Alcohol Use during Pregnancy

No amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy. In addition, there is no safe period to drink alcohol during pregnancy. All types of alcohol are equally harmful including wine and beer. Whatever the pregnant woman drinks or eats goes to the developing fetus through the umbilical cord and the placenta. Therefore, when a pregnant woman consumes alcohol, her baby within the womb consumes it as well.

What effects can alcohol consumption have on pregnancy and the growing baby?

• Firstly, it can cause a miscarriage in the initial months of pregnancy.
• If the pregnancy continues, it can cause many developmental abnormalities on the growing baby or fetus.
• Yet again, alcohol consumption can cause stillbirth that can be devastating to the mother and the family.

The range of physical, behavioral or intellectual disabilities that can occur due to alcohol consumption during pregnancy is termed Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). FASD can present with a variety of growth and developmental delay or abnormalities. These include facial abnormalities, small sized head, decreased length of the fetus, low birth weight, poor co-ordination, hyperactivity, difficulty in concentration and attention, learning disabilities, low intelligence quotient (IQ) and several others.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), a high prevalence rate of alcohol consumption during pregnancy exists in the present world. Women who are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant are looking for latest evidence-based information on the same to be convinced not to consume alcohol during pregnancy. A recent study, done by some UK researchers, states that consumption of 4 units of alcohol even once during pregnancy leads to the increased risk of developing mental health problems in the child leading to learning difficulties at school. Another study in Australia done recently showed that women required clear and consistent advice about safe levels of drinking from policy makers and health professionals.

Research about the same is ongoing. As long as we are unsure of the usefulness or confirm the benefits of alcohol in pregnancy, all pregnant women are advised to abstain from alcohol in any form or amount.

What can a pregnant woman do about consuming alcohol?

• Stop it at the earliest, the sooner the better. As soon as you learn that you are pregnant, if you have the habit of consuming alcohol, please stop it right away. Alcohol has not shown to be of any proven effectiveness in pregnancy.
• Inform your health care provider about your previous alcohol usage, and the consumption of alcohol during the current pregnancy, if any.
• Enroll into self-help groups that provide information and counselling about alcohol use.
• Be aware of the health hazards of alcohol on the growing fetus.
• Be in close contact with your doctor. Go for regular antenatal checkups to monitor the growth of the fetus.

If at any point, you notice decreased or absent fetal movements, inform your doctor immediately. 

Remember, alcohol stays in the fetal blood for a longer time since it takes long for the fetus to metabolize alcohol. Therefore, the effects of alcohol on the fetus can last longer when compared to the mother.

The dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy outweigh its benefits, if any.

Now, you know the reasons why it is important to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy.