A clinical report just released from the American Academy of Pediatrics says "no amount of alcohol should be considered safe to drink during any trimester of pregnancy."
The information is part of the "Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders" report published in the November issue of Pediatrics.
The report says first-trimester drinking, compared to no drinking, results in 12 times the likelihood of giving birth to a child with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Drinking in the first and second trimester increased the odds to 61 times more likely, and drinking in all three trimesters increased the odds by 65 times, the report finds.
"Even though fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are the most commonly identifiable causes of developmental delays and intellectual disabilities, they remain significantly under-recognized," said Dr. Williams.
Here's an excerpt from the report:
According to a recent survey, about 8-percent of women said they continued consuming alcohol during pregnancy.
"The research suggests that the smartest choice for women who are pregnant is to just abstain from alcohol completely," said Dr. Williams.