Moderate Drinking During Early Pregnancy is OK

A Danish study revealed this week that women who drink up to eight alcoholic beverages per week early in pregnancy did not affect the brain function of their children.

The five studies included 1,628 Danish women whose average age was 30 and their five-year-old children. The tests measured the effects drinking alcohol while pregnant played on the child’s IQ, attention span, organization skill and self control. Mothers who consumed up to 5-8 drinks per week (moderate) during early pregnancy did not affect the child’s neurodevelopment as compared to moms who abstained during pregnancy. For nine or more drinks per week, however, the children had lower results for attention.

The results have sparked debate for obvious reasons. Some fear the finding may be taken as permission to drink during pregnancy. But moms are also heartbroken over this. Many wished they could have had a few drinks to get through their pregnancy, steady their hormones and make them feel a bit sexier.

Congrats to the Danes who seem to be ahead of the curve in this arena. Perhaps for the next series of experiments they can study pregnant teens on meth or pregnant cougars on crack. The public needs to know.