A client in her second trimester asks if it is safe to have a drink with dinner. How should the nurse respond?

• A. During the second trimester beer can be consumed without harm to the fetus.
• B. Wine can be consumed several times a week after the first trimester.
• C. Only one drink with the evening meal is not harmful to the fetus.
• D. Abstinence is strongly recommended throughout the pregnancy.

Answer: (D)

Alcohol exposure during pregnancy poses risks to fetal development, and there is no known safe amount. Alcohol crosses the placenta, and the fetus has limited ability to metabolize it, so fetal blood alcohol levels mirror the mother’s. This can disrupt brain development and lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, growth restriction, and facial abnormalities. Because of these risks and the lack of a proven safe threshold, the recommended guidance is abstinence from alcohol at all times during pregnancy. Therefore, telling the patient that abstinence is strongly recommended throughout pregnancy is the best approach. Statements suggesting that beer, wine, or a single evening drink is harmless do not align with the evidence, since even small amounts can harm the fetus.