The CDC’s Missed Opportunity

It has been six whole days since the CDC issued its warning to women of childbearing age regarding alcohol and birth control, and in the life of the internet that makes this story officially old news. But, I’ve been thinking about it for the past few days so I want to get my thoughts out there. Like most people, I was surprised to hear such a broad and sweeping commentary on an issue that has pretty much been put to rest: drinking while pregnant is not advised. Heavy drinking while pregnant can cause serious problems for a tiny growing baby. We all know this.

The CDC’s recommendation that women who drink should also use birth control assumes that all women are complete morons. The moment most women learn of a new pregnancy is the moment they say goodbye to things like alcohol and sushi. The few women who overindulge throughout a pregnancy will do so regardless of warnings from family, doctors and the CDC. These women are addicts and in true denial of their situation. Their choices – and the consequences of them – are sad and horribly tragic, but tsk-tsking all women really does nothing to solve the very serious problem of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. I think the CDC wasted an opportunity to reach out to the women (and babies) who need help the most.

I had a very occasional drink with all of my pregnancies. Maybe a half glass of wine or a few sips of a Corona once or twice. But, I never really craved alcohol before, during or after pregnancy, so giving it up really wasn’t hard for me. I had a harder time avoiding raw cookie dough!  As my doctor told me, if you give most pregnant women an inch, they’ll take an inch – but a small percentage of women will take a full mile, so doctors have to create guidelines to protect all babies. That’s why doctors tell all expectant mothers to completely avoid alcohol for the for the 40 weeks of pregnancy.  I can respect that. But I also respect my body and the body of the baby growing inside me.

Folks get so uptight about drinking during pregnancy, but I firmly believe that the following are just a few of the foods that are worse for a developing baby than an occasional glass of wine:

Doritos, full of fake dyes, monosodium glutamate and partially hydrogenated soybean oil

Fat-free yogurt loaded with fillers and sugar

Trans-fat and preservative laden Little Debbie treats

Diet Coke (with caramel color, aspartame and potassium benzoate)

There so SO MANY foods and drinks that have to be worse than an occasional glass of wine, but doctors (or the CDC) don’t warn us against them. Why can’t the CDC issue a statement encouraging women of child bearing age to choose unprocessed, healthful, natural foods that keep us and our babies strong?!

So, while pregnant I chose to listen to my brain and my heart. Growing a tiny human is hard work, and a mother’s natural instinct is to protect her young. I would never put something in my body if I thought it would harm my baby, and I trust that most fellow mothers feel the same way.

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