Therapy of heavy drinking during pregnancy.

A survey of patients registering at the Boston City Hospital Prenatal Clinic had demonstrated that 9 percent were heavy drinkers. To reduce the health hazards to mothers and children, treatment of heavy alcohol use was integrated with prenatal care. A pediatric neurologist independently examined 322 offspring, including 42 whose mothers were heavy drinkers. Frequency of congenital anomalies, growth retardation, or functional abnormalities among these 42 was twice that of infants born to abstinent or moderate drinking mothers P less than .001). Within that group of 42, there were 15 whose mothers were able to abstain or reduce alcohol intake during the third trimester. These 15 demonstrated fewer abnormalities than those 27 whose mothers had continued heavy drinking (P less than .001). Since pregnant women can be motivated to reduce heavy drinking, treatment programs can benefit both mothers and infants.