No amount of alcohol is safe for women who are pregnant or trying to conceive. That's according to a social work expert at University of Missouri who says there are a lot of myths circling whether or not women should drink while pregnant.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum (FAS) occurs when women drink alcohol while pregnant or trying to conceive.
MU Social Work Professor Tenkku said some doctors say one glass of red wine per week is okay. But Dr. Tenkku said that's incorrect.
"This is a huge myth and it always stuns me when i hear that physicians are still giving that information out to their patients,” Dr. Tenkku said. “It doesn't matter what you drink whether it's wine or beer or distilled liquor even large amounts of cold medicine.”
Women typically don’t find out they are pregnant for up to six to eight weeks into their pregnancies, and the most damaging effects of alcohol on the fetus occur within those first weeks of life.
“The prevalence of FAS in this country is just as high, if not higher, than Down Syndrome and autism. There are many babies who are born with conditions that no one has any control over, that you can’t prevent. They just happen. But FAS is one hundred preventable. Just don’t drink when you’re pregnant,” Tenkku said.
She adds that pregnant women should even avoid cold medicines like Nyquil.