A beer during pregnancy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do what you need to do and have that beer, but don't cry when 5 years down the road, your child is diagnosed with a slight learning disabilty. You will always wonder why.
I am.

It was one of the first things the doctor asked - did I drink during my pregnancy. Yes- I had a total of maybe 3 beers during my 3rd trimester, never finishing the full bottle. He told me that in some cases, that is all takes. Alcohol affects everyone, even unborn children differently. Doctor can't confirm the alcohol was the cause, but he isn't ruling it out, either. Doesn't matter at this point.

I get so angry when I see people taking this so loosely! No beer for 9 or so months vs. learning disabled child.

There is no evidence that (less than) three beers during the last trimester can cause a learning disability. I do research in this field; I am confident of what I am saying. I understand the strong desire to find a "reason" for a learning disability, but it's not at all likely that your doctor is right. I'm not advocating for drinking during pregnancy, but I think this is not likely to be the cause. Did you smoke? Were you around cigarette smoke? You get the picture -- there are lots of potential causes. I would try to let go of your guilt over this -- and let go of that doctor, too.

[Anonymous]

OP - I don't think you will get a balanced range of responses on this issue, but if you're looking for validation, this is the place for you. I've read these types of Qs over and over on this board and the responses are all the same. Most moms on this site seem to be pretty much okay with "everything in moderation" while pregnant, including drinking. If you disagree, you will be flamed. As a result, I have stopped offering my FULL opinion because I'm sick of being labeled ultra conservative and uptight, both of which I am not. My PARTIAL opinion is that one beer is certainly not going to hurt the baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I defy the PP to show research that suggests that several ounces of alcohol over the course of a 40 week pregnancy has ever been documented to cause learning disabilities. We all have mommy guilt but that is ludicrous fear-mongering. For unfortunate reasons ther medical community knows plenty about fetal alcohol syndrome and for that reason, I'd be shocked if a doctor genuinely led you to believe that a couple of swigs of beer caused your child's learning disabilities. By your logic, then it might have been about a billion other factors - including the air you breathe or the water you drink or the makeup or hair products you use - because after all, there's no evidence that those things didn't cause your child's problems. I'm so sorry that you're tormenting yourself with these absurd fears but don't try to pass them off on others.

What a well reasoned post. To mother whose child has a slight learning disability- I am truly sorry and I know that you must be full of regrets. But it could be a MYRIAD of things, many beyond your control! So needlessly alarming other women in the absence of valid data is not helping anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do what you need to do and have that beer, but don't cry when 5 years down the road, your child is diagnosed with a slight learning disabilty. You will always wonder why.
I am.

It was one of the first things the doctor asked - did I drink during my pregnancy. Yes- I had a total of maybe 3 beers during my 3rd trimester, never finishing the full bottle. He told me that in some cases, that is all takes. Alcohol affects everyone, even unborn children differently. Doctor can't confirm the alcohol was the cause, but he isn't ruling it out, either. Doesn't matter at this point.

I get so angry when I see people taking this so loosely! No beer for 9 or so months vs. learning disabled child.

In my country there are very few women who have not have the equivalent of at least a few glasses of wine over the course of their pregnancy. Of course I don't condone heavy drinking during pregnancy, but if what you say is true, almost everyone in my country could be at least mildly affected. They are not.
The idea that less than three beers over the course of three months could lead to a learning disability is not credible. I understand your pain and your search for an answer, but this isn't it. Genetics, undiagnosed neurological trauma, or 1001 things in the environment are much more likely causes...