All medical organizations agree: it is better to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy. However, studies show that at least 50% of expectant mothers have consumed alcohol in the first trimester [1].
What doses can be considered safe for the baby?
None. By default, there are no safe doses [1]. It would be unethical to test how much alcohol is safe for pregnant women to drink. It is already known that alcohol passes through the placenta and enters the bloodstream of the baby. And a baby's liver develops later in the developmental process. So, unlike you, developing babies in utero are unable to process and remove alcohol from their body [2]. This can lead to the development of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
What is FAS?
FAS most often develops in a child if the mother drank alcoholic beverages throughout the pregnancy. The syndrome manifests itself in delayed or poor physical, mental and emotional development [3].
What if I drank before I found out I was pregnant?
If you stopped drinking when you found out you were pregnant and your pregnancy is developing normally, then most likely you can calm down: nothing terrible will happen. Long-term studies have shown that drinking one to four servings of alcohol per week during the first trimester did not lead to pregnancy loss [1, 4].
How much is a portion?
A serving is approximately 12 grams of pure alcohol. That is, a glass of wine, a can of beer or shot of liquor.
What if I drank more?
The risk of miscarriage increases with large doses of alcohol, but, as a rule, most cases occur before 10 weeks [5]. If you have passed this mark, you can calm down [1, 4].
However, frequent alcohol consumption may indicate addiction. If you cannot stop drinking on your own and continue drinking throughout your pregnancy, this is dangerous for both you and your child. Tell your doctor, and seek support to help you stop drinking.
