Q&A: Is an occassional glass of beer or wine really bad during pregnancy?

by Dr. Gerard M. DiLeo

I am 9 weeks pregnant and I'm wondering if an occassional beer or glass of wine would be bad during the holidays?

The bottom line is researchers have never been able to establish what is a "safe" amount of alcohol to consume during pregnancy.

Even though most cases of fetal alcohol syndrome are associated with heavy or moderate consumption, still no level has ever been deemed completely safe.

I wouldn't panic if I had discovered I were pregnant after having had an occasional drink, but to have a drink AFTER you know you're pregnant is a somewhat cavalier approach to pregnancy.

My official recommendation is to be a sport and just skip it these holidays. Toast to your unborn baby's health with a soft drink instead of alcohol.

find more about:
related categories:
All the pregnancy info you need—from the first trimester to the last.
watch more videos