Alcohol Intake and Pregnancy – A Toxic Cocktail
Jan 29, 2010 | Comments 1 | Pregnancy & Birth
Alcohol intake during pregnancy could lead to wide-ranging birth flaws both physically and mentally affecting the foetus. FASD or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is the term describing the myriad conditions linked to alcohol exposure prior to delivery.
Even moderate or light amounts of alcohol intake could prove detrimental to the foetus and no amount of alcohol intake among pregnant women has proven safety. Hence, it is advisable to steer clear from any form of alcoholic beverages like beers, wines, wine cooler, liquors during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Alcohol following consumption can easily permeate the placental barrier and reach the foetus. The immaturely developed body of the unborn child is unable to swiftly break down the alcohol as quickly as a grown-ups body is capable of doing, hence leading of greater alcohol levels in the fetal blood for lengthier spans of time as compared to that in the maternal blood often leading to the baby suffering from long-standing harm.
Perils of alcohol drinking when pregnant
Alcohol intake when pregnant could lead to mild to acute ranging fetal alcohol spectrum disorders or FASD in the baby. These upshots comprise of being born mentally retarded, cardiovascular, facial or other organ anomalies, learning, emotional and behaviour-associated issues. The extremely detrimental form of outcome is fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS comprising of flaws both physically and mentally inflicting the baby.
Also the chances of miscarriage, preterm births and stillbirths have been recorded with alcohol intake during pregnancy.
Mild to Moderate Drinking Has Marring Effects
Several studies conducted in the last decade have found children of pregnant mothers that indulged in alcohol drinking had comparatively smaller head circumference, exhibited belligerent and antisocial behaviourisms, more prone to being hyperactive, impulsive, pitiable social and communication skill set, attention, recollection and psychiatric issues.
Treatment for FASD
Though FASD’s cannot be cured, studies have shown that when diagnosed early on (prior to child reaching six years of age) and nurtured in a stable setting could enhance the long-standing prognosis and there is lesser likelihood of the child developing grave behavioural issues that could be potentially law-breaking or psychiatric issues.
Could a pregnant woman unaware of her pregnancy status has taken a single or 2 drinks, could it be harmful to the baby?
As the foetal brain and other body organs are in their developmental phase in the 3rd week of gestation and hence are quite susceptible to damage. Any women planning or intending to get pregnant must cease drinking at once.
How safe is it if a breastfeeding mother has an occasional drink?
Even miniscule quantities of alcohol could permeate and reach breast milk and hence to the baby. A study revealed that babies of moms that had 1 or above alcoholic drinks per day when they were breastfeeding were observed to be somewhat tardy in attaining motor skills like learning to crawl and walk as compared to those babies that did not have alcohol exposure. Larger quantities of alcohol are believed to impede milk secretion.
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Alcohol intake should be completely avoided during pregnancy. It brings serious defects in the foetus marring both the mental and physical health of the baby. The behavioural patterns may be affected at a later stage in adolescence which would gravely affect the emotional well-being of the child ..