Alcohol in Pregnancy

This festive season, it’s all about merry-making and partying. Expectant mothers, don’t feel left out. A little alcohol might just be good for you.

Mothers have always been warned not to consume alcohol during pregnancy as it can harm them and the baby, but now some researchers are saying that light drinking should be okay. What gives?

Of course, binge drinking is still harmful, but according to lead researcher Yvonne Kelly, an epidemiologist at University College London, “There hasn’t been rigorous research to look at the lower end of the drinking spectrum.”

Well, it seems they looked into it and have found no evidence of harm from having one or two drinks a week during pregnancy. Their findings have been so conclusive, in fact, that some are saying we should take their word for it. Take Fred Bookstein, for example, an applied statistician who studies fetal alcohol spectrum disorders at the University of Washington and the University of Vienna. He has responded to the findings by stating, seemingly without doubt, that, “There is no detectable risk associated with light or moderate drinking during pregnancy.”

Now, while the study certainly isn’t saying that alcohol is good for babies, it does suggest that getting a bit of a buzz can be good for pregnant mummies. They rationalize that a small drink now and again can help an expectant mum to relax, and that can reduce maternal stress and assist in fetal development. And, in case you’re wondering, a small drink was defined by the researchers as, “a small glass of wine, a half-pint of beer or a single serving of hard alcohol.”

Undoubtedly, many women will view the findings liberating, as we now know that light drinking during pregnancy has been scientifically proven not to cause emotional or learning problems in children. Still, women who are unable to practice self control when it comes to alcohol should really stay away from it because excessive exposure to alcohol in the womb can kill nerve cells and cause brain damage, which are matters not to be taken lightly when bringing new life into the world.

So while drinking a bit of alcohol while you’re with child may not be as dangerous as you once thought, do be sensible and cautious about drinking. It is also best for you to speak to your doctor first before you get caught up in any form of festive cheer.

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