How Can Alcohol During Pregnancy Affect The Baby? – Being Parents

Alcohol is a drug from any point of view. For this reason, it should be consumed in moderation or even eliminated permanently. If you are pregnant, this is particularly dangerous. Do you know why ? Please pay attention as we are going to explain to you how alcohol during pregnancy will affect the baby.

The Effects of Alcohol During Pregnancy on Baby’s Development

Alcohol directly affects the fetus. The drink that the mom ingests enters the baby’s body through the blood stream.

In the case of the mother, her body can eliminate alcohol, but not in the baby. The organs of the future baby are not formed and are not prepared to perform this action.

The presence of  alcohol  in the baby’s body  during pregnancy can have fatal consequences,  from certain deficiencies to malformations. And of course, what’s called fetal alcohol syndrome. A syndrome that generates up to 20% of malformations.

Fetal alcohol syndrome

During pregnancy, babies with fetal alcoholism have a number of common characteristics. These babies suffer, for the most part, from facial deformities. These give them characteristic and common traits:

• Wide and flattened face.
• Small cranial perimeter.
• Broad and lower nasal bridge.
• Small slanted eyes.
• Narrow palpebral slits in the eyelids.
• Ear malformations.

If deficiencies take place in the development of fetuses affected by  Fetal Alcohol Syndrome,  two phases should be observed. On the one hand, the prenatal stage and, on the other hand, the postnatal stage.

“Babies affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome tend to weigh significantly less than they should”

Brain and biological problems

It is essential to observe the brain evolution of the baby. We must not forget that they are born with a very small head circumference. This factor comes into play during the development of the functional capacities of the child. And,  in many cases, it can lead to mental disabilities.

Regarding the damage occurring in the nervous system, it should be noted that  this mainly damages the central nervous system. Indeed, it is common for these babies to end up suffering from a developmental delay  . This delay can take the form of small abnormalities or severe mental retardation.

Behavior problems

It is also common for it to degenerate into behavioral problems and other disorders. Among them are nervous attacks, irritability, tremors,  hyperactivity as  well as impaired motor functions.

Malformations

In addition, as we have mentioned, alcoholism during pregnancy can lead to deformities. These  can be present in the heart, in the eyes, and even in the kidneys. They can also result in malformations in the limbs.

Alcohol during pregnancy, strictly prohibited

If you are wondering how alcohol can affect the baby during pregnancy, whether you can drink it or not, how much … take note.

The various studies that have been carried out do not provide clear data. While it is true that a very occasional drink of alcohol certainly does not have an obvious impact on the fetus, it is best not to drink it.

The above problems can appear in the baby even if small amounts of alcohol are consumed periodically. Therefore, the only solution is to abstain from it.

If you are not yet pregnant but are trying,  your partner should also moderate their alcohol intake. Why ? According to recent studies, if the father ingests alcohol in large quantities and regularly,  it could have consequences.

Indeed, if he consumes alcohol before the conception of the baby, the risks of leukemia in the future child increase. This is because alcohol causes mutations in the chromosomes.

All of this results in an alteration of a protein that is associated with the onset of leukemia. This is also the case with  tobacco. This is why  it is important that couples who wish to have a child refrain from drinking and smoking.

Now you know how alcohol can affect the baby during pregnancy. And even how it can work if you use it regularly and you are trying to get pregnant. Living as healthy as possible will not only help you get pregnant, but also have a healthy child.