I don’t think any parent would argue that heavy alcohol consumption while pregnant is unhealthy to both mother and especially the baby but the controversy arises as to how much is too much. The bottom line is that alcohol is not good during pregnancy, regardless. Studies have now confirmed that even a small amount of alcohol consumption can prove dangerous.
The challenge here is that the precise amount cannot be determined because there are so many varying factors. For that reason, the majority of doctors recommend pregnant women simply avoid alcohol altogether. Even with these warnings, we still see a growing number of babies being born around the world with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which means the alcohol the mother consumed caused health problems whereby the baby actually has to go through detoxification.
Drinking alcohol when pregnant can affect the baby in a number of ways, again, even when consumed in small quantities. For instance, the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth is significantly increased with alcohol consumption. Additionally, drinking alcohol while pregnant can cause your baby to have a low birth rate, which then creates an array of health issues to include language problems, learning problems, hyperactivity, and difficulty with attention, among others.
Unfortunately, some parents do not realize how dramatic an effect alcohol can have on an unborn baby. Therefore, normal consumption continues, which then leads to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a permanent condition that involves slow and poor growth and development, central nervous system damage, and even abnormalities to the face. Typically, these babies are born with very small heads and often struggle with birth defects involving the heart, grain, and spine.
While it might seem that seven drinks a week, or one drink a day is not much while pregnant, this amount, which includes beer, wine, and mixed cocktails, is extremely dangerous to the unborn child. Sadly, these babies are born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, forcing them into a world of developmental problems and physical defects. For this reason, it is simply better to avoid drinking any alcohol while carrying a baby.
It is very important to note that the market now offers “non-alcoholic beverages”. Although this sounds good, the problem is that some of these drinks do in fact contain alcohol, although at a much lesser degree. Therefore, if you were pregnant, you would be doing you and the baby a huge favor by sticking with soda, water, juices, and so on. When not pregnant, alcohol consumed responsibly is fine but when pregnant, it should be avoided at all costs, for the sake of your child.