If you are pregnant, you have likely heard or read that alcohol should be avoided in pregnancy. There is a good reason to abstain from the adult beverage during these nine months, your baby’s health. Babies born to mothers who drink during pregnancy are at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, drinking during pregnancy is the leading preventable cause of birth defects in the United States. An astonishing 1 in 750 babies is born with symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome. Tens of thousands more suffer from fetal alcohol effects, a less severe side effect of drinking in pregnancy.
A common question is how much alcohol will cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Unfortunately this is a complicated question with no clear answer. There is no formula that shows drinking under a certain amount is safe, but more will cause fetal alcohol syndrome.
There are a few reasons for this, the first being that it would be difficult and unethical to do a study that would measure the alcohol intake of the mother and compare that to the outcome for the fetus. In addition to the problem of actually finding women willing to participate in such a study, it would be unethical to knowingly expose a fetus to alcohol, which is known to cause damage.
Most babies born with a full case of fetal alcohol syndrome have mothers who are active alcoholics and these babies are exposed to large quantities of alcohol throughout the pregnancy. That glass of wine at Christmas dinner wouldn’t cause fetal alcohol syndrome. However, occasional binge drinking will result in fetal alcohol effects.
Symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Newborns:
* abnormal facial features, such as small eyes, flat cheekbones
* small head circumference
* low birth weight
* developmental delays
* problems with coordination
* failure to thrive
* learning disabilities
* behavioral issues
The effects of fetal alcohol syndrome can be detected soon after the birth. However, the effects are not limited to infancy. The problems associated with fetal alcohol syndrome, such as learning disabilities, social problems and developmental delays will last throughout childhood and will affect the child even into adulthood. For this reason, it is imperative for pregnant women with alcohol problems to seek treatment. Speak to your doctor, look for a private treatment program or call Alcoholics Anonymous.
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