Wondering if drinking honey mead wine during pregnancy is bad?
When you get pregnant, one of the questions you need to ask is whether it’s fine to take an occasional swig for you and your baby. The answer is a big NO!
Even a light drink during pregnancy is not recommended by medical experts. Think of it this way, when a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, she’s actually sharing it with her fetus. The fetus is not even capable of metabolizing the alcohol compared to an adult. The risks of continued drinking depend much on how much alcohol one consumes. But even moderate consumption can already pose a potential danger to the unborn child.
So what are the effects of alcohol? A lot.
Effects on the baby
When you take in alcohol, it can enter your bloodstream, goes to the placenta, and can be ingested by your baby. The following may then happen:
- It can cause stillbirth.
- It can cause low birth weight.
- It can lead to miscarriage.
- It can stunt the development and growth of some organs.
- It can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FASD), a condition that may result in irreversible damage to the baby such as brain damage or growth-related problems.
Effects on breastfeeding
There’s also some adverse effect of alcohol on breastfeeding. This may cause low production of breastmilk.
Effects of alcohol that can manifest in childhood
A lot of studies link the alcoholic intake of a mother to some disorders and behavioral problems of the child. These can be:
- Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder
- Aggression
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Inappropriate social conduct
- Learning disabilities
- Low Intelligence Quotient
Research and studies on the adverse effects of alcohol on pregnancy are established even decades ago. Bottom line, it’s best to stay away from any alcoholic drinks whether wine or honey mead while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Replace that glass of wine with a warm glass of milk or a cool glass of grape juice if you want to have a healthy baby.