Is Binge Drinking OK for Moms-to-Be?

[underpants]

Good GOD!!! :grr:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ReproductiveHealth/story?id=3861215&page=1

A new study that downplays the risks of binge drinking during pregnancy could give some party-prone women the wrong idea, medical experts say.

The study, in which researchers at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom gathered the results of research on binge drinking and its effects on pregnancy published from 1970 to 2005, suggests there is little evidence that occasional alcohol consumption -- and even a binge or two -- causes lasting harm to unborn babies.


"The principal finding of this systematic review of the fetal effects of prenatal binge-drinking is that there is no consistent evidence of adverse effects across different studies," note the study's authors in their article, which was published Tuesday in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

"It seems that at relatively low amounts of alcohol and infrequent occasions of binge-drinking, there is no consistent evidence of adverse effects."

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Jesus! That is really, really dangerous. I can't imagine anyone taking that chance.

There is no consistent level at which alcohol is safe for every pregnant woman. Hence, the warning to avoid it all together.

[underpants]

2. BTW- pay no attention to the story on the right about fake pink beef

just continue swilling drinks whether you are pregnant or not :eyes:

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Low levels of alcohol are likely okay - I know British doctors recommend a glass of red wine

a day for pregnant women, at least as of a few years ago.

[underpants]

5. KEGGER AT THE BABIES R US!!!

you know the really great thing about going to Babies R Us? You know that everyone in there puts out

[malta blue]

4. booze and pregnancy just do not mix. PERIOD.

My SIL said she is allowed to consume one glass of red wine DAILY during her pregnancy. :shrug:

Seems to me if you have had multiple miscarriages and potential problems with this pregnancy you would want to eliminate anything that could be harmful, but apparently she is under the impression it is beneficial....
:mad:

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Red Wine does have a lot of beneficial stuff in it.

As I said above, British doctors, at least into the late 90s, were still recommending a glass of wine a day to pregnant women.

It seems only in America, which has a culture that insists on fearing that with which it is obsessed (sex, alcohol, drugs, tobacco) and turning it into a taboo, that looks upon drinking while pregnant as one of the most heinous crimes possible.

[Midlodemocrat]

7. I think that has been changed.

The problem with alcohol consumption while pregnant is that there is no 'safe' level, so it is better to abstain.

When my mom's generation was pregnant, doctors were okay with alcohol use because they were obsessed about their patients not gaining too much weight. My mom said that all of her friends preferred eating something over the empty calories in a drink.

[AnneD]

13. I agree...

I drank 1 mixed drink every week (on Fri). I had my ex (gee any surprises) tell me once that I shouldn't be drinking and I know what that would do to the baby-yeah , I smarted back-we'll both get a good night's sleep....and it was true. I lived for that one night when we both had a restful sleep.

From my embryology, I remember that the first few weeks (when you don't know you are pregnant of course) are critical. The cells are dividing into the various tissues (neural, skeletal, etc). Since this is the basic foundation...it is critical that you have a good foundation. Once you get through this, the only way you can really harm the fetus is with frequent bing drinking.

It is this knowledge of embryonic growth that had allowed them to give pregnant women the Chemo they need to survive. When I worked at MD Anderson, that was a pioneering field. There have been many successful chemo treatments worked around pregnancies, I am sure that is more deadly than a drink of alcohol.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

8. Not no, but HELL NO!

Alcohol is more dangerous than any drug out therefor an unborn fetus!

""Alcohol causes more neurological damage to the developing baby than any other substance." Institute of Medicine report to Congress

Alcohol is a teratogen (substance that is toxic to the baby's developing brain). Damage can occur in various regions of the brain. The areas that might be affected by alcohol exposure depend on which areas are developing at the time the alcohol is consumed. Since the brain and the central nervous system are developing throughout the entire pregnancy, the baby's brain is always vulnerable to damage from alcohol exposure.

Not all damage from alcohol exposure is seen on brain scans, as lesions are sometimes too small to be detected with current technology, yet large enough to cause significant disabilities.

The regions of the brain that are most seriously affected by prenatal alcohol exposure in terms of ability to function are:

Corpus Callosum - passes information from the left brain (rules, logic) to the right brain (impulse, feelings) and vice versa. The Corpus Callosum in an individual with FAS/ARND might be smaller than normal, and in some cases it is almost nonexistent. (MRI images)

Hippocampus - plays a fundamental role in memory, learning, and emotion.

Hypothalamus - controls appetite, emotions, temperature, and pain sensation

Cerebellum - controls coordination and movement, behavior and memory.

Basal Ganglia - affects spatial memory and behaviors like perseveration and the inability to switch modes, work toward goals, and predict behavioral outcomes, and the perception of time.

Frontal Lobes - this area controls impulses and judgment. The most noteworthy damage to the brain probably occurs in the prefrontal cortex, which controls what are called the Executive Functions.

The term Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) includes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND). Individuals with FASD often have symptoms or behavior issues that are a direct result of damage to the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain that controls “executive functions.”



http://www.come-over.to/FAS/FASbrain.htm

One of the saddest, and most misunderstood things about alcohol related neurological damage is the frequent role it plays in crime and incarceration.

[Fleshdancer]

9. Can't we learn from Barbara Bush's mistakes?

:scared:

[Amaya]

10. I think this is a very bad idea

The early months in pregnancy are when the brain is forming.
I would definitely NOT drink.
About 2 weeks before I gave birth- I did, however have a glass of wine.
It gave me terrible heartburn tho :)

[midlife_mo_Jo]

11. One of my adopted children has alcohol related neurological damage

Although we were very aware that his birth mother drank heavily, we knew he was meant to be our child. The first few years with him were normal, except for an unusually high level of hyperactivity. Now that he's getting older, the damage to his brain is very evident. He has no awareness of time. Clocks. Days. Months. Years. He has no concept of the value of money. None. Even though he is bright in many ways (he has an average IQ), you wouldn't believe what he can do do with verb tenses. Verb tense means nothing to him because one needs an awareness of time.

He has little sensation to cold. He could play outside in thirty degree weather in a short sleeve short. Conversely, he might decide to put on a coat to play outside in August.

The two halves of his brain just don't seem to communicate with one another, so he spends a lot of time talking to himself. Weird, I know.

His birth mother apparently didn't "binge" drink when the parts of his brain that control impulse control were being formed, although I find it hard to believe that she wasn't drinking at all. Lack of impuse control is usually a major factor for these children, and why an extremely high percentage of these "victims" end up in trouble with the law. My son may have some future problems with this, but compared to the other affected kids in our support group, I know how blessed we are.

Sadly, thousands and thousands of babies are born with ARND every year, and most school personnel don't even recognize the symptoms. If the birth mother didn't drink when the fetus's facial features were being formed, there may be no visibile signs to cue medical personnel and school personnel. In addition to the primary issues, secondary issues like low self esteem and depression are major factors in lowering the quality of life for these children. They generally aren't accepted by their peers, and because they don't necessarily "look" disabled like a child with down's syndrome, for instance, they are often bullied. They're also easily taken advantage of because they tend to be very naive - even with a normal IQ.

[Breeze54]

12. Is binge drinking ok? -- Sure it is!

As long as it's milk, fruit juice and water! ;)