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Even at the micro level: many childbearing related dictates (don’t drink, do breastfeed) are based on extremly weak evidence. Emotion trumps data in many cases even in medicine.


What do you mean by "don't drink" being based on extremely weak evidence? Do you mean after the pregnancy, or while trying to conceive?

Because the harms of drinking during pregnancy are well known. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a real thing, as are other Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorders.


I don't know if this is what the OP was referring to but to quote the wikipedia article:

> Evidence of harm from less than two drinks per day or 10 drinks per week is not clear

It seems there is strong evidence that "heavy" drinking is bad, the evidence that you shouldn't drink at all is much less clear.


I was aware of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome but not Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders [0]. Thank you for sharing. From what I ahve read the dont drink and do breast feed have fairly strong research behind them so I am a bit confused by the weak correlation comment as well.

Anecdotally, while in Europe I do see it extremely commonplace for women to have a few wines while pregnant.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_alcohol_spectrum_disorde...




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