Reply to Is there any objective source of information on light drinking during pregnancy?

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[quote=Anonymous]I'm sure many of you have by now heard of Emily Oster's new book Expecting Better, in which she states after reviewing the literature that there is no evidence that light drinking (defined as one drink per day or less) during the second and third trimesters has any harmful effects on the fetus. The nonprofit organization NOFAS (National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) has begun a smear campaign against her on Facebook, Amazon, and their website, among other places. I am currently reading Oster's book and just finished the section on alcohol. I checked out NOFAS' response to her and their supporting evidence because I am really interested in hearing different interpretations of the evidence on this subject, but I found it emotional and overwrought, somewhat hysterical sounding. Obviously an organization many/most(?) of whose members and supporters are people who are personally affected by FASD are not in the best position to be objective about what the evidence shows. I found Oster's analysis to be rational and colorable, although I would have preferred something a bit more academic (she is clearly writing for a lay audience). She points out that many studies of alcohol consumption, particularly in the United States, have significant confounders -- something that is discussed at length at the beginning of one of the only three studies NOFAS offers to refute Oster's points.

Does anyone know of an objective source of information or another discussion of studies of light drinking during pregnancy that is not authored by someone with a clear anti- (or pro- for that matter) alcohol agenda? [/quote]

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