The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have uncovered a disturbing fact that a worrying 1 in 10 pregnant women drink alcohol in spite of numerous warnings that they should abstain. It has been found to affect their unborn child’s development and may lead to serious neurological dysfunctions in the future.
- 8,000 women were surveyed by the CDC
- 10% admitted to drinking, and 3.1% have claimed to binge drink during their pregnancy
- Experts advise that neither beer, red or white wine, nor liquor has been proven to be safe
- Drinking during pregnancy can hurt the child’s development and lead to mental deficiencies during their life
It’s quite unfortunate that the studies are limited on information and the required limitations. However, it has been well established that alcohol places the baby’s health in jeopardy if the mother drinks through her pregnancy or even breastfeeding period.
A number of 8,000 women participated in a survey conducted by the CDC, who inquired them about drinking habits.
One in ten women, roughly 10%, admitted to having an alcoholic beverage within the past 30 days before the study. According to the study’s lead researcher, Cheryl Tan, though, “any alcohol use during pregnancy” can harm the child.
It has been associated with increased risk of the child having birth defects or developmental disabilities, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). This implies “physical, behavioral, or learning impairments” that might cripple the child’s life later on. It impacts the baby’s brain cells and does overall damage to its development in the womb.
In some unfortunate cases, it has also been discovered that women who drink during the pregnancy give birth to children with smaller brains, afflicted with issues such as mental retardation, attention deficit disorder (ADD), or even problems controlling their impulses.
Abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy is “a gift that lasts a lifetime” from the mother to her child, one that allows the baby to properly develop and avoid risk of serious conditions.
However, while drinking is bad, binge drinking is certainly worse. The survey discovered that one in thirty-three women, or roughly 3.1% are binge drinkers. It means that they admitted to drinking five or more drinks per day within the last 30 days before the study.
Furthermore, pregnant women have shown a higher rate of binge drinking than non-pregnant women, with a percentage of 4.6% as compared to 3.6%. According to researchers, one possible explanation is that indulging in alcohol while pregnant is an indication of an actual alcohol addiction problem.
If the mother is unwilling to stop even while she’s with child, the issue might be deeper.
Director of gynecology in New York, Jacques Mortiz, has stated that “there is no amount that has been proven to be safe”, so pregnant women are advised to abstain from all types of alcohol, be it beer, wine or liquor.
Image source: science.howstuffworks.com
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