Every woman knows that she’s not supposed to drink if she’s pregnant. And common sense will tell you that going on a three day bender with a bun in the oven is just asking for trouble. But a glass of wine at dinner is a completely different thing, isn’t it?
Actually, it turns out that it isn’t. Here are some facts about fetal alcohol syndrome that should have you thinking before you reach for that corkscrew.
1. What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
The first thing to realize is that a fetus is connected to the mother via an umbilical cord that transfers oxygen and nutrients to the developing baby through blood. So you and your baby are sharing the same blood. This means that your baby’s blood alcohol content is exactly the same as yours. And while one beer may not even be enough to have you feeling the buzz, the baby lacks the ability to metabolize the alcohol, creating much more severe side effects for them.
Sticking to wine or beer doesn’t help either. There is no safe amount of alcohol for pregnant women and wine and beer are just as harmful as hard liquor. In fact, according to the Institute of Medicine, alcohol produces far more severe effects in a fetus that any other substance abuse, including cocaine and heroin.
2. Health Risks and Conditions
There are a range of conditions that can result in a baby whose mother drank during pregnancy. The most severe of these conditions is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). At the most extreme end of the spectrum, fetal death can occur as a result of drinking during pregnancy. In less severe cases, people with FAS may have abnormal facial features, be shorter than average, or suffer from central nervous system damage.
The damage to the central nervous system may result in people with FAS struggle with memory, hearing, communication, learning, vision, or attention span. As a result, they often have to work much harder in school and may not get along well with others.
3. Should You Drink at All?
While there is no safe time to drink during pregnancy, the damage does get worse the closer to term you get. Women are advised to stop drinking as soon as they start trying to get pregnant, as it is not uncommon to be four or six weeks along before the pregnancy is discovered. If you have been drinking and have learned that you are pregnant, stop immediately. Brain growth takes place throughout pregnancy, so by stopping now you may avoid any central nervous system damage to the fetus.
4. A Leading Cause of Birth Defects in the US
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is one of the leading causes of birth defects in the United States. It is also one of the most easily preventable . The amount of damage that you could potentially be inflicting on your baby is simply too high to risk. If you are pregnant, or suspect that you might be, please stop drinking immediately. Your child’s future well being is too precious to gamble it away with alcohol.