The American Academy of Pediatrics has warned that no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy, and that pregnant women should abstain from all forms of alcohol because of the health risks babies face in the womb and while growing up.
"No amount of alcohol should be considered safe to drink during any trimester of pregnancy," the association said in a report it released on Monday, underscoring the dangers of birth defects and cognitive disabilities which prenatal exposure to alcohol cause.
The International Alliance for Responsible Drinking also advise that pregnant women should not touch a drink under any conditions - but Italy and the UK excepted themselves from this recommendation, saying women could drink while pregnant but this should be limited to only one drink once or twice a week.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention in the US warn pregnant women to stay clear of alcohol, because "There is no safe amount, no safe time, and no safe type of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. It's just not worth the risk," said Dr. Cheryl Tan, an epidemiologist at the CDC.
The American group of pediatricians warns that a baby faces rising health risks such as growth retardation when a pregnant woman takes just one alcoholic drink a day. Children exposed to alcohol in the womb could suffer from hearing and vision loss, as well as kidneys, bones, and heart problems. They are also likely to suffer neurodevelopment problems such as cognitive disabilities and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among others.
Recent studies show that pregnant women who drink in their first trimester raise the risks of health issues with their children by 12 times, and those who drink during the first and second trimester raise their risks by 61 times, while women who drink all through their pregnancy raise the risks of problems with their children by 65 times.
"The research suggests that the smartest choice for women who are pregnant is to just abstain from alcohol completely," said Dr. Janet F. Williams, one of the leading authors of the report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.