A new report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has found that one in 10 pregnant women drink alcohol occasionally. At least a third of the drinkers have admitted to binge drinking.
Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy puts infants at risk of developmental problems and brain damage.
"We know that alcohol use during pregnancy can cause birth defects and developmental disabilities in babies, as well as an increased risk of other pregnancy problems, such as miscarriage, stillbirth, and prematurity. This is an important reminder that women should not drink any alcohol while pregnant. It's just not worth the risk," said Coleen Boyle, director of the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's National Centre on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, according to Daily Nation.
More than 200,000 women, including 8,000 who were pregnant were a part of the survey during 2011 to 2013 which was the basis for the report. Ten percent of all pregnant women surveyed, reported having had a drink within the past 30 days, while three percent admitted to binge drinking, having more than four drinks in a row.
While there is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, the study, titled 'Alcohol Use and Binge Drinking Among Women of Childbearing Age - United States, 2011-2013' advised staying away from all types of alcohol.
"All types of alcohol should be avoided, including red or white wine, beer, and liquor. Excessive alcohol use is a risk factor for a wide range of health and social problems including liver cirrhosis, certain cancers, depression, motor vehicle crashes, and violence," wrote Cheryl Tan, an epidemiologist in CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities in the agency's weekly report on death and disease, reports NBC News.
