Pregnancy: 1 in 10 Pregnant Women Binge Drink

A new report released today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that one in 10 pregnant women in the U.S. report drinking alcohol. In fact, one-third say they binge drink during pregnancy, according to a news release. 

The information examined data from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which is state-based, landline and cell phone survey of the U.S. population. To estimate the prevalence of both alcohol use and binge drinking, researchers used 2011-2013 BRFSS data for women between the ages of 18 and 44 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including over 200,000 women, 8,000 of whom were pregnant at the time. 

The findings revealed that women between the ages of 35 and 44 (18.6 percent) were drinking the the most during their pregnancy, college graduates at 13 percent and unmarried women at 12.9 percent.

"We know that alcohol use during pregnancy can cause birth defects and developmental disabilities in babies, as well as an increased risk of other pregnancy problems, such as miscarriage, stillbirth, and prematurity," said Coleen Boyle, Ph.D., director of CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, in a news release. "This is an important reminder that women should not drink any alcohol while pregnant. It's just not worth the risk."

The major concern with drinking during pregnancy is increased risk of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a group of conditions that occur as a result in the future child due to the mother's drinking during pregnancy. These problems can range from abnormal appearance, short height, low body weight, small head, low intelligence, poor coordination, problems with hearing or sleeping to developmental difficulties. Children with FASD are also more likely to have difficulties in school, are jailed more frequently, engage high risk sexual activity and have more trouble with alcohol and drugs than counterparts.

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