Study suggests drinking while pregnant may be safe
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Print | Originally published: Jun 20, 2012 - 6:10 pm
Researchers in Denmark found that women who consume certain amounts of alcohol during pregnancy has no effect on the fetus or child even up to five years later.
In a series of several studies, these researchers evaluated the drinking patterns of 1,628 women during pregnancy. After 5 years, they assessed the children's IQ, executive functions and attention span.
"We found no significant association of low to moderate average weekly alcohol consumption, and any binge drinking, during early to mid- pregnancy with the neurodevelopment of children at the age of five years," the researchers said.
Findings that are problematic for Sara Rumann with the Arizona Department of Health.
"Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is 100 percent preventable," she said. "Even the Surgeon General issued an advisory in 2005, to avoid drinking at all during pregnancy."
Some of the symptoms of FASD include facial abnormalities, growth deficiencies, skeletal deformities and behavioral issues.
"There's just no current research that proves that it isn't damaging to the fetus," said Ruman.
