Even A Little Alcohol during Pregnancy is Bad for your Baby

Filed in archive Studies on June 1, 2006

It has been previously known and well documented that children exposed to high amounts of alcohol during pregnancy have deficiency in intelligence measures. But what about low-to-moderate alcohol consumption during pregnancy? Sure a few drinks wouldn't harm...is the usual rationale of pregnant women who previously are alcohol-drinkers. Sounds familiar?

Well, even low-to-moderate alcohol consumption during pregnancy, especially during the second trimester is associated with lower IQ's in offspring at 10 years of age, according to a study published in the June issue of alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

"This study found that even light to moderate drinking during pregnancy can affect IQ," said Willford. "The effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on IQ were worse for children exposed to alcohol through the second trimester of pregnancy."

"This latter finding," said Connor, "of greatest effects on intellectual functioning because of second-trimester drinking suggests that, with appropriate intervention procedures, even if alcohol was consumed early during pregnancy, cessation of drinking as soon as possible could have protective benefits on the developing fetus. This is one of the few longitudinal studies of prenatal alcohol exposure that specifically collected data on the timing of alcohol use and is a strength of the study."

Not yet convinced to pass up on anything alcoholic while pregnant? Read more at Science Daily.