Why it is very dangerous to drink alcohol during pregnancy: the study and the expert's advice
Alcohol during pregnancy: why we shouldn't drink it at all
We drink alcohol during pregnancy, but we don't admit it. This is according to a study conducted by the National Center for Addictions and Doping at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health), released on the occasion of the Fetal Alcohol Disorders Awareness Day, celebrated on September 9th.
The ISS study on alcohol during pregnancy
The study involved pregnant women between the ages of 18 and 24 who reported not consuming alcohol, being teetotalers, or having stopped drinking during pregnancy. However, in nearly half of the cases, analyses revealed the opposite: sifting hair and samples of neonatal meconium (the first stool produced by the intestine during fetal life) revealed traces of ethyl glucuronide (EtG), an indicator used to assess alcohol exposure. Specifically, two hair samples showed EtG levels close to the threshold indicated in scientific literature as a reference for chronic alcohol consumption, and in 34 cases, equal to 41% of the sample, hair analyses revealed a profile consistent with that defined in the literature as a "social drinker," meaning someone who drinks alcohol at social gatherings. These are preliminary data that will be further investigated, but they already sound an alarm bell and tell us that we most likely don't realize how serious the consequences of even just one drink can be.
What are the effects of habitual alcohol consumption during pregnancy?
There's no minimal risk when expecting a baby: "During pregnancy, and even while planning it, the recommendation is to abstain from alcohol," explains Adele Minutillo, a researcher at the ISS National Center for Addiction and Doping. "Alcohol crosses the placenta and reaches the fetus, potentially interfering with growth and, above all, the development of the nervous system. Prenatal exposure can be associated with consequences of varying severity, including those falling within fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, as well as an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The risk tends to increase with the quantity and frequency of consumption, but no threshold has been identified below which alcohol can be considered absolutely safe. That's why the recommendation is simple: no alcohol during pregnancy."
Why we shouldn't drink at all during pregnancy.
The rule doesn't change, even during social occasions. "The context doesn't alter the biological effect of alcohol: once consumed, alcohol enters the mother's bloodstream, crosses the placenta, and reaches the fetus," adds Dr. Minutillo. "However, it's important to avoid alarmism: we can't say that a single drink necessarily causes harm. The point is that, based on the available evidence, we can't establish a quantity, a time during pregnancy, or a type of alcoholic beverage that are absolutely risk-free. Therefore, even for those who drink only occasionally, the most prudent and scientifically sound advice remains complete abstention."
The behavior of those around us is also crucial: if our tablemates don't drink, we won't be encouraged to do so either. "These data also highlight the need to strengthen information about alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy, addressing it not only to women but also to their partners and their family and social networks. The recommendation not to drink directly concerns the pregnant woman; however, the decision of her partner and those close to her not to drink in her presence can provide important support, reduce social pressure, and make it easier to maintain protective behavior for the health of the mother and the unborn child," concludes Dr. Minutillo.
The awareness campaign on alcohol during pregnancy
This is where, on September 9th, World Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Day, the new prevention campaign by the Italian National Institute of Health and the Ministry of Health, titled "Zero Alcohol in Pregnancy," begins. It will be a cross-sectional campaign, including social media, to remind as many people as possible of the risks of a small gesture that, at least for nine months, can be safely avoided.