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How honest are women about their alcohol drinking habits during pregnancy? Actually, the answer is a bit shocking, according to the latest findings by Swedish researchers who surveyed 103 pregnant women. Pregnant women were asked about their alcohol use and their urine and hair were then tested for alcohol byproducts. Alcohol markers can be detected in the hair even months after alcohol consumption. Lab tests on hair samples can also differentiate between moderate social drinking from heavy regular drinking.

Well, surprise, surprise! Ninety-four of the women interviewed (91%) swore to complete abstinence during their pregnancy while nine admitted to occasional drinking (1 to 4 times a month) while pregnant. However, the hair tests told a completely different story. 19 of the women participants did actually drink alcohol, and 7 are likely to be heavy drinkers.

So, in the end 25 % of the participants actually consumed alcohol during pregnancy, but only 8.7 % admitted to doing so.

These results are troubling because many studies on the effects of alcohol on the unborn child is based on self-reports by women during pregnancy and after delivery. How can we rely on these data if the study participants themselves are prone to lying?

Also, the fact that many women concealed their drinking habits is not a good sign. It implied that they know that they shouldn`t drink but did anyhow, or simply couldn`t help it.

SOURCE:

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, April 2008.

Other posts on alcohol and pregnancy:

Binge drinking during pregnancy

To drink or not to drink (alcohol) – that is the question for pregnant women

Tags: alchohol markers, alcohol, drinking habits, Hair, Pregnancy