Sorry Moms-to-Be: No Amount of Alcohol is Safe During Pregnancy

Photo: Veer

You might want to rethink that small glass of wine that you think might not do any harm. A new study in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research looks at the effects and impact of fetal alcohol syndrome, a condition a baby can develop if mom drinks during pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome can result in physical, behavioral and learning problems.

The study analyzed 992 women in California from 1978 to 2005. They were risk assessed for possible toxin exposure during pregnancy and they were asked about their alcohol usage while they were expecting. After their babies were born, researchers collected developmental and birth defect information. They found that high levels of alcohol exposure were linked to babies born at a smaller size and some facial abnormalities -- these were more associated with women who drank during the second half of the first trimester. The risk of having a smaller baby was likely if alcohol was consumed in any trimester.

With every daily drink, the risks of problems increased. So how much exactly would be okay? Well, the problem is, some babies are more susceptible to alcohol-related issues than others.

“The fact that we didn't find a safe threshold is important," said study author Christina Chambers, an associate professor of pediatrics and family and preventive medicine at the University of California, San Diego in USA Today. "Not every child of women who drink even very heavily has all the features, so there are certain susceptibility factors that we don't know."

Sounds like a good enough reason to put down that glass to us.

Plus, more from The Bump:

More Pregnancy and Parenting News

What is the danger of alcohol after conceiving?

Fun Non-Alcoholic Drinks for Pregnant Women

-- Sarah Yang

See More: Pregnancy Health , Is it safe