Pregnancy

Alcohol and Pregnancy

There are many risk factors during pregnancy. A woman's diet as well as her lifestyle greatly influences the health of her unborn child. The consumption of alcohol has devastating effects on a baby. Any amount of alcohol can cause birth defects, including fetal alcohol syndrome. This birth defect is quite harmful to the fetus and is caused when the mother engages in many episodes of binge drinking or drinks at a heavy rate throughout the entire pregnancy.

All types of alcohol can cause birth defects. Wine, beer, wine coolers, and hard liquor are all a part of this list. One is no safer than another. Small amounts of any form of alcohol can cause low birth weight, premature birth, physical and mental defects. Women need to be aware that if they suspect that they are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant they should avoid all alcoholic beverages. Lifelong damage can result from this risky behavior. As a woman drinks her unborn child is essentially drinking as well. Alcohol passes through the placenta through the child's bloodstream where the damage starts to take place. The alcohol level in the child is highly elevated and will be at that rate longer than the mother's alcohol blood level.

Fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS is a common birth defect for mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy. The effects last a lifetime and the babies are small at birth and as they grow older. Their hearts and brains are abnormally small and this causes long term struggles. Behavioral problems as well as poor concentration are exhibited in children who suffer from FAS. Fetal alcohol effects or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder is another birth defect caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Physical and mental abnormalities associated with FAS are also common with this defect.

The brain is a major organ that is affected by alcohol. Not one stage of pregnancy is untouched by the effects of drinking. Within the first trimester an unborn child suffers from birth defects such as heart defects. In the third trimester the problems become more involved with a child's growth. Any alcohol at any time is unsafe and should be abstained from. Miscarriages and stillbirths are two effects of alcohol during a pregnancy that is quite devastating to handle. These are the two that are the most drastic and should be discussed should a new mom continue to drink while pregnant or nursing her newborn. Being pregnant is a blessing and it should be treated as such. Do not put anything into your body that may cause harm to you or your unborn baby. You are the voice for your child and you will regret it later.