Pregnancy can be tough, but drinking alcohol to lighten the load is never a good idea. In fact, women should stop drinking alcohol as soon as they find out they are pregnant to reduce the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Drinking any alcohol during pregnancy dramatically increases the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), according to a clinical report published late last month by the American Academy of Pediatrics. But what about women who drink alcohol in the weeks before finding out they’re pregnant?

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs)

Dr. Ben Greenfield, an Intermountain Healthcare pediatrician, said there’s no level of alcohol consumption that’s considered safe during pregnancy. With every sip, the unborn baby is more likely to suffer from the symptoms of FASDs, including attention and behavioral problems.

More alcohol = more risk

A baby will still be at risk if alcohol was consumed before mom knew she was pregnant. However, the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome is less than if she continued drinking throughout her entire pregnancy. “If mom consumed alcohol prior to learning that she was pregnant, she can limit the risk by stopping when she finds out,” Dr. Greenfield said.

According to a study by the Nutrition Research Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, if a pregnant woman doesn’t stop consuming alcohol and continues into the second trimester, her increased risk for FASDs goes up from 12 times to 61 times. If she drinks alcohol in every trimester, her child is 65 times more likely to develop FASDs.

Abstinence

The only way to completely avoid the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome is abstinence from alcohol during the entire pregnancy. “Because different women will clear alcohol at different rates and some fetuses may be more susceptible to the effects of alcohol than others, it is impossible to say there is a level of alcohol intake during pregnancy that would be safe,” Dr. Greenfield explained.

Cutting out wine, beer and all forms of alcohol means no risk of FASDs and a healthier baby. While there is no cure for FASDs, children who are diagnosed early and receive appropriate interventions are more likely to have better outcomes than those who don’t.

• Learn more about alcohol consumption and pregnancy

https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/2015/11