Why is it ok for Europeans to drink

[mrshandy]

during pregnancy?

Not hoping to cause a big controversy over drinking during pregnancy. I'm just curious why in Europe it's totally ok to drink, but in US it is strongly discouraged.

Anybody care to provide some insight? Thanks.

[discombobulated]

The science shows that there's never been a case of FAS from moderate drinking.

[Deleted]

Because we suck at moderation and spending time with a FAS kid is terrifying.

[ijack]

Jan 2, 2013 15:27:03 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Because Europeans are less litigious?

This. Doctors here say that to completely CYA. There isn't a "hard" cutoff point for what's okay and what isn't, so they just say don't do it.

[Dorothy Zbornak]

I've only been pregnant in Europe, and it was never considered OK to drink during.



Sent from the future.

[darnkatz]

My midwife told me it was fine if I wanted to have a 4oz glass of red wine a few times a week. I live in NY.

[Deleted]

Last month, TIME reported that a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found no negative effects of drinking one glass of wine per week. And a recent New York Times article stated that while there is plenty of proof that regular drinking during pregnancy has negative effects, there have been few clinical trials and long-range studies looking at occasional drinking.

Why then does the U.S. Surgeon General state that pregnant women should abstain from alcohol altogether?

"It's their job to tell you that you shouldn't take any risks," said Dr. Amos Grunebaum, director of Obstetrics at Cornell University's Medical Center. "Of course, the safest thing is to drink no alcohol at all. That is the only way to completely eliminate the risk of FAS. But I take care of a lot of European patients, and it is very acceptable in Europe to occasionally drink a glass of wine."

From www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/06/alcohol-during-pregnancy_n_845103.html

[dutchgirl678]

Because people in the US are paranoid and eager to sue . I grew up in the Netherlands but had my babies here. The no alcohol at all seriously is made such a big deal but as was mentioned, an occasional drink esp. after the first trimester does no harm. But then people are also worried about deli meat and soft cheeses even though the chances of getting listeria or some other infection is super low and all soft cheeses in the US are pasteurized anyway.

[anna7602]

I would assume it varies by country. In France, the people I know who have been/are pregnant here have been told that wine is okay in moderation (ie, 1 drink with a meal). One American friend of mine said she pressed her OB to explain why and he said that stress is actually more dangerous to a fetus than a minimal amount of alcohol is. So, in his words, "if a glass of wine helps you unwind after a day of work, it's better for both of you."

When I was traveling in Portugal while pregnant with DD, no one thought it was strange if I ordered wine with a meal. I didn't do that in public in the US because everyone wants to run up to you and tell you that you are killing your unborn child.

[frlcb]

I had my son in the UK as well and was told by my midwife I could have a couple of glasses a wine a couple days a week if I wanted. I had zero desire to drink while pregnant (until I was 42 weeks and I had some of my husbands beer because I was annoyed I was still pregnant) but it just isn't as big a deal over there.

[amberatkins]

Eh, I was pregnant in the Netherlands and my doctor didn't want me to drink. And I had a few drinks (like a glass of champagne or wine) while pregnant in the US with DS2 and nobody gave me evil looks.

I think if there is a difference it has to do with why and when people drink. If alcohol consumption is seen as a leisure activity and the point is to drink to the point of inebriation, then in that kind of culture it's obviously going to be less acceptable for pregnant women to partake of alcohol. Whereas if wine or beer is seen as a beverage that people drink with their meals every day, it's obviously less controversial.