I am actually very bothered by what you have written. If you are more concerned about whether or not you can drink while pregnant, than your unborn child's well-being then you obviously should not consider getting pregnant. Studies have also found they have not been able to determine what amount of alcohol consumption is safe during pregnancy or at what stage in development so who in her right mind would even want to take the risk? Unfortunately people seem to listen to the studies that suit their needs. I hope you are have just written this as a joke to generate response, otherwise I am even more ashamed of the next generation of young adults as the majority don't know how to count change, read cursive writing or know what work ethic is.

I can not beleive that a Web Editor of a Health Mag. would even think of writing such an article on such minimal research! Especially on a topic that has such devastating effects. As an editor I would have thought you would know enough to do more research on FAS and the effects of alcohol during pregnancy. Just writing this article could give the impression that it is ok to consume alcohol and on that point alone is very irresponsible towards your readers.
I work with developmentally challenged adults on a daily basis and I'm also an alternative health practioner. I can not beleive how ignorant you are. Trust me I will definately be removing your magazine from my waiting room.

Afraid to be pregnant or have a baby?? Are you serious? You can't be, because if you are I have to question what personalities are emerging in the generation that is of childbearing age now.

You need to grow some balls. ... and stay away from poisons...alcohol happens to be one. The rewards for having children far outweigh a little bit of pain and discomfort. You must be surely glad your mother wasn't afraid.

There are more adults and children suffering lifetime effects of alcohol inutero (including my two adopted children) I neglect to see why take any risk for the immediate pleasure of something, that can damage for a lifetime? The report even states that no alcohol is the 'safest' only after they've given 'licence' to drink. Do people realize that even a small amt of alcohol during days 17-21 of pregnancy creates the FASD facial deformaties? (A time where most women would not even know they are pregnant) We are not even talking about the neurodevelopmental delays, cause and consequence, focus, sequential thinking, abstract thinking (not able to pick up social cues...etc: that many times do not fully become apparent until around age six......so I find this article could be dangerously misleading!!!!!!! May mom's to be, choose wisely for the sake of their children!

Alcohol is a neurotoxin, poison basically, that goes directly into the baby's brain. I assume you wouldn't dream of using heroin or cocaine while pregnant, but consider alcohol, which is more damaging to a fetus, ok? If you can't imagine lasting a whole pregancy without drinking perhaps you're really not ready to start a family. This study only shows that the researchers couldn't see a difference in 5 year olds. What about when these children are 10? 15? 20? Learning Disabilities and behavioural problems are hard to pinpoint in children that young. You may be lucky and drink and the baby has no adverse affects, or not. Think about it, your child's entire life could be different and fraught with problems because you indulged.

I have done quite a bit of research on this topic and have concluded that the adverse effects of alcohol cannot be separated from adverse life conditions where FASD is most noted. Women who have endured abuse, neglect, poor health conditions and poor health in general with extreme stress, are more likely to produce children who exhibit what is now called FASD. It is near impossible to find an FASD infant born to a middle to upper class mother. I think a huge disservice has been done to women of child-bearing age where neural deficincies in babies are linked exclusively to alcohol and not socio-economic factors. This emphasis on alcohol makes FASD a woman's problem where if she just quit drinking we would not have "damaged" children. In fact, if FASD was linked to shitty life conditions, it would become a community, maybe even a government problem.

PLEASE FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR FETUS, THIS ARTICLE IS SO OFF THAT IS SICKENS ME TO SEE IT WAS EVEN PUT ON THIS SITE. PLEASE PEOPLE DO YOUR HOMEWORK. I COULD WRITE A BOOK HERE BUT WON'T BECAUSE IF YOUR RESEARCH IT, YOU WILL SEE JUST HOW DAMAGING EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL CAN BE...RANGING FROM FETAL DEATH TO FAS AND DISABILTIES.

I wouldn't even chance one sip. My husbands 8 year old son was recently diagnosed with FAS and the day to day struggle with him is enough to stop me. If you really can't go 9 months without a drink then maybe you should go see somebody about that because honestly it's not worth putting your child (and yourself) through a lifetime of complications. My step son's life has been so effected that he can't ride a bike without training wheels. He can't swim or run or jump. He has a tough time making friends because his behavior is frightening at times. It's extremely hard for me to watch him struggle through all of this. Especially when it's not his fault his mother was too selfish to stop drinking while pregnant. But she isn't the one who's got to live with the consequences. He does and he will for the rest of his life. I'm not his biological mother but if I was I would feel extremely guilty.

why risk it? i'm sure age, weight and nutrition have something to do with it as well, I can make it nine months without alcohol to ensure my baby has the best start possible. No alcohol for me during pregnancy. I have witnessed the devastating impacts of FASD on babies, children and adults. What about the adults who can't just have one? They start, thinking it's okay but can't stop. Binge drinking is the worst for the baby. The safest amount of alcohol is NO alcohol during pregnancy.

I work with youth who are involved with the law. Some who have FAS. Some of the mothers reported minimal drinking during pregnancy. Anytime you have even a minimal amount of alcohol, you are placing your baby at risk for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or other problems. While some babies who have been exposed to prenatal consumption may exhibit symptoms at 5, many of the children with problems from prenatal alcohol consumption do not exhibit symptoms until they are older...many mothers advise there were no reported no problems in their child's younger years. I am really disappointed that this article would be published knowing first hand how risky ANY alcohol consumption is during pregnancy. The public will read this and though not all women will think that it is ok to drink alcohol during pregnancy, some will go away thinking this is alright ultimately putting their unborn child at risk and setting the possibility for their baby to start their life at a disadvantage. This is one study and there are many variables to consider in studies and many ways how results can be measured to warp how the general public will interpret the results. There are many studies that prove even a small amount of alcohol consumption can do damage - some even noting that a small amount of alcohol consumption in the first trimester can lead to miscarriage and serious damage to the fetus. I caution readers, this is an article where you need to remember not to believe or trust everything you read. The cost of your mistake ... possibly a baby, child, youth,or adult who will not share the same capabilities and chances in life as a baby not exposed. Babies should be afforded the right to have parents that do everything in their power to protect them from harmful things that could affect them not only at birth, but later in life. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is putting your fetus at risk!!!! ALCOHOL AND PREGNANCY DO NOT MIX!!!.

This is such a bad idea. If you can't abstain during pregnancy wait until you can. This is someone else's life you will be impacting upon. By choosing to get pregnant and remaining pregnant you are choosing to now put someone else's life ahead of your own; that means not drinking while that life depends on you!

Simple Question to ask....
Is it worth the risk? I'd say no, 100%. Period.
I get that wine may help you with stress but how much wine will you need to handle the stress of a baby born with a condition related to alcohol consumed during pregnancy?
Historically, a lot of things have been deemed 'safe' by a lot of studies, only to find out that more research needs to be done as it turned out they actually were not as safe as advertised.

Pregnancy is a time where for the rest of your life you will be considering the health and wellbeing of someone before yourself. I think it would be selfish to have even one drink if there was any doubt as to whether it was safe or not. Pregnancy is a responsibility that will ultimately turn into a lifelong responsibility and if anything ever were to happen to your unborn child, you would always wonder in the back of your head whether it had anything to do with that one drink you had. Alcohol is not the only thing you need to be aware of. Over the counter medicine, food additives, caffeine etc. Seriously consider whether you are ready or not to carry a child and provide the upmost care and responsibility.

This study assessed the attention abilities of five year old children. This is, to say the least, a low resolution measurement. Two kids five years old may both display "normal" behavior, but one may well have suffered life altering brain injury that will later in life affect everything from university courses to social skills.
Researchers also suspect that the development of nerve networks in the fetal brain occurs in waves, such that a drink at one time may have little effect, and one a few hours or days later may mess up a whole wave of development.
It is not worth rolling those dice.

This study only shows results for children up to five years of age. From what I have read, some children do not start displaying any signs that alcohol exposure to the fetus is an issue until they are 8-10 years old. I would not want to risk the health of my child by drinking any alcohol at all during my pregnancy. Unfortunately, this article is basically telling mom's to be that it is okay to have a couple of drinks.

This article is ignorant, based on no scientific evidence (except one ridiculous "study") and completely dangerous - publishing articles like this one is problematic, as it can lead to uninformed and risky decisions.

Do not waste time on articles like the above one, instead check out the below link for FASD ONE, Ontario's FASD Network of Expertise.

http://www.fasdontario.ca/cms

I think that one study saying this isn't enough to make me comfortable with drinking during pregnancy. Knowing someone with FAS I think that not drinking for 9 months is a small price to pay to guarantee that I do not cause this.

Google 'Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder' (FASD), read the validated scientific research studies, then make an informed decision on prenatal alcohol consumption. FASD is the leading and 100% PREVENTABLE developmental disability. There is no such thing as "mild" organic brain damage...this is what ANY amount of alcohol does to the unborn fetus (even moderate consumption).

Oh great, just what we need...An article based on a study to make pregnant mothers think they can still have a few drinks and not have it affect their baby.
ANY alcohol consumption during pregnancy should NOT be safe :S.
Hopefully there won't be any glamorizing of this topic. If so I weep for the future generations.

I have a daughter with some developemental problems that were caused by her mother's low to moderate drinking. I notice that this study deals with 5 year olds. My daughter's symptoms did not show up until after 5. I have extremely strong views on this subject and I cannot understand why anyone would risk their child's health by drinking. Pregnancy lasts 9 months, your child will have to deal with this for a lifetime. How can you be so selfish?!

This sort of article gives a false sense of security that I find terribly disturbing. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is far more prevalent than commonly known - more than autism, in fact, at close to 1 in 100 births in Canada. Given the devastation created by undiagnosed FASD to families and individuals across North America and many other Western countires, I can only shake my head. Please do some reading about it - you cannot imagine the lives destroyed by it. Look in our prisons, on the streets, on the psychiatric wards, at the addicted and homeless. Had they been identified early and actual programs available to give the needed life-long supports, we could make a real difference for the future for these individuals and society as a whole. As it is, it is a hugely costly yet unmentioned epidemic which will only get worse the longer it is ignored.

Katherine- your article is very disheartening & irresponsible. As a mother to my adopted son with FASD, no amount of alcohol should be consumed. The life long challenges for these children & their families face far out weigh the inconvenience of abstaining from booze for 9 months. One study should not overwrite countless of other studies over the past few decades. And, clearly, you have not even proof read your own article before publishing - the study clearly states "in early pregnancy" = the first trimester or even less (Again irresponsible because "early" is too undefined) and you speak about kicking back with a glass when you have "gained a bunch of weight and feel bloated". This is clearly not in the early stages of pregnancy. I hope to God you never procreate, or at least grow up before you do.

as a step-mom to a now 20 year old with fetal alcohol syndrome i am a very big advocate against drinking while pregnant it is a constant struggle everyday dealling with the issues that come with someone affected with FAS.

I think it is disguisting that any doctor would suggest moderate consumption of alcohol during early pregnacy is safe for a developing fetus. I would call that child abuse. The child does not have any choice if alcohol is being consumed.
FACT~ The effects of alcohol on a developing fetus are irreversable.
If you can't handle going 40 weeks without wine maybe you should consider alternatives like adopting.
Although, there are many children who have been adopted that have been affected by alcohol.
Maybe if you are considering moderate alcohol intake during pregnancy you should do some research and spend time with people who have been effected by pre-natal alcohol. I'm sure they would not advocate for moderate alcohol intake during early pregnancy!
Again I find it repulsive that this paper would be published.
Shame on those doctors!

No matter what the studies show. Really people, how hard is it to quite drinking for nine months while you are pregnant. I like a few drinks too once in a while but I still didn't drink during either of my pregnancies. my childrens health was a lot more important than having a drink or two with friends.

As a sister to a sibling with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (she is adopted), I am a strong advocate for not consuming alcohol at any time while pregnant. While the study you reference may have its merits, there are countless other studies that have shown that alcohol in any quantity at any point in the pregnancy can be harmful to a fetus. Witnessing the devastating effects that FAS has had on my sister's development is motivation enough for me to choose to abstain from drinking while pregnant. To me, it's a small sacrifice to make to ensure the health of my child and I figure, why take the chance?