Dr Oz: Pregnant Women Drinking Alcohol
Dr Oz’s Show called What Would You Do with John Quinones went undercover to see what people would do when they did not know anyone was watching. Would you intervene if you saw a pregnant woman drinking? And is it really safe or dangerous for a pregnant woman to drink alcohol? Here is what Doctor Oz found out when he rigged a bar with cameras and had an actress dress-up like she was pregnant. The actress drank what appeared to be many glasses of alcohol, although it was just juice in reality. Here is what random strangers at the bar said and did.
Dr Oz: Would You Intervene If You Saw a Pregnant Woman Drinking?
One woman at the bar saw the “pregnant” actress drink 4 alcoholic beverages and then the actress asked the lady if she could have a cigarette. 
The woman told her she would only give her a cigarette if she promised not to drink anymore. But which is worse for a baby – cigarette smoke or alcohol 0 it is like choosing between a rock and a hard place. Dr Oz said that only 1 in 4 people who saw the actress drinking heavily spoke up.
John Quinones pointed out that very few men said anything because they cannot connect with the situation of being pregnant. In addition, many people hesitate to get involved in “family issues,” even though the baby is in the womb and cannot be seen face-to-face. What may seem like a no-brainer was harder for people than you would think. Quinones said that people definitely showed concern and seemed torn about what to do. Mainly women spoke up because they could connect. For example, a pregnant woman jumped in to say something right away, as did another woman who had a little girl.
Dr Oz: Is Alcohol Safe For Pregnant Women?
Doctor Oz said that there was a brand new study that said a glass or two of wine might in fact be safe to drink when you are pregnant, but Dr Tara Allmen, an ObGyn, said that she still tells her pregnant patients to avoid alcohol altogether. There have been plenty of other studies that have found alcohol to be dangerous to a fetus, especially during the first trimester. Dr Allmen said that in the 2nd or 3rd trimesters, alcohol is not quite as dangerous, but you should definitely avoid hard liquors like tequila, scotch, gin and vodka. IF you are going to drink when you are pregnant, Dr Allmen said that you should at least limit yourself to half a glass of wine or a wine spritzer. But I personally would never dream of drinking a drop of alcohol while having a baby.
Dr Oz asked everyone in his audience if they would have intervened if they were at the bar and saw a pregnant lady drinking. One woman named Lisa said that she would not have intervened. Lisa said she was a bartender and it is her job to decide whether to refuse serving a drink or not, but that a pregnant woman still deserves service. This comment totally floored me! If a pregnant woman should not be refused tequila at a bar, then who should be refused it? How infuriating!
Dr Oz said that if you would not give your baby a glass of wine (which you should not do!), then you really should not let pregnant women drink either. Alcohol is a toxin and can impact brain cells. Dr Oz said that there is no healthy amount of alcohol for pregnant women to drink, and it has even been shown that babies who are born to teen moms who drink during their first trimester are much more likely to have behavioral problems in the future.
What would you do? Would you talk to a pregnant woman if you saw her drinking alcohol? Please leave a comment with your thoughts below!
Marilyn Waite says
I am so glad Dr. Oz said there was no safe amount of alcohol a pregnant woman should be allowed to drink. FAS/FASD is the leading known cause of preventable mental retardation. 1 in 100 babies will be born with FAS/FASD and yet this fact is either not known or disregarded. Alcohol has been proven to affect the babies central nervous system. I personally have talked with a pregnant mom if she was drinking ANY type of alcohol.
Pablo eskabar says
I would not only not say anything I would challenge her to a drinking game.
Jane says
What makes you think a pregnant woman wants your opinion? It’s not your body, it’s not your baby and it’s not your business. If you don’t want to drink during your own pregnancy, good for you – go ahead and feel all high and mighty. But please, keep it to yourself.
There are no laws saying that a pregnant woman should be refused service at a bar, and rightfully so. You cannot deny someone their rights. They’re pregnant, not dead. The idea that any bartender would think they have the right not to serve someone because of pregnancy – now THAT is infuriating.
If I were enjoying a small glass of wine while pregnant and some idiot had the gall to say something about it, they’d get their wish – instead of drinking it, I’d throw it in their face. And then I’d go get a new one.
Stacy says
When a woman ends up with a mentally retarded child because of consuming alcohol…do the tax payers end up paying the medical bills and support required to ensure life for the retarded child???? I don’t want to pay for someone elses ignorance!!! If you absolutely have to drink while you are pregnant…you may have a problem with alcohol! HOW SELF-CENTERED!
Sherry says
Yes, I would say something to a pregnant woman if I saw her drinking I would tell her about my three sons… I have three adopted sons with FAS/FASD Those of you who say it is her body and her baby have NO Idea what that child will have to live with for rest of it’s life. You don’t know the challenges these children face every day. We need so much more education on this.. If a woman put alcohol in a baby bottle and gave that to the baby would you say something then?? Or it is still mind your own business??? It is nothing less that child abuse in both cases. I can’t understand why anyone would risk their baby for a drink, it just doesn’t make any sense to me at all.. Those of you who think this is ok need to read a bit on the effects of alcohol and maybe go meet some of these children and listen to their parents.. You don’t have a clue but you can educate yourselves.
Tammi VanNest says
It is hard to intervene on someone else’s choices, however it is more difficult raising children damaged from alcohol. Those who say it’s the mothers choice have not dealt with FASD. It is a horrible thing to cause permanent damage to an innocent child. Have you seen a child who has trouble talking, comprehending, afraid of the rain, wind, people, feeling pain when touched or have their hair brushed, loud noises that overwhelm them, learning disabled, no impulse control?, I could go on. I am raising three precious children damaged by alcohol. It is also costly, therapies, special diets and extra things that parents think might help them. Two of mine have sleep problems. We need a reality show on the life of these kids and open up the eyes of people. We need people to see the actual damage and then they would see the truth!
Felicia says
I was at a baby shower tonight where the woman who the shower was for was drinking a glass of wine (why im now on the internet looking this stuff up), my friend who is pregnant was so floored she had to leave so she didnt explode. I dont get it, if you cant go 9 months with out a drink you have problems.
Felicia says
@Jane, alcoholic much???
kathryn page says
Your first commenter, MARILYN, is so right. I would only amend that with a new prevalence estimate of around 4 per hundred people who fall somewhere on the fetal alcohol spectrum. Because fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can look like so many other things–mainly AD/HD, Opositional Defiant Disorder, Learning Disabilities, Bipolar Disorder–it flies under the radar. If one out of 25 people have the kind of brain dysfunction that results in poor decision-making, then it stands to reason that most of that layer of society with chronic difficulty has prenatal damage. Please let’s recognize and study that!!
kathy
tenesha polk says
In regards to the bartender comment, its also a matter of legality… There was once. Woman whosued a bar for rrefusing to serve her. Also… Unless she tells you she’s pregnant, you really DON’T KNOW. Before I had my fibroids I looked and walked like I was 9 months pregnant. And THEN I NEEDED a drink. Imagine wanting nothing more than to be a mommy one day , and having a constant visual reminder that that may never happen and constantly having strangers and children ask when your baby is coming
Jill Lewallen says
I am pregnant right now and I have been deciding ifi should drink one glass of wine tomorrow night with my husband at his award ceremony. I am 5 months and 3 weeks along. I’m not an alcoholic I never drink even rarely before I was pregnant but I was just wondering if one glass is OK? And my comment about intervening hell yes I would. I’d probably smack her.