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

Some doctors may say that it’s OK to have a drink of wine with dinner, but at this point we don’t have enough data to support that recommendation. Because we don’t have enough information to indicate the safety of “light” alcohol use and because alcohol is it not medically necessary or beneficial during pregnancy, we recommend that women refrain from drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Continuing on from the idea of risk evaluation is the idea that alcohol can be used to relieve stress for the mother and this might outweigh the risk of harm to the baby. Women who are feeling anxious and stressed need to be clearly informed of the potential risks that alcohol may cause to the foetus. Women need to be provided with alternative strategies to manage any anxiety and stress. Further, midwives who might be currently promoting the use of alcohol for stress relief also need to be well informed of the potential harms of alcohol in pregnancy and the current NHMRC guidelines . For example, resources such as MoodGYM are convenient and user-friendly tools that could be referred to by health professionals to help pregnant women who experience stress, anxiety and other mental health problems .

• In fetuses with alcohol exposure, the fetal total maturation score was significantly lower than in the age-matched controls, and the right superior temporal sulcus was shallower.
• Two participants were from New Zealand (10%) while the rest were Australian (90%).
• Building on a successful 84-year legacy, we support every pregnant person and every family.
• Birth defects change the shape or function of one or more parts of the body.
• FAS does last a lifetime, but if children with FAS are identified early, and if they get support, they’ll be less likely to have problems later in life.

A fetal brain exposed to alcohol has a smoother cortex in the lobes observed. In the healthy control , the superior temporal sulcus is already forming. The research is the first to use fetal MRI to see how drinking affects the fetus in real-time. One of the codes that emerged inductively from the data under the theme of ‘evaluation of risk’ was that of personal choice. It was repeatedly mentioned in all focus groups that alcohol use in pregnancy was a personal choice, and that there was no right or wrong decision, it was up to the individual woman.

Relationship between the level of alcohol intake and birth outcomes

A six-step protocol described by Braun and Clarke was used to analyse all focus group discussions in a systematic way. The analysis involved deriving data extracts from field notes, summaries, and verbatim transcripts. Extracts of data were then coded into logical concepts, and these codes were categorised, re-categorised and condensed to identify the major themes. The themes and sub-themes identified through the analysis were reviewed and cross-checked with other researchers, and finally named and defined . A.E conceptualized, designed, coordinated data collection, analyzed the data, and drafted the manuscript. T.A, Y.K, and M.Y designed the study and critically revised the manuscript.

• Cutting down or stopping on your own can be difficult, and you may need help.
• Alcohol use appears to be the most harmful during the first 3 months of pregnancy; however, drinking alcohol anytime during pregnancy can be harmful.
• Your child can be evaluated for effects of prenatal alcohol exposure.
• This further highlights the need for health professionals to provide clear and concise information.

Cutting down or stopping on your own can be difficult, and you may need help. Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby and the more you drink, the greater the risk. Researchers say even an occasional drink can alter the brain structure of a developing fetus.

How can I prevent FAS?

This further highlights the need for health professionals to provide clear and concise information. This was expressed particularly by first time pregnant women, and there may be a significant difference in the information requirements needed by these expectant mothers when compared to others whom have experienced pregnancy previously. The teratogenic alcohol during pregnancy effect of fetal alcohol exposure may lead to actual and potential problems, instantly after birth, at infancy; or even later, and mental impairment in life. This study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy on adverse fetal outcomes at Gondar town public health facilities, Northwest Ethiopia.