Dangers of Alcoholic Beverages During Pregnancy

A woman who chooses to drink alcohol during her pregnancy can cause a wide variety of both mental and physical birth defects to her unborn baby. If a fetus is exposed to alcohol, then they may develop a condition called fetal alcohol syndrome. In the United States 40,000 babies are born with this condition each year.

FAS is proven to be the most common cause of mental retardation in babies. Also, the child will be born abnormally small, and will also have a hard time catching up on growth. Babies born with this disorder display certain physical features that make the condition easy to diagnose. Small eyes and a thin upper lip are the most common outward characteristics. These babies are born with a very small brain, which causes mental disability. The babies may also suffer from behavioral problems and have a low attention span.

Studies have shown that one in 12 pregnant women consume alcohol during their pregnancy. While some women may be aware of the dangers of drinking during pregnancy, many are not that moderate or even light drinking can cause the same affects on the fetus as heavy drinking. Any type of alcoholic drinking during pregnancy is harmful to the baby and should be avoided at all costs. When a pregnant woman drinks, the alcohol she consumes will pass through the placenta and straight to the unborn fetus. Because the fetus is so small the alcohol will stay in their system for a longer period of time, causing harmful affects.

Even if a child is not affected with FAS, there are many other problems that may occur for the baby. Women who drink during pregnancy have a much higher risk for miscarriage, premature birth and the chances of a stillborn baby are higher than normal. To prevent such tragic consequences, it is recommended that alcohol be avoided completely during pregnancy.