No One *Really* Knows What Happens When Pregnant Women Drink Just a Little

Ask just about any OB-GYN, and she'll tell you women shouldn't drink during pregnancy: Most experts prescribe at least nine months of sobriety to sidestep potential birth defects associated with alcohol intake — like issues with a baby's brain, head, and facial development, small birth size, and lifelong behavioral problems and learning disabilities, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

However, when researchers from the UK looked at 26 studies on low-to-moderate maternal alcohol consumption (i.e., drinking no more than two standard drinks per week) in a new BMJ review, they found the evidence linking the behavior to adverse effects was surprisingly sparse. While some data they combed through collectively suggested a correlation between low alcohol intake and a 10 percent greater risk of preterm delivery than abstainers, the authors ultimately call for more research to substantiate recommendations that suggest that the benefits of abstinence during pregnancy far outweigh potential benefits of drinking a glass of wine here and there during pregnancy.

Because a small number of pregnant woman do drink — a 2015 report found more than 10 percent of pregnant women imbibed within the past 30 days — there's also a pressing need for research on alcohol consumption at different stages of pregnancy, and safe upper limits of alcohol consumption, the UK researchers say. (The two-drink limit they chose to examine in their review was arbitrary.)

In the meantime, the ACOG warns that *any* kind of alcohol can harm a fetus even before you realize you're pregnant and throughout pregnancy. "Any amount is risky for women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant," reads the organization's 2015 statement.

While 38 to 42 weeks — the length of a typical pregnancy — might sound like a hell of a long time to forgo booze, it's still smart heed to your doctor's warnings until solid research suggests it's safe to do otherwise.

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