A new report highlighted by StudyFinds points to a sharp increase in alcohol use during pregnancy, raising fresh concerns about how well the public understands the risks. The article reports that drinking during pregnancy has tripled since 2011, underscoring the need for clearer education and support rather than judgment for people struggling to stop.
The issue is particularly concerning because alcohol exposure can occur before someone realizes they are pregnant. Current CDC data found that 15.2% of pregnant women in the U.S. reported drinking in 2021–2024, while 4.9% reported binge drinking.
What Alcohol Can Do to a Developing Baby
The CDC is unequivocal: “There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy.” Alcohol can cross from the pregnant woman’s bloodstream to the fetus and increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), which can cause lifelong behavioral, intellectual and physical problems.
Research has also found evidence that even relatively low exposure can affect fetal development. StudyFinds reported on fetal MRI research in which researchers detected changes in brain development among fetuses exposed to alcohol, including cases where mothers reported drinking less than one drink per week.
Dad’s Drinking May Matter, Too
For decades, conversations about alcohol and pregnancy have overwhelmingly focused on the pregnant woman. Emerging research suggests that a father’s drinking before conception may deserve more attention, although much of this evidence comes from animal studies and should not be interpreted as proving the same effects in humans.
Research highlighted by JHEOR found that chronic alcohol exposure in male mice before conception affected offspring brain, skull and facial development, with some abnormalities becoming more pronounced as alcohol exposure increased. The researchers also found that heavier paternal drinking was associated with substantially lower chances of pregnancy following IVF.
That doesn’t change the central medical advice: people who are pregnant should avoid alcohol, and anyone trying to conceive can benefit from discussing alcohol use with a healthcare professional. But it does suggest that pregnancy health shouldn’t be framed solely as the mother’s responsibility. As researcher Michael Golding puts it, “both parents are responsible for preventing alcohol-related birth defects.”
For couples planning a pregnancy, the takeaway is simple: supporting a healthy pregnancy can be a shared responsibility, beginning before conception and continuing throughout pregnancy.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or other addictions, there is help:
Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or text your zip code to HELP4U (435748)
