WINE DURING PREGNANCY?
Wine is among the few beverages that are not only delicious but healthy as well. In small amounts it regulates blood pressure, calms you down and acts as an antioxidant. That is why many women wonder if they can indulge in a glass of wine while pregnant.
The well-known ban on alcoholic beverages during the nine months of pregnancy is rather the result of fear of abuse. Your obstetrician-gynecologist cannot be sure you will not drink too much. Their main goal, as well as yours, is for you to give birth to a healthy baby.
Although healthy, wine contains alcohol, which has potential risks. We are not talking about a couple of glasses during the nine months, but about chronic alcoholism. It is assumed that daily intake of alcoholic beverages (mostly hard liquor) increases the risk of birth defects by 40%.
WHY IS ALCOHOL SO DANGEROUS TO THE FETUS?
The liver of the fetus does not produce the enzymes needed to break down alcohol. How much alcohol will reach the baby depends on the function of the mother’s liver.
Along with premature birth, development issues and low birth weight, there is a risk that the baby will suffer from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. It is characterized by delayed mental and physical development, problems with speech and memory, as well as heart defects.
Especially dangerous are the first 3 months of pregnancy, because at that time the organs of the baby are developing. Nearly 80% of pregnancies in the world are not planned and many women consume alcohol before they know they are pregnant. To prevent complications, do not drink until after the baby is born.
WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
In Bulgaria, alcohol is part of almost every event. Whether it is a dinner, a birthday or a wedding — it is highly unlikely to go alcohol free. Fortunately, for all who cannot consume alcohol, there are non-alcoholic alternatives to popular beverages. Along with the popular non-alcoholic beer, non-alcoholic wine is also available. It is not just alcohol-free, it also has 1/3 of the calories of regular wine.