Many doctors don’t know alcohol, pregnancy don't mix

Despite decades of publicity and research, some health care professionals still believe that women who are pregnant can enjoy an occasional glass of wine with no ill effects to their unborn babies.

“In one study, researchers looked at the behavior of children whose mothers drank alcohol when they were pregnant, and found that even small amounts of drinking during pregnancy was associated with higher levels of aggressive and delinquent behavior in their offspring at age six,” said Dr. Mark Mengel, M.D., MPH, chair of community and family medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

“Another study showed there were perceptible differences in the heights of children at age 14 whose mothers drank even a small amount of alcohol; their offspring were smaller. There is no safe level you can drink during pregnancy,” he added. “Fetal alcohol syndrome was discovered in 1973. A lot of doctors graduated from medical school before then. There hasn't been a lot of continuing education on this topic.”

A mother's consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can lead to birth defects and developmental disabilities in children. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most profound result of mothers drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and involves lifelong impairments to a child's ability to function.

Fetal alcohol syndrome typically occurs in children of mothers who consume five or more drinks at one occasion or have seven or more drinks a week. Some mothers drink early in their first trimester of pregnancy, when they don't realize they're pregnant.

“Heavy or binge drinking is associated with the highest risk of fetal alcohol syndrome,” said Dr. Mengel. “However, even among women who drink occasionally during pregnancy, you still see effects on their children.”

Mengel said that research within the last decade has shed new light on fetal alcohol syndrome. “Medical and allied health schools should integrate this new knowledge into what they're teaching students. Professional board certification examinations should include questions about fetal alcohol syndrome. Fetal alcohol syndrome is entirely preventable, but awareness of FAS as an important issue is still low.”

SOURCE: Media advisory, Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, Sept. 16, 2003.