How to Understand the Effects of Drinking on Pregnancy

Most women, while pregnant, want to do whatever they can to assure that their baby will be born healthy. While the Surgeon General recommends that pregnant women consume absolutely no alcohol during pregnancy, the issue is complex and it is important to understand the risks associated with drinking during pregnancy.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Before Becoming Pregnant
   
   For women who are planning to become pregnant or believe they may be pregnant, it is wise to refrain from drinking alcohol. The most serious risk to the fetus is from chronic drinking. It is unlikely that a single drink or two, consumed before you realize you are pregnant or shortly thereafter, will harm the baby.

2. Alcohol Passes through the Bloodstream to the Baby
   
   It appears that the greatest risk of injury to the fetus is during the first three months of pregnancy, when all of the baby's organs develop. The baby is especially susceptible to toxic substances at this time, and alcohol is toxic. The alcohol passes from the mother's bloodstream directly to the baby's. While one drink may not seem like a large amount to an adult, it is a relatively much larger amount when passed on to the small, developing baby.

3. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
   
   While many women acknowledge that moderate to heavy drinking will hurt their baby by contributing to stillbirth, miscarriage, prematurity or physical or cognitive defects, there is some controversy about the effects of an occasional drink. Heavy drinking is likely to result in the birth of a baby with FASD ( Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). FASD can range from the relatively mild such as a mild learning disability, to the severe (FAS, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome), where the baby has major physical problems such as organ deformities, abnormal facial features, growth problems, central nervous system disorders and cognitive disabilities.

4. The Occasional Drink
   
   The risk to the baby decreases as the amount of alcohol consumed by the mother decreases. Some people advocate that an occasional drink (a single glass of wine, for example) is unlikely to harm the developing baby. Because there are many factors that effect the developing baby including the parents' health and medical history, diet and lifestyle, pollution and other environmental factors, the effect of occasional alcohol use by the mother may be mitigated by the other factors.

5. Quitting Drinking
   
   If stopping drinking is an issue and you are considering getting pregnant, it is important to discuss the problem with your medical professional. There are several organizations that can assist in helping a women refrain from alcohol use during pregnancy.

Resources

• http://www.ncadd.org/