Q: My girlfriend and I are party animals. Most weekends, we are out with friends having a drink or two, and it is hard to imagine anything going on around here without the two of us being at the centre of it. But we are now pregnant and she wants to quit drinking and expects me to head into abstinence with her. I don’t want to but I will if I must. Do we need to cut out alcohol entirely?
A: Your girlfriend should quit drinking alcoholic beverages, and if it helps her to do so, then maybe you should join her. The concern centres on fetal alcohol syndrome.
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If your girlfriend continues to drink while she is pregnant, the alcohol could penetrate her womb and cause serious damage to the fetus developing within the womb.
It is a disability and condition that lasts the lifetime of the person affected.
Children with the syndrome can be intellectually challenged and have trouble doing what they are supposed to do. They often make fewer friends than most children and can be disruptive in the classroom.
Mothers who have a drink or two during the term of their pregnancy may not give birth to babies with fetal alcohol syndrome so that might give you an excuse to keep drinking.
The problem is we do not yet know enough about fetal alcohol syndrome to know how much poses a risk.
We do know that all children with fetal alcohol syndrome were exposed to alcohol when they were still in the womb.
It is simply better not to take any chances and remove alcohol from your girlfriend’s diet as long as she is pregnant.
I am glad that you are going to join her and not drink. This is a magical time in your relationship. The two of you have set the stage for a new child to be welcomed into your world.
If you need to party, join your family for birthday cake and lemonade. That way, no one gets hurt.
