For some, resisting alcohol during pregnancy is difficult, especially during the holiday season, when it usually flows freely. Here’s how to avoid succumbing to temptation.
- Scientific research has shown that fetal alcohol is the first non-genetic cause of mental handicap in children.
- If a pregnant woman has questions or needs support regarding her alcohol use, she should talk to the healthcare professional monitoring her pregnancy.
- She can also contact Alcool Info Service on 0 980 980 930 or find information on alcoolinfoservice.fr.
“A small flute of champagne, it can’t hurt you!”, “Enjoy, it’s not Christmas every day!”… On the occasion of the end-of-year celebrations and reunions with family and friends, it is not easy to resist temptations when you are a pregnant woman.
Even drinking a small cup is dangerous
Yet it must. “Alcohol crosses the placenta and is toxic to the baby. When there is alcohol consumption, there is as much alcohol in the mother’s blood as in the baby’s and in the amniotic fluid. It is now widely accepted that excessive alcohol consumption during pregnancy is particularly harmful, the risk often remains less known to the general public with regard to occasional consumption and in small quantities. However, it exists”, explains midwife Stéphanie Gilbert. “It is impossible today to define a threshold below which the alcohol intake of pregnant women is without consequence. As a precaution, for alcohol, the best is zero”, she continues.
In order to be sure of fulfilling this objective, we advise you first to announce to the guests that you are pregnant, and that, therefore, it will not be possible for you to drink. To those who insist, here is what our midwife offers to answer:“even a small flute of champagne is not good for my baby, so I toast with you without moderation but with a nice non-alcoholic drink”.
The key to successful parties is to anticipate
In addition, planning in advance non-alcoholic but still nice drinks helps not to feel excluded from the festivities, and therefore to hold on. This can for example be a cocktail or a non-alcoholic champagne, served in pretty glasses. “No alcohol, it’s easier when you are supported and encouraged… and to show solidarity, why not promote non-alcoholic drinks for everyone!”, also invites Stéphanie Gilbert.
Here, for example, is a great idea for a non-alcoholic cocktail: for 1 glass, plan an orange + 1 slice for the presentation of the glass, ½ a lemon, 1 slice of pineapple, grenadine, sparkling water and ice cubes. Squeeze oranges and lemons. Centrifuge or blend the pineapple. Pour the juices and sparkling water into a glass and stir. Add a dash of grenadine and garnish with a slice of citrus.
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