Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause a woman’s baby to be born with birth defects and developmental disabilities. In fact, alcohol is the leading cause of preventable birth defects and developmental disabilities in the United States.
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is the nation’s leading preventable cause of developmental disabilities and birth defects. Babies who are exposed to alcohol in the womb can develop fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). These disorders include a wide range of physical, behavioral and learning problems with possible lifelong implications. Each year, as many as 40,000 babies are born with FASD.
When a woman drinks alcohol so does her baby. Alcohol easily passes through the placenta, the organ that nourishes a baby during pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy or when trying to get pregnant. There is also no safe time to drink during pregnancy.
Alcohol exposure during the first trimester — perhaps before a woman even knows she is pregnant — can cause major birth defects. Later in the pregnancy, drinking alcohol can cause poor growth and brain damage that could lead to learning and behavioral problems. All types of alcohol are equally harmful, including all wines and beer.
These problems can be prevented by not drinking any alcohol during pregnancy. Do not drink if you are trying to get pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
Signs and Symptoms
FASDs refer to the whole range of effects that can happen to a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These conditions can affect each person in different ways, and can range from mild to severe.
A person with an FASD might have:
- Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip (this ridge is called the philtrum)
- Small head size
- Shorter-than-average height
- Low body weight
- Poor coordination
- Hyperactive behavior
- Difficulty with attention
- Poor memory
- Difficulty in school (especially with math)
- Learning disabilities
- Speech and language delays
- Intellectual disability or low IQ
- Poor reasoning and judgment skills
- Sleep and sucking problems as a baby
- Vision or hearing problems
- Problems with the heart, kidneys, or bones
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
The most severe type of FASD is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). It is caused by heavy drinking during pregnancy. Fetal death is the most extreme outcome from drinking alcohol during pregnancy. People with FAS might have abnormal facial features, growth problems, and central nervous system (CNS) problems. People with FAS can have problems with learning, memory, attention span, communication, vision, or hearing. They might have a mix of these problems. People with FAS often have a hard time in school and trouble getting along with others.
Treatment
FASDs last a lifetime. There is no cure for FASDs. However, research shows that early intervention treatment services can improve a child’s development.
Children can benefit from services and therapies such as:
- speech-language, occupational and physical therapy
- early intervention education services
- adult classes that help parents and other caregivers handle problem behaviors or other issues
- classes that teach kids social skills
- counseling with a mental health professional
Doctors may prescribe medicines to help with some of the problems associated with FAS, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, aggressive behavior, sleep problems, and anxiety.
Get Help!
Giving up alcohol during pregnancy may be hard.
Here are some tips to help you stop drinking alcohol:
- Think about when you usually drink alcohol. Plan to drink other things, like fruity drinks or water. Use a fun straw or put an umbrella in the glass to make it seem more fun.
- Stay away from situations or places where you usually drink, like parties or bars.
- Get rid of all the alcohol in your home.
- Tell your partner and your friends and family that you’re not drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Ask them to help and support you.
If you need help to stop drinking, here’s what you can do:
- Talk to your health care provider about alcohol treatment programs.
- Join an Alcoholics Anonymous support group.
- Visit the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (also called NCADD) website, or call 1-800-622-2255.
- Use Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (also called SAMHSA) website or call 1-800-662-4357.
