Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – 2013
A brief summary of data on alcohol use during pregnancy. Reports that 8.5% of pregnant women report drinking in the past month, and 2.7% report binge drinking. Most alcohol use occurs during the first trimester, at nearly 18%, with rates falling off to under 5% in the second and third trimester. Suggests that many pregnant women are not aware of the dangers of drinking during pregnancy. Discusses the negative effects of fetal alcohol exposure and advises that no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy. Recommends that pregnant women and women likely to become pregnant should avoid drinking alcohol.
