The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued a warning to women that they should not drink alcohol unless they are on birth control.
Alcohol consumption by pregnant women, even in the beginning stages of a pregnancy, can have devastating effects on fetal development, including low birth weight and growth; heart, kidney and other organ problems as well as damage to parts of the brain. The risk comes from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, which can last a lifetime, causing children to grow up with low IQ, poor social skills and learning disabilities. These problems could eventually lead to mental health and substance abuse problems, as well as difficulty maintaining a job.
“More than 3 million U.S. women are at risk of exposing their developing baby to alcohol because they are drinking, having sex, and not using birth control to prevent pregnancy,” the CDC wrote. “About half of all U.S. pregnancies are unplanned and, even if planned, most women do not know they are pregnant until they are 4-6 weeks into the pregnancy. This means a woman might be drinking and exposing her developing baby to alcohol without knowing it.”
The CDC suggests women not drink alcohol if they are planning to get pregnant or may become pregnant, and ask their partner, family and friends to support their decision.
The CDC estimated that drinking while pregnant cost the U.S. $5.5 billion in 2010.
Wanda Filer, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, told USA Today that this advice would be difficult for some women to follow, as alcohol often leads to pregnancy, even for married couples.
“Some women will take this advice and some will not,” Filer said.
It’s tough advice to give, considering that so many women don’t learn they’re pregnant until weeks in, and may have been drinking during that time. Even with birth control, pregnancy can still happen. But of course telling women not to drink and have sex would be an even more implausible suggestion.
Ashe Schow is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
