The CDC reports that 1 in 13 pregnant women drink alcohol. This is something they consider a public health problem because there is no safe level of alcohol established for pregnancy. Drinking alcohol has been related to birth defects, disabilities and other problems for pregnancy and the baby well beyond infancy.
What really surprised me was who they said was drinking in pregnancy, "Among pregnant women, the highest estimates of reported alcohol use were among those who were aged 35-44 years (14.3 percent); white (8.3 percent), college graduates (10.0 percent), or employed (9.6 percent)."
Given the recent discussion of the safety of alcohol in pregnancy, it's safe to say that many pregnant women are likely confused. Getting information from friends and family as opposed to your doctor or midwife may be concerning. These medical professionals will be able to look at your medical history and give you advice related to you, taking into account the science.
I hear from pregnant women who said that their obstetrician told them it was okay to have a one time glass of wine for something specific, which can include medicinal reasons. Others point to Europe that has a more lax belief about alcohol in pregnancy when discussing alcohol safety in pregnancy.
What's your take on it? Do you abstain from alcohol in the pre-conception period and/or pregnancy? Have you talked to your healthcare provider about this specifically? Tell me in the comments what your take on this is...
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1 in 13 Pregnant Women Drink Alcohol originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Friday, July 20th, 2012 at 10:30:23.
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