A new study suggests that pregnant women should abstain from alcohol, as both moderate and excessive drinking can have adverse effects on fetal development.
Previous research has shown that 25%-50% of pregnant women worldwide have consumed alcohol during pregnancy, with the majority coming from low-income households or families with a history of alcohol consumption.
Researchers from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health studied over 60,000 pregnant women, who completed questionnaires about their alcohol consumption at 17 and 30 weeks of pregnancy. The study found that over 10% of the women had consumed alcohol during pregnancy, with a higher proportion (16%) drinking in the first three months before pregnancy. The study also revealed that 12% had engaged in excessive drinking.
Examining negative emotions such as anxiety and depression in pregnant women, the research found that women with negative emotions were 27% and 28% more likely to have consumed small amounts of alcohol during the first three months and six months of pregnancy, respectively. They were also 55% more likely to engage in excessive drinking compared to women without negative emotions.
The researchers pointed out that alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to premature birth, low birth weight, and fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause permanent physical defects in infants and even increase the risk of infant mortality. Therefore, women should avoid alcohol as much as possible when trying to conceive or during pregnancy.
