Alcohol during pregnancy is never safe, experts warn

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A report posted online on the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that there is no safe amount of alcohol that pregnant women can drink so it is best they stay away from it altogether. Any kind of alcohol including wine, beer, or hard liquors may cause alcohol-related birth defects and development disabilities that are preventable.

The clinical report looks at Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) which can affect infants in the womb when a mother drinks alcohol.

The report also looks into a recent research which suggests that drinking low amounts of alcohol can be acceptable for pregnant women. Lead author Dr. Janet Williams from the University of Texas Health Science Center, and colleagues do not find this research acceptable as studies have not concluded that drinking alcohol is safe.

"Prenatal exposure to alcohol is the leading preventable cause of birth defects and developmental disabilities," Dr. Williams said, via Live Science.

She adds that there has been sufficient research linking drinking alcohol during pregnancy to birth defects.

According to the Centers for Control and Disease Prevention (CDC), FASDs is a group of conditions that can affect a person mildly or severely. A person with FASD might have physiological defects including learning disabilities, poor memory, low body weight, low IQ, vision or hearing problems, and abnormal facial features.

Additionally, FASDs in children are common and doctors may find it a little difficult to diagnose it. Williams told Live Science that FASDs may be the root cause of developmental delays, learning problems and behavioral conditions in some children. Recognizing it early can help improve children's chances in the long run.

"Even though fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are the most commonly identifiable causes of developmental delays and intellectual disabilities, they remain significantly under-recognized," Williams said.

CBS News reported that a survey from CDC reveals that one in 10 pregnant women in the United States drink alcohol. Meanwhile, 3 percent have tried binge drinking or consuming at least four alcoholic drinks while pregnant.

"Women of childbearing age who drink alcohol should consider their pattern of drinking. For example, avoid binge drinking and avoid pregnancy as long as they are drinking. If pregnancy is planned, then alcohol can be discontinued," Christina Chambers, professor of pediatrics at the Center for Better Beginnings at the University of California, San Diego, told Health Day.