Why You Are Not Meant To Drink Alcohol While Pregnant
One of the most difficult things about being pregnant for some women is not drinking alcohol. However, it is important to avoid doing so.
This is because alcohol can put your baby at risk of suffering from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). It is believed around one in 100 babies have this condition, with symptoms ranging from minor to severe.
This is one of the main causes of developmental disabilities in children. In this guide, we will take a look at how alcohol impacts newborns in further depth so that you can get a better understanding.
What impact does alcohol have on a fetus?
If you drink alcohol while you are pregnant, you could harm your developing baby. This is because the alcohol can pass from your blood into your baby’s blood. This can have a negative impact on the growth and development of your baby’s cells. The cells that are most likely to become damaged are the spinal cord and brain cells. The range of effects that alcohol can have on a child has been described by the term fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). These issues range from mild problems to severe ones. Alcohol can result in a child suffering from mental or physical issues later in his or her life as well.
Some of the different impacts that alcohol can have are as follows…
Issues with feeding or bonding
Birth defects
Behavioral or learning problems
Growth issues. Children who have been exposed to alcohol before birth may be smaller when compared with other kids of the same age.
Distinctive facial features. A child may have narrow eye openings, a flat face, or a small head, for instance. This can become more obvious by the age of two or three-years-old.
If your child does end up developing a disability due to this or any other reason, there is help available, such as an exoskeleton for disabled people and more.
Can you drink any alcohol at all?
Any amount of alcohol can result in a negative impact on your developing baby, and so the best thing to do is avoid the consumption of it altogether when you are pregnant. Nevertheless, there is no denying that the greater risk is amongst heavy alcohol users. If you drink five or more units on one occasion while pregnant, this can have a severely detrimental impact on your developing baby.
In order to prevent any risk of FASD, avoiding alcohol is recommended. Nevertheless, the impact that alcohol has on a baby that is developing depends on a number of different factors. This includes…
Traits that have been passed down through the family. There are some babies at a greater risk of alcohol harm than other babies are, for instance. It is not clear why this is the case but it could well be because of a genetic link.
Whether the mother has had poor health, smoked, or used other drugs for any reason while being pregnant. If this is the case, the chances of the child having problems increases.
How much alcohol the mother drinks, during what stage of the pregnancy, and how often can all have an impact. The worst effects tend to be related to heavy alcohol use.
What to do if you have had alcohol while pregnant
Of course, there are some cases whereby mothers drink alcohol when they are pregnant because they did not know they were pregnant at the time. Alternatively, it could be that you have simply made a silly mistake. No matter your situation, the best thing to do is speak to your doctor. While you may feel embarrassed or ashamed, your doctor will not judge you. Speaking to your doctor at the earliest opportunity is going to mean you have the best chance of ensuring that your child’s health is not negatively impacted.
If your doctor is aware that he or she is going to need to look for problems relating to FASD while you are pregnant, he can keep an eye on your baby’s health. This relates to both during your pregnancy and once your child has been born. Your doctor will also know if more tests are required as your child gets older and develops. If you thinking you may be addicted to alcohol, the best thing to do is talk with your counsellor, doctor, or support person. You can call us on our free helpline and we would be more than happy to answer your questions and make sure you get the assistance you need.
