Ego-Dystonic Pregnancy and Prenatal Consumption of Alcohol Among First-Time Mothers

Abstract

Objective This study examines predictors of drinking during pregnancy among first-time mothers, in order to distinguish those in need of targeted screening and intervention. Methods Data from the prenatal panel of the Parenting for the First Time study were used in hierarchical linear regressions to determine likelihood of prenatal alcohol consumption among a sample of 645 women. Results African-American women and those of race/ethnicities other than White were less likely to drink, regardless of age or level of education. Among all women, being in school was associated with abstention (p = 0.05). Among teens, endorsing a perception of feeling “pushed around” was a significant indicator of prenatal alcohol consumption (p = 0.05), as was not having plans for infant feeding shortly before delivery (p = 0.05). Among adults with some level of college education, having a first prenatal visit after the fourth month of pregnancy was a significant predictor of drinking (p = 0.01). Conclusions This study indicates that women who evidence behaviors or attitudes indicating an ego-dystonic pregnancy (one that is psychologically or emotionally uncomfortable), may be more likely to self-medicate and cope via avoidance through drinking. These behaviors and attitudes may be indicators of the need for targeted screening and intervention, as well as indicators of underlying problems to be targeted in treatment. Further, among all women for whom continued education is a possibility, retaining the ability to attend school during the pregnancy can be protective.

Characteristics of Women Who Consume Alcohol Before and After Pregnancy Recognition in a Canadian Sample: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…Of note, low maternal dispositional optimism remained a significant independent predictor of binge drinking in pregnancy prior to pregnancy recognition. This novel finding aligns with other recent work suggesting that an ego‐dystonic pregnancy (one that is psychologically uncomfortable) predicts prenatal consumption of alcohol (O'Brien, ) and that a self‐medication hypothesis and “drinking to cope” may apply to prenatal drinking. Further research is clearly warranted as the ability to cope and propensity to self‐medicate may be indicators of underlying issues that may benefit from targeted intervention and screening.…”