Sally Grace Reed

January 25, 2014

Media Article #2

New study shows no harm from moderate drinking in pregnancy, but experts urge
caution

Media Article: http://www.nbcnews.com/health/new-study-shows-no-harm-moderate-
drinking-pregnancy-experts-urge-2D11849699

Journal Article Media Article Refers To:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24105631

Article Discussion

The media article claims that according to a new study, expecting mothers who
have a few drinks during pregnancy have children with better mental health. However,
author Janni Niclasen of the journal article states, I really think we should recommend
abstaining [from drinking] during pregnancy.
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Niclasen found that significant
differences were observed between the alcohol abstaining groups and the high alcohol
intake groups. The media article stays in the grey area between abstaining from alcohol
and drinking copious amount of alcohol, making it sound acceptable to drink around 2-3
alcoholic beverages a week while pregnant. The media article fails to point out that
although the study found that children whose mothers drank moderately experience
better mental health, those same mothers also did everything else right including
regular exercise, healthier diet, small amounts of TV, had healthy BMIs and were more
educated. The media article did not refer to any additional lifestyle factors outside of
alcohol consumption.
The journal article goes into detail regarding the differences that confounding
factors play in explaining the lack of consistency around prenatal exposure to alcohol
and mental health development. Unlike the media article, the journal article cautiously
concludes that because these factors cannot be controlled, additional unmeasured and
confounding data is introduced into the analysis. This data could mask the effect of even
low doses of alcohol during pregnancy.
This study is limited because it does not control for factor scores, instead it
controls for the observed variables. Additionally, this study shows a correlation, not
causation, between moderate alcohol consumption and a childs mental health. Data
could also be skewed due to moms self-reporting their drinking habits, leading to
underestimation or overestimation.
The media article does not discuses the potential harmful outcomes of consuming
too much alcohol, aside from alluding to birth defects. Additionally, the media article
does not suggest or discuss foods that pregnant mothers should definitely avoid or
consume. The media article is not an easy read and would not be suitable for a 6-8
th

grade reading level, and the take away message is vague. The article also does not
discuss additional lifestyle and hereditary factors that may influence the health of the
child. Some women might read this article and get the impression that drinking alcohol
during pregnancy does not affect their baby at all, which could be harmful to the mother
and child.
New Media Article

The Diet Dos and Donts During Pregnancy
What Should I Eat and Drink During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy can be a very exciting time during a womens life, but it may also be stressful.
You may have many questions including: What should you eat? What shouldnt you eat?
Can I drink alcohol? How do you make sure your baby is getting the nutrients it needs?
What does healthy eating mean?

Recently, an article was published where authors determined that a small amount of
alcohol may be okay to consume during pregnancy, but more research is needed to
determine exactly how much is okay.
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Below is a handy list of foods and beverages to
avoid, enjoy and question, to help you better understand how to eat a healthier diet for
you and your growing baby!

Foods to Avoid:
Soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk such as Brie, feta, Camembert,
Roquefort and queso blanco.
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Raw cookie dough or cake batter.
Fish including shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, and sushi due to their
higher mercury content.
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Unpasteurized juice or cider and unpasteurized milk.
Pre-made salads made in a store like ham salad, chicken salad, pasta salad, and
seafood salad.
Raw or undercooked sprouts.

Foods to Enjoy:
Whole grains such as whole wheat bread, oatmeal, quinoa, granola and brown
rice.
Fruits and vegetables! Be sure to wash them before eating.
Lean sources of protein like egg whites, low-fat cheese, fish and chicken. Red
meat and peanut butter are also great sources of protein, but have more fat
than the others.
Healthy fats from plant sources that come in foods such as olive oil, avocados
and walnuts. These fats help lower your risk of heart disease.
Pasteurized dairy products like cheddar cheese and low-fat greek yogurt.
Stay hydrated! Keep a water bottle with you at all times to quench your thirst.

Foods to Question Before Ingestion:
Alcohol! Although some researches believe that a moderate amount of alcohol
consumption during pregnancy will not hurt your baby, not everyone agrees.
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Most women choose to stay away from alcohol completely during pregnancy-
after all, it is only 9 months. If you do choose to consume alcohol during
pregnancy, keep it to 1-2 drinks a week and make sure to tell your doctor!
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Steer clear of hot dogs, luncheon meat, bologna, and deli meat unless reheated
until steaming hot.
Doctors recommend no more than 16 oz or 2 cups of caffeine per day, however
some moms to be choose to completely abstain from caffeinated beverages.

Still have questions? Visit http://www.hmhb.org/ for more information!

REFERENCES:

1. Niclasen J. Drinking or Not Drinking in Pregnancy: The Multiplicity of Confounding
Influences. Alcohol and Alcoholism [serial online]. October 2013. Available from:
Pubmed.gov, doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agt141. Accessed January 28, 2014.

2. Nutritional Needs During Pregnancy. United States Department of Agriculture
Website. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/pregnancy-breastfeeding/pregnancy-
nutritional-needs.html. Accessed February 5, 2014.