However, they do assume the changes related to cognitive and behavioral difficulties will continue into childhood. The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. The socio-economic status of the households was assessed using 16 variables extracted from Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2016, and Principal Component Analysis was computed to determine it. The MUAC of the left arm with no clothing was measured in the third trimester using a flexible non-stretchable standard tape measure. When the hemoglobin level was less than 11.0 g/dl during the first or third trimester, the presence of anemia was considered . Read common questions on the coronavirus and ACOG’s evidence-based answers.

Health Promotion Agency,Alcohol.org.nz 10Stop drinking alcohol if you could be pregnant, are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant. If you are trying to get pregnant, it’s best not to drink alcohol. Finally, due to cancellations one of the focus groups was attended by only 2 participants. This may have resulted in a more restrained discussion than other groups; however, it was agreed to include these participants so that the data generated from this discussion was not lost. It was thought that the responses from two participants would add to the volume of data generated from the other focus groups and would not undermine any of the conclusions drawn. Overall, the findings reflect the knowledge and views of the participants in this study and give an insight into the issues concerning alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The majority of participants were aware that alcohol could cause harm to their developing baby.

What to Drink While You’re Pregnant (Instead of Alcohol)

According to the Center for Disease Control, one in 10 (10.2%) of pregnant women in the United States reports drinking alcohol in the past 30 days. In addition, 3.1% of pregnant women report binge drinking – 4 or more alcoholic beverages on one occasion. Despite these strengths, due to the presence of some limitations, the findings of this study should be interpreted with caution. Alcohol consumption information was collected based on maternal self-report and hence is subject to recall bias.

• The best way to avoid drinking alcohol while pregnant is to drink plenty of water.
• One of the most important findings of this study was the acknowledgement of the role of the partner in supporting women during pregnancy.
• While the findings from the current study did not support the idea that a partner’s drinking habits would influence a woman’s alcohol consumption, it was noted that the partners were still supportive.
• Alcohol consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery and low birth weight .
• Reported that the 5-year-old children of women who drank up to one to two alcoholic drinks per week or per occasion while pregnant were not at an increased risk of behavioral or cognitive problems.

However, it is never too late to stop drinking if you are pregnant. Because a baby’s brain growth continues throughout the pregnancy, stopping can improve the baby’s health. Even small amounts of alcohol can cause changes to a developing baby’s brain structure. Their study is the latest research that indicates that even small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy can affect a baby before it is born. Six participants also reported that close friends and family often encouraged the pregnant woman to drink. Several participants claimed not to have received information about alcohol use in pregnancy from their antenatal care provider.

‚Significant brain changes‘

The central idea that emerged under the theme of social influences was that all the women who were noticeably pregnant or had been pregnant in the past felt that there was strong judgement and social pressure against drinking. It was reported that women felt judged most often by strangers, or people who did not know the context. Some participants claimed that certain midwives had in fact endorsed drinking while pregnant, suggesting wine was okay to drink if you were craving it. A total of alcohol during pregnancy five focus groups were conducted with groups ranging from two to seven participants . A sample of convenience was recruited in order to obtain a wide variety of responses from participants. Flyers were placed at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and University of South Australia, and interested participants were requested to make contact with the researcher via email. In total, 21 individuals participated in focus group discussions out of 30 people who expressed interest in the study.

• If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant and cannot stop drinking, get help!
• While there is no evidence that one drink every so often is harmful, there is also no evidence that a drink every so often is safe.
• Concerning the types of alcoholic beverages that were consumed by respondents, the most commonly used alcoholic beverage in the first trimester was Tella(56.03%), followed by beer/draft (19.15%).
• To ascertain fetal alcohol exposure, we used maternal self-reporting that is the most common clinical instrument and standard in detecting alcohol exposure .
• This sheet is about exposure to alcohol in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
• Other studies suggest pregnant women who have an occasional drink don’t harm themselves or their baby.

The resources on this website are not intended as health advice to individuals about their drinking. People with specific questions about their drinking are encouraged to consult a healthcare professional.

Alcohol and Pregnancy

In order to improve prevention strategies, we sought to understand the knowledge and experiences of pregnant women and their partners regarding the effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. While not drinking any alcohol during pregnancy is the safest choice, small amounts of alcohol early in pregnancy may be less risky to the mother’s health and the health of their babies than previously believed. Minimal alcohol use during the first trimester doesn’t appear to increase the risk for high blood pressure complications, or premature birth or low birth weights. That’s the findings of a study previously published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy makes your baby more likely to have premature birth, birth defects and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.