Alcohol and Pregnancy: What Should You Know
When you drink alcohol, your baby does too. Alcohol passes in the placenta to the baby. Drinking alcohol while pregnant increases risks of a baby being affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FADS). Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FADS) are the full circle of birth defects which are started by fetal alcohol exposure. These effects will scar a child for life. On the other hand, they are fully stoppable.
Facts About Alcohol:
Alcohol is a teratogen. Teratogen is a substance harmful to a human’s growth.
Alcohol penetrates the placenta in your baby. When drinking alcohol, your baby is too. So, alcohol can harm your baby’s growing process.
All drinks that contain alcohol can be harmful to your baby. There is never a secure amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant. It is wise to talk about drinking matters with your health care aid.
How does alcohol affect my baby’s development?
Your baby grows and develops constantly throughout nine months. In the first four weeks of pregnancy, your baby develops: heart, central nervous system, eyes, arms, and legs. Your baby’s brain starts developing by the third week and keeps growing through the duration of the pregnancy. In the third trimester, the size of the baby rapidly increases. If alcohol is consumed too much during your pregnancy, problems will occur for the baby.
Results of massive amounts of drinking (drinking often or binge drinking) can turn into Fetal alcohol Syndrome or Fetal Alcohol Effects. These are lifetime effects that can create physical, mental and behavioral birth defects.
What if I drank alcohol before I knew I was pregnant?
STOP drinking if you didn’t know you were pregnant and consumed alcohol. The sooner you stop drinking, the better. Chances of harm decrease when alcohol consumption is ceased early.
Is there any safe amount of alcohol to drink?
No amount of alcohol is ok to drink during pregnancy. The more you drink, the more your child maybe in risk of having troubles.
Need help with an addiction?
If pregnant and are addicted to alcohol, get help from these organizations:
- National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information
(800-729-6686)
- National Alcohol & Drug Hotline 1-800-NCA-CALL (622-2255)
To know more about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome call the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome at 1-800-66-NOFAS (666-6327)
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