Question about alcohol and pregnancy circa 1950....?

Question

I was reading the book Valley of the Dolls, and whenever one of the female protagonists was having a baby they would freely drink from wine to hard liquor. That part was supposed to take place somewhere during the 1950s, so has the whole research linking alcohol and birth defects been within the last couple of decades, or when did it come about? Just curious, thanks!

Answer 1

There's absolutely no problem with drinking while pregnant, in fact (in Ireland) they used to encourage pregnant women to drink a Guiness (beer) everyday because it was so rich in nutrients.

That being said - they were told to have ONE Guiness a day not 5 a day! All things in moderation are fine unless you are high risk - you really must speak with your doctor first.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrom is real and is serious and is totally avoidable. It's because some people don't have realistc limits that we have to practically bann all alcohol during pregnancy. I drank (in modreation) while pregnant with both my children. I did not get fall down drunk nor did I drink every week, but I did drink socially on Labour Day weekend as well as Christmas and New Years, ect... (1-3 drinks total).

I would worry much more about illegal drugs during pregnancy more than alcohol. I would rather see a glass of beer in a woman's hand than a needle in her arm (sounds graphic but I have seen those things happen - ahh life in the big city!!)

Answer 2

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was first formally identified in the mid 70s. Probably most doctors warned against excessive drinking during pregnancy, but those people in that book weren't the most stable- they all smoked and took barbiturates too.

Answer 3

I'm not sure, but I was born in the 70's and my Mum drank all the way through her pregnancy with me...(I don't mean alchoholic, but she did get drunk a few times most definately) and I'm healthy.