood, tissues, and organs. Alcohol breaks down much more slowly in a baby’s body than in an adult. This means that the baby’s blood alcohol level remains elevated longer than that of the mother. This can harm the baby and can sometimes lead to lifelong harm.
DANGERS OF ALCOHOL DURING PREGNANCY
Drinking too much alcohol during pregnancy can lead to a group of baby defects known as fetal alcohol syndrome. Symptoms may include:
- Behavior and attention problems
- Heart abnormalities
- Changes in the shape of the face
- Poor growth before and after childbirth
- Poor muscle tone and problems with movement and balance
- Problems with thinking and speaking
- Learning disabilities
These health problems are permanent and can range from mild to severe.
Complications seen in the baby may include:
- Cerebral palsy
- Preterm labor
- Abortion or infant death
HOW MUCH ALCOHOL IS SAFE?
There is no known “safe” amount of alcohol use during pregnancy. Alcohol consumption appears to be most harmful during the first 3 months of pregnancy; however, drinking alcohol at any time during pregnancy can be harmful.
Alcohol includes beer, wine, wine-based drinks, and liquor.
A drink is defined as:
- 12 ounces of beer
- 5 ounces of wine
- 1.5 ounces of liquor
How much you drink is as important as how often you drink it.
- Even if you don’t drink often, taking a large amount 1 time can be harmful to the baby.
- Binge drinking (5 or more drinks on 1 occasion) greatly increases the risk of a baby developing alcohol-related harm.
- Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol while pregnant can lead to miscarriage.
- Heavy drinkers (those who drink more than 2 alcoholic drinks a day) are at higher risk of giving birth to a child with fetal alcohol syndrome.
- The more you drink, the more the risk of harm to the baby increases.
DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL DURING PREGNANCY
Women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant should avoid drinking any amount of alcohol. The only way to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome is not to drink alcohol during pregnancy.
If you did not know you were pregnant and drank alcohol, stop drinking it as soon as you know about your pregnancy. The sooner you stop drinking alcohol, the healthier your baby will be.
Choose non-alcoholic versions of the drinks you like.
If you cannot control your drinking, avoid being in the company of other people who are consuming alcohol.
Pregnant women with alcoholism should join an alcohol rehabilitation program. Close checkups should also be done with your healthcare provider.
The following organizations can be of assistance:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – 1-800-662-4357 www.findtreatment.gov
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism – www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/about.aspx
Alternative names
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy; Fetal alcohol syndrome – pregnancy; SAF – fetal alcohol syndrome; Effect of alcohol on the fetus; Alcohol during pregnancy; Alcohol-related birth defects; Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
References
Prasad MR, Jones HE. Substance abuse in pregnancy. In: Resnik R, Lockwood CJ, Moore TR, Greene MF, Copel JA, Silver RM, eds. Creasy and Resnik’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019: chap 68.
Prasad M, Metz TD. Substance use disorder in pregnancy. In: Landon MB, Galan HL, Jauniaux ERM, et al, eds. Gabbe’s Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021: chap 8.
Wallen LD, Gleason CA. Prenatal drug exposure. In: Gleason CA, Juul SE, eds.Avery’s Diseases of the Newborn. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chapter 13.
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