Moms-to-be still drink despite danger to baby

Moms-to-be still drink despite danger to baby


The image of a pregnant woman taking a sip of alcohol has long been taboo. Baby bumps and margaritas just don’t mix. It’s been proven that drinking alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and stillbirth. It also ups the risk for fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause learning, behavioral and developmental delays.

Nevertheless, recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey say it’s more common than most people think. According to the study, 10 percent of pregnant women in the United States aged 18 to 44 had ingested alcohol in the past 30 days. The study also found that moms-to-be engage in binge drinking more often than nonpregnant women.

Misinformation might be at fault. For example, some women are advised that it’s okay to drink in the third trimester, or that drinking wine is healthy, or that small amounts are fine as long as you keep in control. The reality is that no amount of alcohol is healthy for baby.

What is healthy for baby is folic acid to help their brains and spinal cords develop; calcium to protect the mother’s bones as the baby leaches minerals from mom’s bones and teeth; and iron to help mother’s blood deliver nutrients to baby. It’s essential to get these vitamins through prenatal vitamins, available over the counter or by prescription, or through the foods you eat. Be sure to get at least 1,000 to 1,300 milligrams of calcium a day through dairy and other calcium-rich foods. Limit caffeine to no more than 300 milligrams a day and avoid soft cheeses like feta and Brie as they can be contaminated with Listeria.

A little discipline during pregnancy can make for a healthy baby. Cheers to that.

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