Drinking while pregnant: What we know and what we dont Your Pregnancy Matters UT Southwestern Medical Center

Your healthcare provider may be able to help you determine the best option for you. The CDC reports that alcohol during pregnancy there was no change in the number of pregnant patients who report drinking from 2019 (pre-pandemic) to 2020 (the first year of pandemic). In both years, approximately 14-15% of pregnant women reported consuming alcohol and 6% reported binge drinking. Drinking alcohol while pregnant is a leading cause of birth defects in a fetus. Alcohol is broken down more slowly in the immature body of the fetus than in the body of an adult.

• A report from Canada describes similar results, but a smaller percentage (6.7%) of women consuming alcohol in pregnancy.
• The risk of miscarriage and stillbirth also goes up if the mother drinks alcohol.
• It may not be as difficult as you think to avoid alcohol completely during pregnancy.
• Read copyright and permissions information.This information is designed as an educational aid for the public.

Alcohol and Pregnancy: Is ‘A Little Bit’ Safe?

In fact, it’s one of the most common concerns brought to the first prenatal visit. Unfortunately, drinking any alcohol while you’re pregnant is not considered safe. Truly specific research around drinking alcohol in very early pregnancy is pretty tricky. That’s because it would be unethical to put together a study and actually request that any segment of the pregnant population do something (drink alcohol) known to cause harm even some of the time. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and your baby having a low birthweight.

How to Talk to a Person Who is Drinking While Pregnant

If you want to drink less, it can also help you build a plan to make healthier choices. If you feel uncomfortable chatting with them about things that may affect your pregnancy, find a new doctor. Being able to speak honestly about your health and the health of your baby during pregnancy is crucial to having a healthy, happy nine months. So if you drank alcohol before you realized you were pregnant, the important thing is that you stop now. Numerous reliable sources and studies (like the one we mentioned above) mention that alcohol use in the first trimester may increase miscarriage risk. It’s an incredibly difficult reality that miscarriages are as common as they are.

• Everyone can benefit from drinking less alcohol or not drinking at all.
• People who find out they are pregnant and may have drunk alcohol while being pregnant need to stop immediately.
• However, studies also indicate that chronic drinking also poses a serious risk.
• Additionally, children with FAS may often have trouble mixing socially in school or similar settings.
• This website includes publications and information, such as the Drinking and Your Pregnancy brochure, which is available both in English and Spanish.
• And this research published in 2012 suggested that even light drinking in the early weeks could increase miscarriage risk, though the risk goes up with heavier drinking.

Let’s talk about alcohol and pregnancy

However, people can avoid it by abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy. Research suggests that 2 hours after drinking, alcohol levels in the fetus are similar to the person who ingested it. Other leading experts, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, also recommend avoiding alcohol completely during pregnancy. Experts state that people should avoid alcohol when pregnant.

This locator helps people find drug alcoholism symptoms and alcohol treatment programs in their area. The most important thing is that you have completely stopped alcohol use after learning of your pregnancy. Because brain growth takes place throughout pregnancy, stopping alcohol use will improve the baby’s health and well-being.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has an Alcohol Treatment Navigator. And while we’re on the topic of those prenatal appointments — talk to your doctor candidly about your concerns and let them know that you had alcohol early on. Whatever https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the case, you’re now worried and want to know what damage, if any, drinking in very early pregnancy can do. Or maybe you weren’t trying to get pregnant at all, and it came as a surprise when you realized that your period was over a week late.