A Look at the Impact of Drinking Alcohol While Pregnant
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH), 20 – 30 percent of women drink during pregnancy. Researchers agree that no amount of alcohol at any stage during pregnancy is safe. The developing fetus can be negatively impacted by alcohol particularly in early development. Heavy drinking or binge drinking may greatly increase the health risks to the fetus.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) occurs when alcohol passes from a mother to her unborn fetus through the mother’s bloodstream. FASD can impact nearly every aspect of a child’s life causing significant medical problems, depression, anxiety and behavioral problems. A fetus exposed to alcohol may also increase the likelihood that a child will suffer from substance abuse later in life.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is one of the most common forms of FASD. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is known to cause central nervous system abnormalities. Newborns with FAS may also exhibit the following facial abnormalities:
- Narrow eye openings
- Thin upper lip
- Smooth area between lip and nose
There are a number of factors that may increase the likelihood of adverse health risks to the fetus. The more a pregnant mother drinks along with the quantity and the stage of her pregnancy can all play a role.