Pregnancy and Alcohol - How much is too much?

Pregnancy and alcohol is a difficult issue because it is a controversial issue. Your doctor may say one thing and your friends another, which become confusing!

The issue becomes "How much is too much?" There isn't a set amount of alcohol that has proven to be safe, so this has caused many women to choose to not drink alcohol during pregnancy. This is the safest decision.

Pregnancy and Alcohol - Why does it hurt?
The CDC, the U.S. Surgeon General, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Pediatrics advise pregnant women not to drink alcohol at all. They say that pregnant women who drink alcohol put their unborn babies at risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. The conditions of this disorder are a delay in language and speech, learning disabilities, and abnormal facial features and head shape, and slower growth rates. In the United States, fetal alcohol syndrome is one of the leading causes of birth defects.

It is important to remember that drinks labeled "nonalcoholic" can contain trace amounts of alcohol, so it is best to avoid those as well.

When you drink alcohol, it travels quickly through your bloodstream and to your baby. Since your baby is so small, even a small amount of alcohol can endanger her. Alcohol breaks down much more slowly in her body than in your body. This can do irreversible harm to your child.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fetal exposure to alcohol is one of the main preventable causes of birth defects in the United States.

Pregnancy and Alcohol - What if it's too late?
What if you drank alcohol before you knew you were pregnant? Don't stress it. The most important thing you can do it stay alcohol-free going forward.

If you are struggling with giving up alcohol during your pregnancy, please come in and chat with us at the Colorado Springs Pregnancy Center. We can give you wise counsel and put you in touch with helpful resources.

Contact our office today at 719-591-2724 to find a listening ear and someone to discuss your personal situation. Sometimes life requires that we make hard choices and it is always good to have someone to listen and share options with you, providing wisdom and guidance.