The Effects Alcohol Can Have On Your Pregnancy

Dr. Natasha Withers discusses why expecting mothers should avoid alcohol during
pregnancy.

It's All A Matter of Choice

Alcohol Addiction During Pregnancy

Alcohol addiction is dangerous to the unborn child at any point of pregnancy. It can lead to major health problems and defects of your baby.

Alcohol can lead to several problems such as birth defects, premature birth, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. During alcohol intake, the alcohol quickly passes through the placenta, umbilical cord and to the baby. Alcohol affects 15 percent of pregnant mothers.

Risk Factors of Addiction to Alcohol During Pregnancy

The prevalence of alcohol addiction during pregnancy is influenced by some risk factors.  It includes substance use of a partner; poverty, drinking problem before conception and homelessness.  However, if the mother has mental illness or sexual or physical abuse history, the possibility of abusing alcohol during pregnancy is high. 

The percentage of alcohol use and abuse among pregnant mothers have greatly decreased in the recent years. More mothers are now educated on the possible effects of their drinking problem with their unborn child.

Effects of Alcohol Addiction During Pregnancy

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) 

Light to heavy drinking increases the risk of spontaneous abortions, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy.  Alcohol consumption also triggers and low birthweight, intra uterine growth retardation and postnatal long-term height, weight deficits and fetal death. 

Alcohol addiction during pregnancy causes fetal alcohol syndrome. As mothers are chronic alcohol drinkers during their pregnancy, children are likely to be born with short stature, facial dysmorphism, developmental delay, prenatal and postnatal growth deficiency, microcephaly and fine-motor dysfunction. Some children were born with joint and cardiac anomalies, cleft palate and altered palmar creases.

FAS generally affects the development of the central nervous system and the normal growth and function of the eyes, palate, legs, arms, teeth, ears, heart, and external genitalia. The syndrome affects 1 in 300 to 1 in 1000 live births per year.

Chronic Alcoholism Side Effects 

• Women drinking heavily during pregnancy tend to have babies with oral clefts.
• Children whose mothers are drinkers also develop heart abnormalities.
• Children may suffer from renal malfunctioning especially in the second month of pregnancy.
• Alcohol drinking and alcohol addiction may also cause atopic dermatitis. The incident is higher among children whose mothers consume 4 to 5 drinks a week.
• Studies have also found that heavy drinking causes Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among infants.
• Children may develop increased rate of somatoform disorders, antisocial and other personality disorders, paranoid, passive aggressive and substance dependence. 

Alcoholism or alcohol addiction is seldom among pregnant mothers, but it is real.  Women should seek the help of the medical professionals. Doctors may advise them to have counseling and follow up screening. 

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