Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking During Pregnancy Among Adults Aged 18–49 Years — United States, 2018–2020

There is no known safe amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy; drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and might increase the risk for miscarriage and stillbirth (1).The prevalence of drinking among pregnant women increased slightly during 2011-2018; however, more recent estimates are not yet reported (2).CDC estimated the prevalence of self-reported current drinking (at least one alcoholic drink in the past 30 days) and binge drinking (consuming four or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past 30 days) among pregnant adults aged 18-49 years, overall and by selected characteristics, using 2018-2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.During 2018-2020, 13.5% of pregnant adults reported current drinking and 5.2% reported binge drinking: both measures were 2 percentage points higher than during 2015-2017.Pregnant adults with frequent mental distress were 2.3 and 3.4 times as likely to report current and binge drinking, respectively, compared with those without frequent mental distress.In addition, pregnant adults without a usual health care provider were 1.7 times as likely to report current drinking as were those with a current provider.Alcohol consumption during pregnancy continues to be a serious problem.Integration of mental health services into clinical care and improving access to care might help address alcohol consumption and mental distress during pregnancy to prevent associated adverse outcomes (3).BRFSS is an annual, state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey of health-related behaviors representative of noninstitutionalized adults aged ≥18 years in the United States and participating territories.CDC analyzed 2018-2020 BRFSS self-reported data from 6,327 pregnant adults aged 18-49 years from all 50 U.S. states* and the District of Columbia.The analysis included all pregnant respondents irrespective of gender identity.In 2018, 2019, and 2020, median BRFSS response rates were 49.9% (range = 38.8%-67.2%),49.4% (37.3%-73.1%),and 47.6% (34.5%-67.2%),respectively.† Persons who reported their sex at birth as female were asked if they were currently pregnant.Current drinking § and * New Jersey did not collect sufficient data to meet the minimum requirements for inclusion in 2019 BRFSS public use data set.† Response rates were calculated using standards set by the American Association for Public Opinion Research.https://www.aapor.org/Standards-Ethics/ Standard-Definitions-(1).aspx § Current drinking was defined as a response of "one or more" to the question, "During the past 30 days, how many days per week or per month did you have at least one drink of any alcoholic beverage such as beer, wine, a malt beverage or liquor?" https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/questionnaires/pdf-ques/2020-BRFSS- Questionnaire-508.pdf