HHS HealthBeat (September 19, 2012)

No drinking while pregnant

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Alcohol and pregnancy don’t mix, but some women do it. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at national data from 2006 to 2010. More than half of women aged 18 to 44 reported using alcohol in the past 30 days, including almost 8 percent of pregnant women.

CDC researcher Claire Marchetta says alcohol use during pregnancy can cause permanent problems for the baby:

“These can include physical problems, such as delayed growth or problems with the heart, kidneys or bones. And it can also lead to learning and behavior problems, such as lower IQ and hyperactivity.”

No alcohol is safe if a woman may become pregnant.

The study is in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Learn more at healthfinder.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: September 19, 2012