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Is It OK to Have an Occasional Drink During Pregnancy?

I'm 3 months pregnant and don't drink very often, but do like to have a social drink every once in a while. Is it OK to occasionally drink alcohol during pregnancy?
- Maya

No. It may seem harmless to have a glass of wine at dinner or a mug of beer out with friends, but there is no known "safe amount" of alcohol to drink during pregnancy. Alcohol is one of the most common known causes of mental and physical birth defects and can produce severe abnormalities in a developing fetus.

Alcohol is easily passed along to the baby, who is less able to eliminate it than the mother. If you had a drink or two before you even knew you were pregnant (as many women do), don't worry too much about it. But your best bet is to not drink alcohol at all for the rest of your pregnancy.

Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: July 2015