Women Urged Not to Drink While Pregnant

© Thomson Reuters 2009
CHICAGO, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Learning disabilities, mentalhealth issues and behavior problems are just some of the issues that afflictbabies exposed to alcohol in the womb, yet some doctors still tell theirpatients it is safe to have a drink now and then while pregnant. Those hoping to change that are meeting on September 9, the ninth day of theninth month, for a forum dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers ofdrinking while pregnant and the plight of children and families affected byFetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). State legislators, health careprofessionals, parents, social workers and drug prevention and treatmentspecialists are coming together at Prairie State College in Chicago to markinternational FASD Awareness Day. A new brochure titled "It's Only Nine Months" is also being released byPrevention First, a nonprofit drug prevention organization participating inthe forum, addressing some of the common questions and misperceptions womenhave about drinking while pregnant."Our research found that women are getting conflicting information aboutdrinking while pregnant," explained Karel Ares, executive director ofPrevention First. One focus group participant said she had heard that wine orChampagne were good for a woman's blood while pregnant, Ares said. Othersthought drinking was safe in the first few months of pregnancy. "There is noresearch that proves that any amount of alcohol is safe at any time for unbornbabies," Ares pointed out. "But there is a great deal of research about themany lifelong problems caused by permanent brain damage from drinking alcoholwhile pregnant.
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