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No safe level Scientists have not been able to find if there is a guaranteed "safe" level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The harmful effects of alcohol vary with the stage of the pregnancy and the amount of alcohol consumed on each occasion. It doesn't matter what kind of alcohol is consumed.. Beer, wine, or hard liquor have the same negative effects during pregnancy-- all alcoholic drinks are toxic to a growing baby. Many people think that only hard liquor like rum, vodka, or whiskey is harmful. They're wrong. Any drink with alcohol in it can harm a growing baby. Here is a list of products to avoid drinking during pregnancy: * coolers * cider * wine * beer * liqueurs * cooking wine * mouthwash * cleaning products, and other liquids that have alcohol in them. "Drinking alcohol during pregnancy could lower your baby's IQ. Would you want to take that chance?" What alcohol does to the fetus When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it rapidly crosses the placenta into the fetus. When the mother drinks, the baby drinks. The baby can be exposed to higher amounts of alcohol and for a longer time than the mother, as the amniotic fluid acts as a reservoir. The brain and central nervous system of the unborn child can be damaged by exposure to alcohol at any time during pregnancy. Unlike the mother, the fetus cannot process alcohol at the same adult rate, and it remains in the baby's body longer than in the mother's. The quant_ty of alcohol consumed, how often the mother drinks, the stage during pregnancy when drinking occurs, the mother's metabolism and the genetic makeup of the fetus, all play a role in determining how severe the effects will be. Alcohol can damage a growing baby's brain, organs and body, affecting how it thinks, acts, looks and learns as a child and as an adult. Since development continues after birth, a baby can also be affected by alcohol pa__sed through b___st milk.

Thank you WMR! You spoke of many great points regarding this subject. Red wine may have some health benefits, but the effects of the alcohol are the same as one can of beer or one shot of liquor. So, having a martini after work WOULD present the same risk to the baby as a **** gla__s of wine with dinner. Whether the alcohol is made from potatoes or grapes isn't in question here. We don't know for certain just what that risk is, so our doctors remind us to err on the side of caution.

All those studies that say there is no safe level known are correct. They are correct because we are all different sizes and have different tolerances for alcohol or problems not knowing when to stop. In response to all of these variables it is impossible to tell how much is too much for each individual UNLESS you test them. For ethical reasons, people tend to frown on that kind of testing while pregnant. Additionally your health care provider, who can't be sure if you are an alcoholic in denial or what your tolarance for alcohol is, is wise to tell you none at all especially when it comes to issues of liability. That's the part they don't tell you when you are reading that article where ever that says NO alcohol at all. It 's just no one ever questions WHY there is no known safe amount. They just do what they are told to do.

For more information check out this webpage http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/psafe/0,,midwife_3pmq,00.html

What is the big deal? Avoid alcohol for 9 months and you eliminate the chance of the birth defect of FAS. Sure, there are lots of things to worry about during pregnancy and afterward, but by abstaining from alcohol for 40 weeks you have one less thing to worry about.

I see more people smoking while pregnant and it has become almost accepted in out society. But to have one gla__s of wine people condemn you. Like I have said before 1-2 gla__ses of wine a month with your dinner in my opinion is quite all right !

i think one gla__s is fine loads of people dont no there pregnant and are always drinking n there baby always comes out totally healthy than what people who eat healthy n drink healthy babys does i think were all differnt it doesnt matter what we eat and drink at the end of the day its how your bodys coping with pregnancy

i am v worried because i drank about 5 gla__ses of wine when i was four weeks pregnant. i obviously didn't know i was pregnant... but now i am very scared.

joan how far gone are you? it doesnt matter because my m8 was 4 month when she found out she was pregnant and she must of been 2 month when we went clubbing and her baby is fine and healthy

I think it's ok to have a drink with dinner, over a period of about an hour. Just lessen the amount that is absorbed by having a small amount, over a long period of time, with food. The studies are always going to tell people to abstain. It's just easier that way. I don't believe I have read of any studies done on minimal amounts of alcohol while pregnant (only binging amounts). I have had a gla__s on 2 occa__sions, so far and I couldn't even finish it (and this was over an hour and a half!) I know lots of women that had the occa__sional drink and their children are well and healthy.

Well I read the post about cooking with alcohol. Alcohol burnes off so it is compleatly safe, all you are left with is the flavor. I have been told this by several Dr.s also I am a food network junkie and have heard them say the same, the alcohol burns off. As for The subject of wine being safe, I was told that a gla__s of wine a week is fine. I am 15 weeks pregnant and have had about 5 gla__ses of wine this pregnancy. I have never had anything alcaholic to drink in any other pregnancy and this is my 5th baby. I can't imagine why any Dr. would tell you it is okay to do something that will harm your baby. I am going to talk to my Dr. about it more tomorrow he is a perinatologist so he is well educated in things that can harm or damage your pregnancy.

I was just reading some Italian medical sites that recommended 1 gla__s of red wine per day for iron. Most recommended consuming the wine with food.

The tests done on FAS were done on Science Rats. They were fed, what would be equivalent to a human, at least a gallon of beer everyday! Rats also have a slower metabolism. So all the parinoids should calm down, have a sip of wine, and think logically; would you drink a gallon of wine. Also, most cases of FAS also have to carry certain defective genes, which isn't proven to be caused by alcohal.

Shutup for one second! For and against. For - The occasional gla__s of wine is Healthy for you, 1) it's good for the blood, 2)it's good for the heart, 3)it will relax you. There are alot of hazardous cra* in this world most of you are eating it, breathing it in. IF IT WAS EXTREMELY BAD 2 HAVE THE OCCASIONAL 1 OR 2 GLASSES OF WINE OR BEER THEY WOULD LET US KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT and we wouldn't be having this stupid argument. Researchers, doctors, etc; would make it VERY clear on T.V. and everywhere they could. I believe if your going to have the occasional drink throughout your pregnancy try wine spritzers. The warning signs of drinking throughout pregnancy are there to scare irresponsible drinkers who drink 2 & above alcoholic beverages per day. My mother in law was very irresponsible throughout her preg with my hubby, she drank everyday and smoked a pack every 2 days she also had the daily joint... My husband is extremely smart he is a Brain surgeon and always was at the top of his cla__s, he is also very healthy. As for me my mother was a health finatic, she did not drink, smoke, do any kind of drug and i have always had trouble learning and always been behind in cla__s. I would like to know how any of you who are so against it are not deformed go back 30 - 40 years to when your mum was pregnant with you was she perfect? c'mon it was the 70's there was no such thing as bloody rubber playgrounds, or plastic cricket bats.. If you hurt youself YOU LEARNT!! we are slowly killing our children, we are rapping them up in cotton wool and we expect them to run the world when we are gone. AS LONG AS THOSE OCCASIONAL DRINKS DON"T BECOME DAILY IT IS OK!! Babies are stronger than you think.

I totally agree with Sara7. Back in the 60-70's there was nothing saying that drinking was that bad while pregnant. I had discussions with friends, cousins, family members and everybody said that they or their mums were drinking and everybody is fine in my surroundings and I mean loads of people of my age 35. Well not everybody is the same and unfortunately there are some exceptions but nothing proved that drinking was the problem. Nowadays when you are pregnant you have got to stop eating this, and stop doing that etc... I think it is a bit too restrictive sometimes for my point of view. I think that 2 gla__ses of wine a week will be fine. They also say that a pint of Guiness is good while pregnant... It is just totally up to you if you want to drink or not. I am 17 weeks pregnant and discovered I was pregnant at 7 weeks. Because I did not know I went out a few times and drank more than the limit (I talked to my midwife about it and said it is fine, it happens to loads of women) but as soon as I knew I was pregnant I stopped for 2 months. Three weeks ago I started having 2 gla__ses of wine a week and I am not that worried about it, I feel relaxed about it and always make sure that I eat healthy on the other side. The scans will show if there were any problems with the baby on the physical side but not the mental one (I agree). Gwen

hey gwen - are you in the UK or US? I have heard the pint of guniess thing too but from a woman who lives in the UK. here in the US EVERYTHING is bad... pregnant women are being told to "spit it out" if the accidentally bite into a candy with liqueur in it, and that a gla__s of wine causes fetal alcohol syndrome, oh and we also arent supposed to have deli meat, cheese, any pre=prepared foods, mayonnaise-based salads..... etc... its insane. I think there are certain precautions that need to be taken... i wouldnt eat chicken salad thats been out in the sun all day, or have raw sushi and jack daniel's 3 times a day or anything.. but people take it way too far. and what you do with oyur own body is one thing but telling other women "YOU CANT EAT HOT DOGS!!!!" is just spreading the poison. ya know? well thats my 2 cents. LOL